POPS

New York City is holding a competition for a distinctive logo to clearly demarcate all of its 550 privately-owned public spaces.

February 22, 2019 - AM New York

A new map shows where privately owned public spaces are located to encourage more public use.

September 22, 2018 - Curbed New York

It's no secret that building owners often fail to maintain privately owned public spaces with any priority on the public part of that equation. A new report reveals just how widespread the problem is in New York.

April 20, 2017 - The New York Times

Privately-owned public spaces on Walter Street in Manhattan could get a little more private and a little less public under terms of a new zoning amendment approved by the City Council.

July 12, 2016 - amNew York

More and more often, barriers have been erected between the public and POPS, as privately owned public spaces are known.

September 11, 2015 - The New York Times

Developers get a lot of milage from building privately owned public spaces—but the public often doesn't. Planners in San Francisco are now requiring buildings to make hidden POPS known, so that the public can actually use them.

February 13, 2015 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco's 1985 downtown plan required large new office and hotel developments to incorporate public spaces, but the city is only now updating the requirements and reinforcing the initial goal of opening up privately owned public spaces (POPOS).

December 20, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

As part of an endeavor to improve access to New York's 525 Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS), which gained notoriety during last year's Occupy Wall Street protests, a new website has been launched to help the public find and utilize them.

October 23, 2012 - The Architect's Newspaper

The "secret boulevard," running between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan through atrias, arcades, and public plazas from 51st Street to 57th Street, is getting attention and an upgrade from the Department of Transportation, reports Matt Chaban.

March 29, 2012 - The New York Observer

Anil Dash examines how public spaces are less valued when they are owned by private companies as evidenced in New York City.

March 13, 2012 - Anil Dash

Thomas Balsley has designed more Privately-Owned Public Spaces (POPS) in New York than anyone. In this op-ed he expresses his support for continuing to encourage the creation of these spaces, regardless of the ownership issues.

December 21, 2011 - The New York Observer