Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Urban Design

Jan Gehl Reflects on San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf

By Matthew Roth | Oct 9, 2008 | 3 Comments

"When I was a visiting professor at Berkeley in the 1980s, I used to come to Fisherman’s Wharf and walk around," Danish urban designer Jan Gehl said Wednesday night, to more than 100 San Franciscans at the Pier 39 Theater near Fisherman’s Wharf. "Now it’s like deja vu; it’s exactly like I remember it 25 […]

New MTA Grates Double as Seating, Bike Racks

By Brad Aaron | Oct 1, 2008 | 12 Comments

Not to steal anyone’s thunder, but the MTA has rolled out the second of three prototype grates designed to keep stormwater out of the subways while doubling as street furniture. The first design, though incorporating a bench, is more artful and less functional than the prototype shown above, which includes seating as well as bike […]

Weigh in on the Future of City Bike Racks

By Brad Aaron | Oct 1, 2008 | 18 Comments

The 10 finalists in the CityRacks Design Competition, announced last March, are on the streets and ready for use, with prototypes installed in four of the five boroughs (sorry, Staten Island). Rack locations are mapped on the contest blog, where the city is accepting comments on each design. Nine of the prototype racks are also […]

Grand Army Plaza, Reinvented

By Jason Varone | Sep 17, 2008 | 1 Comment

Last Saturday, the opening of the Design Trust for Public Space’s "Reinventing Grand Army Plaza" exhibit quickly transformed the plaza, normally devoid of any street life, into a vibrant public space. Visitors were welcomed with live music, a dance performance, food and exhibition tours. This photo set on Flickr has over 400 shots from Saturday’s […]

Bloomberg, Sadik-Khan to Hold 11:00 Madison Square Presser

By Brad Aaron | Sep 5, 2008 | 1 Comment

Mayor Bloomberg and DOT Commish Janette Sadik-Khan will be officially unveiling public space improvements to Madison Square at 11:00 this morning, on 23rd St. between Broadway and Fifth Ave. If any citizen journalists will be in the area, please send us a pic if you can.

Share Your Green Urban Story

By Brad Aaron | Sep 4, 2008 | 7 Comments

SustainLane, known for its ranking of greenest US cities, is looking for short essays on sustainable urban living. Here are a few ideas from the contest guidelines: Tell us the story about the commuter rail that doesn’t exist (voted down yet again). Would it run near your neighborhood, if it did? Tell us about […]

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