January 27, 200916 yr At least Atlantic Yards has a Bdubs.. that's the only reason I venture to Brooklyn. Well haven't you become the little elitist! ;) Why yes, yes I have.. :)
January 27, 200916 yr At least Atlantic Yards has a Bdubs.. that's the only reason I venture to Brooklyn. Well haven't you become the little elitist! ;) Why yes, yes I have.. :) See what living on the UES has done! Even your "yikes" girlfriend is over you!
February 11, 200916 yr Author here are a couple shots of this i took yesterday....as they say in bowling from the brooklyn side it's really filling up the sky just below the brooklyn bridge and at last we get the goods we've been waiting for, the first glimpse of patented undulating metallic gehry skin um....with the off the shelf window glass? :wtf: oy the comments! http://curbed.com/archives/2009/02/11/holy_beekman_frank_gehrys_heavy_metal_revealed.php
February 12, 200916 yr here are a couple shots of this i took yesterday....as they say in bowling from the brooklyn side it's really filling up the sky just below the brooklyn bridge and at last we get the goods we've been waiting for, the first glimpse of patented undulating metallic gehry skin um....with the off the shelf window glass? :wtf: oy the comments! http://curbed.com/archives/2009/02/11/holy_beekman_frank_gehrys_heavy_metal_revealed.php The windows are a cost-cutting feature. I have no doubt about that. Custom designed windows are very, very expensive. This was a way of creating a custom layout that utilizes a standard window dimension. The metal skin is interesting though. It will be fun to see the way the entire building looks during varying daylight conditions. Like it or not, you will look at it, and you will talk about it. I think that's one of the intentions of several of the "big name, arrogant" architects that so many of you hate.
February 12, 200916 yr Author well remember that facade will be way up so it will only be seen at a distance. the non-metallic base, which will have a school in it, is very plain and warehouse-like. that's good tho because otherwise i think a shiny cladding would blind people. for ex., a similiar metal cladding does just that on this wacky new pos building in chelsea on 10th ave/24th st: http://www.245tenthave.com/
February 13, 200916 yr This thing is going to look horrendous. Its NYC, do you think they care? The units are small and super expensive! Apartments like this are considered "toys" to those who can afford them.
February 13, 200916 yr This thing is going to look horrendous. Its NYC, do you think they care? The units are small and super expensive! Apartments like this are considered "toys" to those who can afford them. This doesn't change that the building is horrendous.
February 13, 200916 yr This thing is going to look horrendous. Its NYC, do you think they care? The units are small and super expensive! Apartments like this are considered "toys" to those who can afford them. This doesn't change that the building is horrendous. LMAO!
February 14, 200916 yr I know some people here read skyscraperpage, but does anyone remember how annoying the wavy-glass comments got? It's really difficult to remove imperfections in the "flatness" of glass, so when it goes up on a box, you see "waves" or bubbles across the facade. It's been that way forever, but people over there sure do like to complain about it. In fact, they banned posting about it in project threads, but allow it in the wavy-glass thread. It seems like this building would be perfect for them. Rejoice, wavy-glass has its place.
February 16, 200916 yr Author i know, they go off on that on wired ny too. bubbling aside, i think it's more that they spent all this money on the wavy metal gehry facade, but then plopped in standard flat home depot windows. it was kind of shocking, i guess i expected more custom-made windows? however, no one is going notice as they are high up over the base. not to mention the glare off the metallic-skinned building will probably blind you to them anyway. when we get more "skin" going up i'll head down there and check it out.
February 27, 200916 yr Broadway to kick cars to the curb http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-02-26-nystreets_N.htm By Martha T. Moore, USA TODAY NEW YORK — Start singing a lullaby for Broadway. The famous street is being shut down at the crossroads of the world: Times Square. To speed traffic and give pedestrians more elbow room, New York City will close five blocks of Broadway around Times Square to traffic. The famed Great White Way between 42nd and 47th streets will become a pedestrian zone with benches, tables and landscaping. Farther south, two blocks of Broadway at Herald Square, home of Macy's flagship store, also will be closed. For more, click the link
February 27, 200916 yr Wow. Clevelanders can't close public square though, the traffic would be unbearable!!!
February 27, 200916 yr This is the worst idea ever. 1.) Part of the mystique of Times Square is the congestion. 2.) This is just going to make the adjoining streets even more conjested. 3.) The traffic is composed of 95% taxis; it's not like it is full of commuters who choose to drive. 4.) Are they going to apply this logic elsewhere? The subway is crowded, close it! The GW Bridge is congested all the time, no more cars allowed!
February 27, 200916 yr This is the worst idea ever. 1.) Part of the mystique of Times Square is the congestion. 2.) This is just going to make the adjoining streets even more conjested. 3.) The traffic is composed of 95% taxis; it's not like it is full of commuters who choose to drive. 4.) Are they going to apply this logic elsewhere? The subway is crowded, close it! The GW Bridge is congested all the time, no more cars allowed! I'll disagree as I was involved in this. It's not taxis that is the concern it's pedestrians. The are is swarming with pedestrians from approximately 3:30pm to Midnight. The sidewalks of TS are virtually packed. From May to October the number of pedestrians per hour number can increase by 10/15%. Merchants were losing potential dollars as the area is considered a "tourist trap", unsafe and unappealing. In order to ease pedestrian congestion, draw consumers into stores/restaurants this was a happy medium. Last summer and fall there were other shutdowns of major arteries in Manhattan which made residents and merchants happy.
February 27, 200916 yr Author it's like this -- if mayor bloomie couldn't get his congestion pricing....he'll just move on to the B plan --> adding bike lanes, plazas, bridge tolls, etc. & even getting rid of the streets themselves -- boo ya back at ya albany!!! :laugh:
February 28, 200916 yr it's like this -- if mayor bloomie couldn't get his congestion pricing....he'll just move on to the B plan --> adding bike lanes, plazas, bridge tolls, etc. & even getting rid of the streets themselves -- boo ya back at ya albany!!! :laugh: You Sir are not far from the idea. They're going to vote down any increase but Albany doesn't have the money to spend combined with the massive layoffs in NYC, the transit system is actually losing riders. Imagine that.
February 28, 200916 yr Cool slideshow here... http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/02/26/more-detail-on-nycs-car-free-broadway-plan/
February 28, 200916 yr Full post with text here: http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/02/26/a-bold-and-transformative-new-vision-for-broadway/
February 28, 200916 yr If you're interested in this project, check out what NYC already has done with Madison Square... http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/the-transformation-of-nycs-madison-square/ (sorry won't let me embed the video)
February 28, 200916 yr When I first started to read the article, I had to go back and double-check my calendar to make sure it wasn't April 1, but I think it's an exciting idea. I'm eager to see how it plays out because of the implications for other cities and their traffic planning.
February 28, 200916 yr We do a lot of advertising in the direct area and we've noticed a clear pickup of the direct/interactive billboards. We can actually see people siting on 41 and broadway and it's not just tourist. It also keeps people from smoking in building entrances.
February 28, 200916 yr D@mn, at first I didn't like the idea, but with those photos Uncle Rando posted, it doesn't look too bad. I better get to NYC again before I don't recognize it haha.
February 28, 200916 yr I'll disagree as I was involved in this. It's not taxis that is the concern it's pedestrians. The are is swarming with pedestrians from approximately 3:30pm to Midnight. The sidewalks of TS are virtually packed. From May to October the number of pedestrians per hour number can increase by 10/15%. Merchants were losing potential dollars as the area is considered a "tourist trap", unsafe and unappealing. In order to ease pedestrian congestion, draw consumers into stores/restaurants this was a happy medium. Last summer and fall there were other shutdowns of major arteries in Manhattan which made residents and merchants happy. With or without street traffic, the place will be packed with pedestrians, mostly tourists or anyone else going there for novelty reasons. I was there when they closed down Park Ave. a few times over the summer (I work on Park). It was really great. It was nice because they just closed the street, and let people enjoy the space. They didn't shut it down, fill it with pavers, tables, umbrellas, and planters - forever changing the character of a historic space. That's what this scheme with Times Square seems to look like to me. My biggest peeve here is that the entire character of the space is changed massively, and I guess I just don't think it's changed for the better. It's Disneyland-esque.
February 28, 200916 yr Author if it turns out anything like madison square park did, than i am all for it. i'm not sure, but it looks to be a lot like that, so....good. hey, for now anything to get some cars off the roads in manhattan is fine by me. if i were king, and as roads have such an unfair monopoly, i'd make a lot more improvements for pedestrians than just this. i'd be taking out lanes for wider sidewalks and plazas left and right. not to mention i'd tax any vehicle that wasn't a taxi or delivery van. luckily i don't have to be king as bloomie has this mindset too and he's doing it.
March 1, 200916 yr if it turns out anything like madison square park did, than i am all for it. i'm not sure, but it looks to be a lot like that, so....good. Couldn't agree with you more. The Madison Square transformation was profound and I'm sure it's had an amazing impact on the area. This has the possibility of achieving similar success.
March 2, 200916 yr It seemed a lot more drastic than Madison Square Park to me, just going by the images posted above. You can still drive the streets adjacent to the park, whereas this proposal closes Broadway completely and converts it to a food court. Madison Square Park was green space to begin with too, Times Square is a cavernous, crowded, extremely busy urban space. If Broadway becomes a plaza/pedestrian mall/food court.. Times Square will never be the same.
March 2, 200916 yr Madison Square Park was green space to begin with too, Times Square is a cavernous, crowded, extremely busy urban space. If Broadway becomes a plaza/pedestrian mall/food court.. Times Square will never be the same. Why does replacing cars with people make a place less "cavernous," "crowded," "extremely busy," and/or "urban?"
March 2, 200916 yr Madison Square Park was green space to begin with too, Times Square is a cavernous, crowded, extremely busy urban space. If Broadway becomes a plaza/pedestrian mall/food court.. Times Square will never be the same. Why does replacing cars with people make a place less "cavernous," "crowded," "extremely busy," and/or "urban?" Exactly. 6/7/8 avenues are right there. it's not like drivers have that much of a diversion. TS is a destination. And like everything in NYC, money & corporate sponsors rule.
March 2, 200916 yr Madison Square Park was green space to begin with too, Times Square is a cavernous, crowded, extremely busy urban space. If Broadway becomes a plaza/pedestrian mall/food court.. Times Square will never be the same. Why does replacing cars with people make a place less "cavernous," "crowded," "extremely busy," and/or "urban?" Exactly. 6/7/8 avenues are right there. it's not like drivers have that much of a diversion. TS is a destination. And like everything in NYC, money & corporate sponsors rule. Exactly.. if anything, a smart New Yorker avoids this area all-together. I don't get in a cab and decide to drive through TS, I avoid it at all costs.
March 2, 200916 yr I guess that means more street furniture to slap ads all over. Yep! Trust me...If we can do what we did with SATC to Times Square I'll have Warner items from Herald Square to Columbus Circle! Take that Viacom!!
March 2, 200916 yr Madison Square Park was green space to begin with too, Times Square is a cavernous, crowded, extremely busy urban space. If Broadway becomes a plaza/pedestrian mall/food court.. Times Square will never be the same. Why does replacing cars with people make a place less "cavernous," "crowded," "extremely busy," and/or "urban?" It will make it look and feel less like Times Square, and just dull down the apperance of the space. The whole project has everything to do with making money, which is fine by me I guess. I just don't buy the whole congestion-based argument. Tourists will get there elbow room, and that's about it.
March 2, 200916 yr Madison Square Park was green space to begin with too, Times Square is a cavernous, crowded, extremely busy urban space. If Broadway becomes a plaza/pedestrian mall/food court.. Times Square will never be the same. Why does replacing cars with people make a place less "cavernous," "crowded," "extremely busy," and/or "urban?" It will make it look and feel less like Times Square, and just dull down the apperance of the space. The whole project has everything to do with making money, which is fine by me I guess. I just don't buy the whole congestion-based argument. Tourists will get there elbow room, and that's about it. Oh hush hata! lol
March 2, 200916 yr I'm surprised by some of these negative comments. Personally, I predict that this experiment will be a huge success. Have the naysayers been to Times Square recently? I could hardly believe the stunning changes that happened between visits in 2003 and 2008, and it was already pretty damn nice in 2003. Now, the area is so vibrant and completely overcrowded with pedestrians, it's practically begging for this kind of pedestrian mall. There's certainly no question that the pedestrian component itself will be successful. Failed pedestrian malls of the past were usually built as an attempt to inject urban vitality to a street. Conversely, Times Square already has the vitality to the point that pedestrians are dangerously spilling off the sidewalks in the first place. This is one of the few places in America where the pedestrian demand totally outstrips the pedestrian infrastructure, and I'm glad to see that the city will be bumping up the supply!! As for the traffic, these articles point out that Broadway is a break in the grid, and is actually counterproductive to Manhattan's traffic flow. I'll be interested to see if this part comes true, but it makes logical sense.
March 3, 200916 yr to heck with all of this garbage! Bring back the old Times Square :cry: http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
March 3, 200916 yr Author ....I just don't buy the whole congestion-based argument. Tourists will get there elbow room, and that's about it. ok here's the deal on that: madison square took out 45k sq ft of road and gave it over to pedestrians (i learned that from rando's video link, did you check that out? it's inspiring). i'd also guess roughly the same too for the meatpacking district before it. so that's the alterna/stealth-congestion pricing part. as for times square, the changes, transformation or disneyfication or whatever you wanna call it is long over. it is what it is now. there is no denying the crush of people around there is much more than it ever was. in fact i think it is often extremely dangerous. i have had to walk in the street many times, even on side streets -- not good! that was never an issue in the bad old days -- ditto for the meatpacking district, too. my last thought about it is again remember that nyc in general is criminally underserved for places to sit down. the tkts booth steps and this project will go a long way toward correcting that in times square -- a place where it's the most needed of all. bottom line is you can take heart as it's just an experiment. so we'll see. give it a chance.
March 3, 200916 yr ^ I took a look at the link. I still think what happened at Madison was a bit different in the way it approached re-configuring the traffic flow. I think at Times Square it will give the apperance of better traffic flow, but travel times will probably end up a bit longer. As for making it a pedestrian mall, I have no doubt it will be used, I just think it will ruin the feel of the space. I guess it's been changing for awhile though, so the hope that it keeps the same feel might be in vain. To answer the previous question, as a naysayer ;-) I live in NYC currently so I visit it every once in awhile. I actually walk underneath it every day on the way to work.
March 3, 200916 yr I live in NYC currently so I visit it every once in awhile. I actually walk underneath it every day on the way to work. Therefore your profile is a lie.. you are not in Cincinnati, Ohio. :)
March 3, 200916 yr I live in NYC currently so I visit it every once in awhile. I actually walk underneath it every day on the way to work. Therefore your profile is a lie.. you are not in Cincinnati, Ohio. :) Spoken like a true Eastsider (by way of Solon).
March 3, 200916 yr I live in NYC currently so I visit it every once in awhile. I actually walk underneath it every day on the way to work. Therefore your profile is a lie.. you are not in Cincinnati, Ohio. :) Spoken like a true Eastsider (by way of Solon). I believe my profile is accurate.. it says "New York, NY" where I reside. :)
March 3, 200916 yr I live in NYC currently so I visit it every once in awhile. I actually walk underneath it every day on the way to work. Therefore your profile is a lie.. you are not in Cincinnati, Ohio. :) Spoken like a true Eastsider (by way of Solon). I believe my profile is accurate.. it says "New York, NY" where I reside. :) LOL LOL Ahhhh you UES folks. How is your friend Bernie? LOL
March 3, 200916 yr I can understand opposition to the extent that someone simply dislikes change. That's a natural instinct, and virtually any project in the history of development projects will have opponents who like the way things are (or used to be). But as far as the character of the street goes, I'm just not sure that's a strong factor in this context. First of all, you have all these people who clearly think the character will IMPROVE with this change. Furthermore, the pedestrian mall is addressing serious infrastructure issues (both pedestrian and auto) in an amazingly inexpensive way. If this project is even half as successful at reducing pedestrian and auto conjestion as the proponents say its going to be, it'll be one of the cheapest fixes in the history of the city!! :)
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