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: 55 east 52nd street - park avenue plaza

Return to: Introduction or Central Midtown - Manhattan CD 5

GENERAL INFORMATION
North side of East 52nd Street between
      Park and Madison Avenues

PRIMARY BUILDING USE
      Commercial

NUMBER OF STORIES   40

YEAR COMPLETED   1979

DEVELOPER
      Fisher Brothers

BUILDING ARCHITECT
      Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

PUBLIC SPACE TYPE
      Through Block Arcade

ACCESS
	Through Block Arcade: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
	Wheelchair access
AMENITIES
	Signs on East 52nd and 53rd Streets announcing hours of access, 3 signs stating "all seating available to public and no purchase of food or beverage required" adjacent to movable chairs
	Bicycle parking
	Air conditioning
	Drinking fountain
	Minimum 20 foot candles during the day and 15 foot candles during the night
	- Planting: seasonal and ground cover - 16 trees within the space
	132 movable chairs
	33 tables
	2 next to elevators west of Through Block Arcade
	- Retail frontage: 20 linear feet along the Through Block Arcade, 220 lf along adjacent retail arcade - Water feature: • fountain and pool • 2 kiosks • Skylight
	Litter receptacles

SITE PLAN

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

view of the through block arcade at 55 east 52nd street

view of the retail frontage along the through block arcade at 55 east 52nd street

view of the seating area at 55 east 52nd 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