Open Plans, Inc.

Radical or Rational? Change can be uncomfortable, even when it's for the better. Transformative changes to NYC streets—like curb extensions, bike lanes, and trash containerization—are often labeled 'radical.' But what if they're simply thorough and far-reaching solutions to longstanding issues? We examine this perspective through our vision for West 72nd Street, showcased in a new Streetfilms video by Clarence Eckerson Jr. and Carl Jordan Mahaney with Sofia Vala, Rachel Grosso, AICP, Laura Sachs & more. Consider how these changes could create a more accessible, equitable city for all. Is it radical to envision streets that truly serve people? Or is it just rational? Our vision for West 72nd Street, two new community boards joining the daylighting movement, greenway detours, and more in this month's edition of the StreetopiaUWS newsletter.

Public space is one of the most reliable indicators of mental & social health. People with access to quality public spaces have lower levels of psychosocial distress, even if they don't visit those spaces very often. Areas with good public space are associated with lower levels of poor mental health for adults, & fewer emotional & behavioral problems among children. When we invest in public space as a society, we're supporting people & building an environment where they can thrive! Our new framework for public space management will ensure that every single New Yorker has access to these public space benefits. Read all about it at the link in our bio. ?? 1/3 31st Avenue Open Street, Queens by Bobby Feltault 2/3 Jennings Open Street, Bronx by Street Lab 3/3 Flatiron Nomad, Manhattan

"No single legislative action did more to contribute to housing creation than the elimination of parking minimums." Minneapolis already proved it. NYC, it's our turn to lead. https://lnkd.in/efwjf6kA

Public space management is good for business & City coffers: Ditmars Open Street in Astoria saw a 44% increase in taxable sales during operation while a similar nearby corridor without an Open Street saw a 7% decrease. Willoughby Street in Brooklyn saw an 18% more foot traffic & 47% more sales at businesses after the pedestrian plaza was installed. Even street trees themselves play a role! Their aesthetic, amenity, shade, water-regulating, carbon reduction, & air quality benefits create a mean benefit of $129 per tree per year, with a benefit-to-cost ratio of 5.43 (meaning that for every dollar spent, $5.43 is generated). Our 666,000 street trees in NYC are creating $86 million in benefits a year! When we invest in public space management, it pays dividends. ?? ?? 1,2 /4 Ditmars Open Street; Willoughby Shared Street by New York City Department of Transportation 3/4 31st Avenue Open Street by Jackson Chabot

Our groundbreaking report, "Framework for the Future," outlining an innovative approach to managing NYC's shared areas is now live! We're proposing community-based management teams, a new Deputy Commissioner for Public Space, and reduced bureaucracy to foster vibrant, well-maintained public spaces across all boroughs. This initiative promises to create jobs, boost community well-being, and strengthen neighborhood connections. More on our new report, City of Yes for Housing entering City Council phase, opportunities for public space stewardship and more in this week's edition of the Open Plans newsletter.

"Lifting [parking mandates] is the lever by which the other proposals will deliver the progress that NYC desperately needs." - Sara Lind Parking mandates must not be sacrificed on the altar of compromise in the City of Yes negotiations. https://lnkd.in/efwjf6kA

The transformation of Jackson Heights' 34th Avenue from a traffic-choked street to New York City's gold standard for Open Streets exemplifies how public spaces can reshape community life. By engaging with longtime residents, artists, and community activists, urban studies graduate (and ex-Open Plans intern) Henry Mei weaves together their stories to reveal how this change has improved everything from children's school commutes to neighborhood social connections. Mei's analysis extends beyond this single street, offering a window into the power of community-driven urban planning. He traces Jackson Heights' evolution from an exclusionary "garden city" to its current status as a vibrant, diverse neighborhood hungry for public space. The neighborhood's mere two square feet of park space per resident, a fraction of the 140 square feet enjoyed elsewhere in the borough, underscores the significance of Paseo Park on 34th Avenue, demonstrating what's possible when communities come together. ?? by Henry Mei

What IS public space management? Public spaces have many moving parts. 1. The land itself 2. The things! Benches, tables, chairs, umbrellas, trash bins; tree pits, planters; & bus & bike lanes, bike corrals. 3. Activities - planned events & programming, as well as the admin & budget work that make them happen. All these moving parts are managed by a sea of stakeholders. Sometimes they're City employees, sometimes contractors, sometimes volunteers. They're answering urgent calls about maintenance issues as well as trying to program long-term. Or they're budgeting for a space's programming without having an understanding of the on-the-ground situation. It's a tangled knot of roles & responsibilities, which leaves a lot on the table. We think the tasks can be divided into three key pillars: Stewardship (the day-to-day, on-the-ground maintenance), Community Coordination (making sure a public space is activated & that it reflects the residents & users of the space), and Facilitation (high-level problem solving & vision that helps move a project through official channels & make change). When we say we aren't really managing public space in NYC right now, this is what we mean. We haven't organized the roles into these three separate (but collaborative!) buckets and staffed our public spaces with the support needed to get the jobs done. That's why we're calling for the creation of 59 public space teams in NYC - one for each district - that would ensure no job is too big or too small for our local public spaces. #publicspacemanagement

Summer is coming to a close and the new school year is beginning in NYC, with young students from all over the five boroughs pouring out onto our crowded streets everyday before and after class. I took the opportunity to reflect on my own childhood growing up as a public school student in Jackson Heights, a childhood shaped by the long-standing lack of adequate public space in this diverse and storied neck of Queens. It's a childhood I saw reflected in the lived experiences of other locals I've met advocating for long-needed public space in our home neighborhood, and who spoke with me as part of my senior thesis focused on this very topic. Find out more in my blog post with Open Plans, Inc. – https://lnkd.in/dsd5SeTu

So proud to have helped over 20 schools apply for the DOT's Open Streets program this year - from College Point to Washington Heights to the Northwest Bronx to Hollis to Elmhurst - all kids deserve safe space to play! Especially proud to see my work covered in the New York Times - check out the full article to learn more about the program! https://lnkd.in/g72-D4Wq