A “privately owned public space” might sound like an oxymoron, but in New York City, it’s a designation dating back to 1961 for the public plazas, parks, and lobbies that private owners maintain and keep open for all.
Developers get extra square footage or zoning waivers from the city in exchange for creating and maintaining a green space for the public to enjoy. According to the NYC Department of Planning, the city’s 590 privately owned public spaces (POPS), provide the equivalent of nine Bryant Parks, or 3.8 million square feet.
Three years ago, the New York Times documented compliance issues with the program. About one in five of the properties’ owners had violated the terms of their agreements. There have also been more recent controversies over developers’ duty to provide and maintain these spaces that are “easily seen and understood as open to the public” and convey “openness,” as the city’s design standards require…