August Public Life in NYC s Plazas

Transcription

1 August 2015 Public Life in NYC s Plazas

2 One City 8.5 Million Residents 61 Plazas How does reclaimed street space - in the shape of NYC plazas -»» impact public life?

3 Presentation Purpose This presentation includes an update on the NYC plaza program, using data from the report Public Life & Urban Justice in NYC s Plazas by Gehl Studio and the J. Max Bond Center on Design for the Just City (JMBC)

4 Project Purpose.

5 Cities are the problem solvers and the centers of innovation. As Mayors, we are on the front lines. It is our responsibility to create more opportunities for our citizens and more equitable cities. Bill de Blasio, Mayor of the City of New York

6 The economic impact of the plazas is measured. But what is the social impact? Increased retail sales +172% on Pearl Street, Brooklyn (compared to 18% borough wide) Decreased commercial vacancy rates 49% after Union Square was extended for pedestrians and cyclists Measuring the Street: New Metrics for 21st Century Streets 1

7 What happens when all kinds of people feel invited, welcomed, and safe in new public spaces?

8 What decisions lead to more equitable public spaces? $ $ $ $ $ How do we prioritize investments in the public realm? (where and when) How do we decide on a specific design and programming interventions? (what) To begin to answer these questions, we need to understand who feels invited and why.

9 The NYC Plaza Program is the perfect place to begin to examine some of these questions There are 61 plazas across the city in economically diverse neighborhoods - providing the context for a true research experiment to take place. The plazas were developed as interim projects, and are easily changed - providing the opportunity for experimentation. NYC s landscape and transportation network provide the infrastructure needed for social mixing.

10 The NYC Plaza Program is the perfect place to begin to examine some of these questions = There are more plazas planned, and there is an opportunity to use our findings to improve existing and new plazas People are there - meaning that we can study the impacts without a huge investment

11 NYC Plaza Context.

12 NYC Plaza Program In the past 7 years 61 plazas have been created to transform 40,000 square feet of underused streets into vibrant, social public spaces, and help ensure that all New Yorkers live within a 10-minute walk of quality open space.

13 Pearl Street Triangle Plaza, DUMBO Photo Credit: DOT NYC Plaza Program. NYC DOT funds a limited number of interim plaza projects per year. Non-profits and local community groups can apply for the right to receive DOT funding. DOT partners with community groups that commit to operate, maintain, and manage the plazas.

14 Moveable chairs Planters Paint NYC Plaza Program Plaza Toolkit Paint Gravel Movable tables Umbrellas Permanent benches Bike Parking Planters Granite blocks Street lighting Signage Concrete Pavement markings

15 The research.

16 Gehl PSPL Methodology is based on two core indicators: JMBC The Just City Methodology, is based on eleven core indicators: Public Space Public Life Urban Justice How can we mesh these indicators together to study connections between public life, public space, and urban (social and spatial) justice? Equity Access Choice Connectivity Health & Wellbeing Diversity Ownership Participation Beauty Inclusion/ Belonging Creative Innovation How can we understand who benefits from new public spaces? Gehl Studio and the J. Max Bond Center on Design for the Just City partnered up to study public life, public space, and urban justice.

17 7 Plazas Gehl Studio and the JMBC collected data on 7 Plazas Manhattan Flatiron District Plaza Meatpacking District Plaza Queens Diversity Plaza Corona Plaza Brooklyn Putnam Plaza Zion Triangle New Lots Triangle New Plazas: Areas Underserved by Open Space: Next Generation World Class Streets, Plazas:

18 Data and Survey Methods. Data was collected at the Census tract level within the half-mile buffer around the plaza 1.Desktop Research Surveys were done on a weekday and weekend day, between 8am-8pm, in October Observational Surveys 489 surveys were collected. Surveys were done on a weekday and weekend day, between 8am-8pm, in October Intercept Surveys 4.Interviews with Plaza Managers

19 Meatpacking Flatiron Diversity Plaza New Lots Triangle Putnam Plaza Corona Zion The plazas and neighborhoods all have very different characteristics This poses both challenges (hard to compare findings) and opportunities (diversity of insights) for the analysis

20 1% 11% 35% 18% 4% 2% 25% 18% 9% 1% 1% 25% MIXED USE MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL 71% 28% 51% Meatpacking Flatiron Diversity Plaza 13% 2% 6% 0,5% 11% 8% 1% 3% 13% 2,5% 4% RESIDENTIAL 19% RESIDENTIAL 15% 57% RESIDENTIAL 13% RESIDENTIAL 75% 73% 65% 13% New Lots Triangle Putnam Plaza Corona Zion Surrounding Land Use Outer borough plazas are in primarily residential areas, while those in Manhattan are more mixed use. Residential Mixed, Commercial & Office Industrial & Public Facilities Open space and Outdoor Recreation Parking and Vacant land

21 The findings.

22 How do the plazas perform... How do the plazas perform?»» public life»» public space»» socio-demographic mixing 0238

23 What activities took place? And what contributed to making them happen?»»

24 People are walking through the plazas. 3,500 Corona 3,000 2,500 Flatiron 2,000 Diversity 1,500 Meatpacking 1,000 Average: Weekday Pedestrian Flow Neighborhood density correlates to pedestrian volumes.

25 Corona: 3250 pedestrians walking at peak hour 3-4 pm The foot traffic at Corona Plaza is comparable to that of Manhattan thoroughfares at a similar time. Corona had the highest peak number of pedestrians walking through the plaza.

26 When people stay in the plazas, they tend to engage in stationary activities. 99% 92% 93% 60% 82% 52% 81% Stationary Standing Waiting for Transport Bench Seating Secondary Seating Cafe Seating Movable Seating Lying Down Lying Down Flatiron Plaza Meatpacking Plaza Diversity Plaza Corona Plaza Putnam Plaza Zion Triangle New Lots Triangle Active Children Playing Commercial Activity Physical Activity Working / Meeting Police Social Contact Maintenance Personnel 80% of the staying activities across the 7 plazas were stationary.

27 Only 2.2% of the activities across the 7 plazas were children playing Corona had the highest percentage of children playing 12% Few playing activities were registered across the 7 plazas

28 The activities people engage in seem to correlate to available options 44% Sitting on movable chairs 24% engaging in commercial activity 41% waiting for transport Flatiron plaza has a high number of movable chairs Corona has a weekly farmers market and commercial units lining the square New Lots is alongside a prominent bus route

29 Plazas with consistently set-up furniture and those near bus stops had more people staying.

30 People are spending more time outside. 67% said the plaza increased time spent outside

31 Neighborhoods that most severely lack open space report a greater increase in time spent outside 100% 75% 50% 25% Has this plaza increased the time you spend in public space? No 0% Yes Flatiron Plaza Meatpacking Plaza Diversity Plaza Corona Plaza Putnam Plaza Zion Triangle New Lots Triangle

32 53% across all 7 plazas recognize or know more people since the plaza opened Plazas foster social connections.

33 Residential plazas with more local and frequent users correlated with higher social interactions and recognition 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% Flatiron Plaza Meatpacking Plaza Diversity Plaza Corona Plaza Putnam Plaza Zion Triangle New Lots Triangle No, I don t recognize / know more Yes, I recognize / know more 75% of the outerborough plazas recognize or know more people since the plaza opened

34 Those earning less than $50,000 were much more likely to make new connections 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% $0 to $14,999 $15,000 to $49,999 $50,000 to $99,999 $100,000 or more (blank) No, I don t recognize / know more Yes, I recognize / know more People who identified as Hispanic / Latino reported meeting or recognizing new people at a higher rate

35 How do plaza operations vary?

36 Operational budgets and pedestrian volumes are not correlated pedestrian volumes weekday weekend 4,000 PEAK , PEAK ,000 3, ,000 NR OF PEOPLE ,000 NR OF PEOPLE 1, ,000 8 AM 10 AM 12 PM 2 PM 4 PM 6 PM 0 8 AM 10 AM 12 PM 2 PM 4 PM 6 PM 0 Flatiron 45,000 sq ft. Operations Budget (2014) $375,000 3X the space. 6X the budget. Corona 13,500 sq. ft. Operations Budget (2014) $65,000 Corona does a lot for a little

37 Who used the plazas?

38 66% walk 25% take public transport 9% other all plazas are located adjacent to public transport (subway or bus) Most people walk to the plazas - indicating that most plaza visitors live or work nearby

39 At outer-borough plazas, locals who live within a 2 mile radius are primary plaza visitors 72% of visitors to outer-borough plazas were local 50% of local visitors to outer-borough plazas reported living in the neighborhood for +10 years

40 66% of visitors were from NYC The Flatiron Plaza is surrounded by many opportunities for work and shopping The Flatiron Plaza serves New Yorkers from across the city

41 56% are tourists (not from NYC metro area) The Meatpacking Plaza is located close to many tourist attractions The Meatpacking Plaza serves mostly tourists

42 Plaza 9% 24% 6% 11% 20% 13% Diversity Plaza 5% 7% 7% Meatpacking Plaza 7% New Lots Triangle 62% 69% 60% White Black / African American Neighborhood 17% 39% Diversity 2% 4% 2% 8% 10% Meatpacking 3 22% 1% New Lots Hispanic / Latino Other race American Indian / Alaska Native Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander Two or more races 2% 40% 76% 77% Asian Diversity plaza is a little less diverse at the plaza Meatpacking is the same at the plaza New lots triangle is more diverse at the Plaza The racial/ethnic diversity of plazas compared to the neighborhoods is hard to determine

43 Plaza 5% 19% 38% 26% 20% 18% 38% Diversity Plaza Meatpacking Plaza New Lots Triangle 38% 25% 29% 44% Neighborhood 19% 12% 9% 17% 20% 13% 29% $0 - $14,999 Diversity Meatpacking New Lots $15,000 - $49,999 $50,000 - $99,999 30% 39% 50% 24% 38% $100,000 + Diversity plaza Meatpacking New lots triangle Lower income groups are over-represented compared to the surrounding neighborhoods

44 At Corona Plaza, there was a 1:1 match between seniors and children when compared to neighborhood Census data 19% of visitors were under 15 years old compared to 20% neighbourhood avarage 5% of visitors were above 65 years old compared to 5% neighbourhood avarage

45 There are gender imbalances in all plazas. But some are more extreme than others. Corona had more women in the plaza than in the neighborhood. Diversity and Putnam had a higher rate of men than live in their respective neighborhoods. Plaza 100% 75% Neighborhood Difference in gender between plaza visitors and the neighborhood Plaza Neighborhood 50/50 75% 100% Difference from Neighborhood to Plaza Corona Diversity New Lots Zion Putnam Flatiron Meatpacking

46 More women at plazas with programming. Corona 58% female More men at plazas without consistent seating. Diversity 78% male It it unclear what drives the gender imbalances in different plazas

47 When did they visit?

48 Walking rates are highest in the afternoon between 12-6pm This indicates plazas are used for optional activities 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 Average: Weekday Pedestrian Flow

49 67% of visitors across all plazas visited daily or weekly Across all plazas, a majority of people visit on a regular basis

50 Some plazas with lower activity rates - such as Putnam - have higher rates of frequent visitors, indicating their value as a community asset and place to spend time outside, regularly.

51 How were the plazas perceived?

52 67% felt a sense of ownership across all 7 plazas People identified the plazas as theirs.

53 Respondents in outerborough plazas reported a stronger sense of ownership 100% 75% 50% Is this plaza Your plaza? 25% 0% Flatiron Plaza Meatpacking Plaza Diversity Plaza Corona Plaza Putnam Plaza Zion Triangle New Lots Triangle No, not interested No, just visiting Not really YES! Despite only 3% of all surveyed saying they participated in the plaza planning

54 64% Across the board, folks said they would pick up a piece of trash in the plaza, if not too dirty. Users felt a sense of stewardship for the plazas

55 66% across all 7 plazas said the plaza greatly or somewhat increased the feeling of safety The plazas are welllit at night, which may positively influence perceptions of safety. People reported an increased perception of safety

56 People reported that the plazas have improved the aesthetics of the area 100% 75% 50% 25% 0% Flatiron Plaza 87% across all 7 plazas said the plaza increased the aesthetics of the area Meatpacking Plaza Diversity Plaza Corona Plaza Putnam Plaza Zion Triangle New Lots Triangle No opinion No Yes Even in areas where plazas had low cleanliness, like New Lots, responses were positive

57 How do the plazas perform... How do the plazas perform?»» public life»» public space»» socio-demographic mixing 0238

58 Key findings 75% of the outer-borough plazas recognize or know more people since the plaza opened 67% said the plaza increased time spent outside 1. People are using the plazas with pedestrian peaks in afternoons and more stickiness on weekends, which indicates plazas are used mainly for optional activities 2. People are meeting each other Outer-borough plazas have more local and frequent users and correlate with higher social interactions and recognition 3. Those earning less than $50,000 were much more likely to make new connections. They also visit most frequently and are over-represented compared to neighborhood surroundings 4. People are spending more time outside, with the highest increase in Queens plazas that most severely lack open space

59 Key findings 67% felt a sense of ownership across all 7 plazas 72% of visitors to outerborough plazas were local 67% visited daily or weekly Corona has only 17% of the Flatiron plaza budget 5. People feel a sense of ownership and stewardship even if only 3% across the board participated in planning meetings for the plazas 6. The majority of visitors are locals, especially in the outerborough plazas, and locals are more likely to make new social connections 7. People visit their plazas frequently and rates are higher at plazas where visitors are local 8. Plazas do a lot for a little, especially in Queens plazas where budgets do not correlate to level of use

60 Key findings 66% walk to the plaza 4.7% of plaza visitors were under 15 years old 66% reported an increased feeling of safety 87% said the plaza increased the aesthetics of the area 9. Most people walk to the plazas and the second most common way to get there is public transportation 10. Children are underrepresented and few play activities were registered 11. Plazas increase the feeling of safety and typically are well lit into the evenings 12. Plazas have improved the aesthetics of the area with people noting planters and furniture as the biggest contributors

61 Recommendations and Next Steps

62 Recommendations»» Incorporate people and behavior metrics (including urban justice indicators) into citywide planning initiatives»» Increase plaza funding and operational support (Equity)»» Align support for new and existing plazas with the Mayor s affordable housing agenda (Access)»» Identify how plazas can further reduce traffic crashes and support Vision Zero (Connectivity; Safety)»» Leverage plaza support and creation with DOHMH Building Healthy Communities initiatives (Health & Wellbeing)»» Provide additional support to plazas to diversify programming and foster civic engagement (Inclusion/Belonging;Participation)

63 Next Steps: The Experiment

64 More socioeconomically diverse plazas through invitations and programs for children.? What are the design and program signals that invite children and families to spend time in the plazas? How might we determine if more children in a place fosters greater interaction among different socioeconomic groups?

65 We know where you live matters. A recent study by the economist Raj Chetty shows that the neighborhoods kids grow up in play a major role in upward mobility. And the longer they live in these neighborhoods, the bigger the impact.

66 We know where you live matters. Upward mobility is linked to neighborhoods with:»» elementary schools with higher test scores»» a higher share of two-parent families»» greater levels of involvement in civic and religious groups (social capital)»» more residential integration of affluent, middle-class and poor families»» less sprawl (shorter commutes) And the longer they live in these neighborhoods, the bigger the impact.»»

67 We also know that simply interacting with different types of people in public space has an impact on your life.

68 What is social mixing in the public realm? Civic Mixing No Contact Passive Contact Chance Contact Familiar Stranger Friends

69 Thank You. For more information contact: Jeff Risom, Julia D Day, julia@gehlstudio.com