activity #3

Bianca Klotsman

Public vs. Private

What is the difference between public vs. private? A private space refers to a space which is designed for the exclusive use of buildings occupiers. A public space refers to an area or place that is open and accessible to all citizens, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or age; A place where there is no fee or paid ticket required for entry. If this is true, then why is the subway referred to as “public transportation” when there is a $2.25 surcharge? In such a crowded city like New York, even public spaces have “private” rules.

For this particular assignment I chose to walk around Soho, which I learned stands for South of Houston. I took the 6 Train from Hunter College down to Spring street. I know that the assignment said to choose a 10 block radius, but Soho which happens to be one of the largest villages in the world, is only about 8 blocks wide and 5 blocks long. The neighborhood is bordered between Broadway and Avenue of the Americas. I walked in and around the cobblestone streets of Canal, Grand, Broome, Spring, Prince, and Houston trying to distinguish the difference between private and public spaces. I chose to walk around Soho because the area is known always being artistic and for its unique boutiques. Technically a boutique should be a public space because it welcomes all customers, but at the same time it is privately owned by an individual. While walking amongst the streets, even the “chain stores” such as H&M, Zara, and Chanel looked as if they were private spaces because of the unique architecture they settled in. Because Soho is so antique, as is the architecture and cobblestone streets, it makes it all the more private because it cannot easily be fixed, therefore being looked out for by the city more carefully.

In the book “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” written by Jane Jacobs, she says "Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody." I thought this was an appropriate quote to use for this blog entry because each part of New York City offers something different for everybody. There is the preppy area of the Upper East side, Times Square known for its amazing lights and tourist attractions, and then you have the trendy young area of Soho for the young and artistic.