Privately Owned Public Space - New York City Department of City Planning

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Projects & Proposals > Privately Owned Public Space

privately owned public space: 153 east 53rd street - citigroup center

Return to: Introduction or East Midtown - Manhattan CD 6

GENERAL INFORMATION
BUILDING LOCATION
      Full blockfront on east side of
      Lexington Avenue between East
      53rd and East 54th Streets

PRIMARY BUILDING USE
      Commercial

NUMBER OF STORIES   60

YEAR COMPLETED   1975

DEVELOPER
      First National City Bank

BUILDING ARCHITECT
      Hugh Stubbins and Associates
      Emery Roth & Sons

PUBLIC SPACE DESIGNER
      Gwathmey Siegel & Associates (Alteration)

PUBLIC SPACE TYPE
      Plaza
      Through Block Arcade
      Covered Pedestrian Space

ACCESS
	Arcade, Open Air Concourse: Open 24 hours Covered Pedestrian Space & Through Block Arcade: - 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. - Closing for Events: May be closed to the public with advance notice for 6 private and 6 local community and not-for-profit organization events per year, starting no earlier than 3:00 p.m. weekdays or 5:00 p.m. weekends; a sign giving notice of such closing must be posted at each entrance to the Through Block Arcade for seven days prior to the event
	Wheelchair access
AMENITIES
GENERAL
	Plaque/Sign
	2 pairs of escalators to the east and west of Covered Pedestrian Space connecting street level to access to Covered Pedestrian Space
	20 trees on the street
COVERED PEDESTRIAN SPACE
	Food service kiosk
	144 movable seats
	56 movable tables
	8 potted trees
	- Women's restroom near northeast corner of Covered Pedestrian Space - Men's restroom near southeast corner of Covered Pedestrian Space
	- Retail frontage: open specialty market with one use or sales area every 25 feet on East 53rd Street side - Two escalators in the building lobby near Lexington Avenue to subway access, in operation from 7:00 a.m. to midnight - Access to Covered Pedestrian Space from the southwest corner of building on East 53rd Street, from northeast corner building on Third Avenue through restaurant, from Open Air Concourse through building from Plaza on Lexington Avenue
OPEN AIR CONCOURSE PLAZA
	Access to the subway
	Food service cafe
	264 movable seats
	66 movable tables
	10 trees
	Water feature: fountain

SITE PLAN

SUBWAY STATION
5th avenue station at 53rd street - e and v trains; 51st street station at lexington avenue - 6 train

view of plants around of seating area at 153 east 53rd street

view of the seating area at 153 east 53rd street

view of the seating area from ground level 153 east 53rd street

Sources:

Jerold S. Kayden, The New York City Department of City Planning, and The Municipal Art Society of New York Privately Owned Public Space: The New York City Experience, New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2000
New York City Department of City Planning, Manhattan Office