In the ninth chapter of “Building Like Moses with Jacob in Mind,” Scott Larson writes about Amanda Burden and who work under the Bloomberg Administration. She was the director of the New York City Department of City Planning and Chair of Planning Commission. Burden believed that design is a critical element in city planning. It was the element that she stressed the most and one that is quite prevalent in all of Bloomberg’s larger redevelopment narrative (140).

Like Jacobs, Burden believed that one “can measure the health of the city in the vitality of the street life” (135). Therefore she prioritized public spaces and the availability of seating arrangements within these spaces. In 2007, seating standards were adopted into the set of design guidelines for privately owned public spaces. The guidelines specified that there must be a “minimum of one linear foot of seating for each 30 square feet of public plaza areas,” they must be “placed in close proximity and at angles to one another or in facing configurations that facilitate social interaction,” and they must provide at least two type of seating, which means wither moveable seating, fixed individual seats, fixed benches, seat walls or steps (139-140).

Now knowing that Burden spearheaded “the revitalization of the “dilapidated High Line elevated rail line,” and that she is known to micro-manage every project she is involved in, the design of the Highline doesn’t surprise me at all (135). Burden ensured that the Highline would include at least two types of seating arrangements. And one will take notice as he walks the Highline the countless of spots along the way where he can stop and to sit. Whether it is the benches, the moving reclining chairs, or the stairs on which there is a window overlooking the city, there will always be a spot for him to sit and interact with others.

The interesting thing, however, in recent years many articles have been published criticizing the city for its lack of “public spaces.” Buildings that once had benches for people to sit an enjoy the city are disappearing. In an article by the New York Times that was published this past September emphasizes that the amount of spaces throughout Manhattan where there is a public element has either diminished or it has completely vanished. Additionally, many of these public passageways, like the Knaves café, have banned all outside food and make you order something from their menu in order to sit down in what is supposed to be a public space. These public spaces are only allowing those who can afford to sit and order an eight-dollar latte into their public space, which makes one rethink just how public this public space actually is (Chaban, “Unwelcome Mat is Outside at Some of New York’s Privately Owned Public Spaces”).

Although Burden’s entire focus was on creating public spaces for the inhabitants of the city, it seems to be that although she may have created new areas for people to sit and enjoy the city, the amount of actual free and public spaces is rapidly declining within the city. Because the reality is that once these areas become privatized, these public spaces begin to remain less public until they are no longer public at all.

Outside Work: Chaban, Mattt A.V. “Unwelcome Mat is Outside at Some of New York’s Privately Owned Public Spaces.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 07 Sept. 2015. Web. Apr. 2016