Though the land that is now Bryant Park was set-aside in 1686 as a public space, it became designated as Bryant Park in 1884. The site was originally a potter’s field, or a cemetery for the poor. After being a cemetery, the site held a reservoir, which helped supply the city with water. The site was originally called Reservoir Square in honor of the reservoir. However, it was later destroyed when the park was chosen as a site for the New York Public Library in 1899 and Bryant Park was truly born. The new name was chosen as a way to honor William Cullen Bryant who was not only a popular poet but also a famous abolitionist. The library was built for free from the Tilden Trust and is still part of the site to this day. Though Bryant Park was closely associated with a famous New York landmark, the park eventually became known as an unsavory part of the city. After being redesigned in 1934, the park became a crime-ridden area and was generally unsafe. However, a renovation of the New York Public library helped prompt another redesign in the early 1980s. This overhaul of the park completely changed the landscape of the park and added new amenities. The park was also privatized during this time period and is now controlled by the Bryant Park Corporation. The privatization of the park allowed some the new redesigns because it was important for local businesses to save the park. The park is now a safe, celebrated part of New York that has numerous events and attractions. The park even got wifi in 2002 making it the first wireless park in New York City.
The redesigned Bryant Park is a delightful destination for any busy urbanite. Located in downtown Manhattan, the 9,600 acre park is a breath of fresh air from the bustling city atmosphere. B...
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...enovating the library, the park itself went through an overhaul. The landscape architecture firm Hanna and Olin headed the landscape part of the redesign. Their vision included returning the park to street level and generally opening it up to the public to increase safety. Not only did the landscape of Bryant Park change, but also new amenities and attractions were put in place to make the park popular again. This included adding new statues while fixing up old ones, renovating bathrooms, adding new gardens and generally making the site more attractive. Some of the most popular changes has been a new café and flexible seating which make it an attractive lunch-time spot. The new and improved Bryant Park reopened in 1992 to much praise. Since the redesign, crime has dropped significantly and the park has become a popular destination for both tourists and New Yorkers.
Hines’ article, though not possessing a clear purpose, provides a thorough history of the entire Elysian Park Heights project. He summarizes Chavez Ravine, the architects and their vision, and the downfall of the project due to fears of socialism and a desire for baseball. Hines’ writing effectively triggers a number of emotions, mainly anger and shock that the situation took place. While he provides no introduction to the reader, by the conclusion, Hines definitely provides reason for response.
Years ago, there was once a small town called Chaves Ravine within Los Angeles, California and this town was a poor rural community that was always full of life. Two hundred families, mostly Chicano families, were living here quite peacefully until the Housing Act of 1949 was passed. The Federal Housing Act of 1949 granted money to cities from the federal government to build public housing projects for the low income. Los Angeles was one of the first cities to receive the funds for project. Unfortunately, Chavez Ravine was one of the sites chosen for the housing project, so, to prepare for the construction work of the low-income apartments, the Housing Authority of Los Angeles had to convince the people of the ravine to leave, or forcibly oust them from their property. Since Chavez Ravine was to be used for public use, the Housing Authority of Los Angeles was able seize and buy Chavez Ravine from the property owners and evict whoever stayed behind with the help of Eminent Domain. The LA Housing Authority had told the inhabitants that low-income housing was to be built on the land, but, because of a sequence of events, the public housing project was never built there and instead Dodgers Stadium was built on Chavez Ravine. Although Chavez Ravine public housing project was the result of the goodwill and intent of the government, rather than helping the people Chavez Ravine with their promise of low-income housing, the project ended up destroying many of their lives because of those in opposition of the public housing project and government mismanagement.
...g to give a place for recreation, for the betterment of human welfare and how this was accomplished, just like many of the lessons we have gone covered in this course. Rittenhouse square was intended to be used for recreational purposes and that is the exact thing it is used for, whether it be a family picnicking in the park, a business man escaping from work for a quick lunch on a nearby bench, or just a general visit to look at the wonders this square holds and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This is one place I do not believe needs any improvements, the local people have done so much to make this a great place throughout the years. This square has even been referenced as the “perfect urban neighborhood because of its excellent balance of residential and commercial uses, beautiful nature and flora, and diverse architectural styles” by Jane Jacobs.
Washington Square Park is home to thousands of New York University Students, families leisurely strolling through the park on afternoons, people cooling off at the fountain during the summer, couples lounging on the green grass, and even home to the New York City Pillow Fight held during the summer. At the center of Greenwich Village, it provides an escape from the busy traffic and city surrounding it. Most importantly, it is home to the Washington Square Arch.
...n, assistant director of the City of Los Angeles Housing Authority, was put in charge of the redevelopment of Chavez Ravine. He envisioned a public housing space for thousands of low rent housing units. The site of the redeveloped land was to be called Elysian Park Heights Public Housing(Fig. 1), here the fist inhabitants would be from the few hundred people evicted from their homes to make way for the public housing project. Frank Wilkinson states himself in The Documentary film Chavez Ravine: A Los Angeles story, He affirms, "We prepared certificates to every family (the certificate said) when the certificate was built you, and your family would be the first priority to get there, you can pick the part of the project you wanted to live in." This would prove to be the start of the lies and broken promises handed to the residents of the Chavez Ravine communities .
The solution to this was to create green spaces in the city environment so that nature was accessible by all. A couple examples of this would be Central park in New York and Stanley Park itself. Both Central and Stanley Park are large parks that are centered in a large city and are surrounded the concrete jungle of the city. The idea of the urban park was created during the 19th century and was under the premise that the city was a dirty and unhealthy environment to be in. While, the park showed a natural, clean, and healthy environment. The unhealthy environment of the city was due to the industrialization of the major cities, which were full of epidemic and constant violence . This would be much different from the natural feel of parks and “natural” landscape, as these areas would have little development and be “pristine”. Also, they would be more peaceful and lack the human epidemics of the city. Thus, the building of green spaces in the city was meant to calm and relax the citizens and provide a chance of pace to “cleanse” the mind and body of the weary citizens
As highlighted by William Jordy in his book American Building and their architects: first, the placing of the central courtyard in a library hindered communication between the different sections of the library. Second, although the courted building allowed for wider stacking systems (a maximum width of 40 feet) and windows, McKim could not leverage this advantage, since smaller windows needed to be placed around the stacks as a “precaution against large scale conflagration.” Third, the random placement of ancillary rooms for special collection, the lecture hall, toilets stacking system, and lockers to fit into the main building program, appear to have little consideration for their utility
She also introducing new urban building standards. This this article she talks about, the idea some people have of tearing it down and rebuilding. She also talks about ideas people have about some parts of towns. In Boston, she talks about the area of North End, and the change that it was over gone. During her second visit to this area, she discovered that it had changed. She talked to other about it, although the statistic were higher than the city, the people still saw it as a slum. They felt that they needed to tear it down in order to build something better. This leads to the conclusion that the urban planners to do understand that the people of the city need. They have ideas that were developed years ago that they are still using. These ideas do not take account what the people want. The author also introducing new ideas of a perfect city to live in and what it would look like. The idea of a garden city was introduced. This city would be built around a park. Although the new ideas sounded great they could not be put into place today. The idea of a Garden City is something that sounds nice, but it is not possible in society today. Today a city should reflect economic status, and in order to achieve this the city should be big, and convey an image of power. A city that has aspects of nature in it would not convey that image. That upkeep of a city of that kind would also be difficult. The do understand the author's point of view. The planners often times do not take into account the desires of the people. The town that I grow up in want to become more urbanized. In order to do this, they are building a large shopping center. This shopping center is located in the canyon rim. This canyon rim has been important the people for many years. We come to the area to walk, what bass jumpers, and enjoy the scenic views. This new shopping center took away this area. Many of the people
The plan for an American Crystal Palace originated with Edward Riddle, a Boston auctioneer and carriage-maker. He assembled a group of New York bankers who had either visited or heard marvelous stories about the London exhibition and were more than willing to invest in a similar project in the United States. Riddle tried but failed to interest the famed entrepreneur, P.T. Barnum, in the project. The group of investors soon petitioned the Board of Aldermen in New York City for use of Madison Square, located in lower Manhattan where Broadway and Fifth Avenue meet at 23rd Street, to build a "house of iron and steel for an Industrial Exhibition.
The form of park that came about to end this search was the amusement park, and the most well known of these amusement parks was Coney Island. The major reason this type of park was so successful was because of all it did for society. One thing it did was raise post office restrictions on the mailing of picture postcards since so many people wanted to mail family and friends to show them how much fun they were having. Coney Island was also like a safe-haven for immigrants. Here everyone was kind and there were lots of things to be done so it was a good way for the new residences of the country to experience America. This boost in immigration also gave the country a greater ethnic diversity. The fact the park had such a liberating social setting also brought about changes in fashion, and sexual expression. The rides provided the right scenes for couples to express their love for each other in public more often, and as a result this public display of affection became more accepted. The beaches also gave society a more accepting ideology to the thought of more revealing clothing.
Baseball is one of the world's greatest sports and is played almost everywhere in the world. It is also one of the most historic games. The main historic part of baseball deals with the ballparks, the cities, and the teams that have been around for such a long time. Then you have the one and only Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. Fenway Park is the longest standing and is still being used of all the Major League ballparks in the United States. Throughout the 100 years of Fenway Park's existence it has been built, named, burned down, rebuilt, and a whole lot of adding on to the ballpark.
...mendation. ‘It's about time,’ Fine said. ‘If you destroy the landmark, you should be punished for it" (Dardick and Mendel). Many historic features were obliterated during the renovation. Only the exterior walls and a small seating portion at the south end of the field are historic remainders. Many new and modern extensions were added to the field.
Public Spaces provide unique experiences and contribute to the identity of a city. Found as places like plazas, parks, marketplaces, within buildings, lobbies and many more. Public spaces are important to our society and therefore face more arguments in design and construction compared to private spaces.
When you associate anything with New York City it is usually the extraordinary buildings that pierce the sky or the congested sidewalks with people desperate to shop in the famous stores in which celebrities dwell. Even with my short visit there I found myself lost within the Big Apple. The voices of the never-ending attractions call out and envelop you in their awe. The streets are filled with an atmosphere that is like a young child on a shopping spree in a candy store. Although your feet swelter from the continuous walking, you find yourself pressing on with the yearning to discover the 'New York Experience'.
Washington Square In Putt's book Henry James: A Readers Guide, he speaks in a chapter about Washington Square. Within this chapter, he goes over the role that Catherine plays in the story. She ultimately chooses spinsterhood, and not to defy her father, and to be the good daughter. The theme of avoidance of marriage, spinsterhood, is something that is focused on by James in much of his work (Putt 46).