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Here's your hotly-anticipated first look at the new permanent tables and chairs in the probably-permanent Broadway pedestrian plazas. Yesterday we showed you the funny installation art created out of the controversial old chairs, which were turned into a mountain of colorful plastic by sculptor Jason Peters. The 400 brand-new metal seats were unfolded this morning by the Times Square Alliance, and surely all will agree that they're a welcome addition to this urban oasis. Still, he world awaits the final verdict from NY Post columnist Andrea Peyser, who hated the plastic chairs with a town hall passion.
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They look like the Bryant Park chairs painted red.
"Half the chairs missing from Bryant Park; Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe seen washing hands vigorously"
It's like the package of exploding money given by a teller to a bank robber. I think we have to see his mug shot.
French Bistro action, much better.
super investment with our public tax dollars, i hope they were at least made in the USA. what is to keep people from stealing them?
the fact that they are cheap foldies belies the permanence of this plan.
Similar Bryant Park chairs/tables have been there for years.
Uh, no. They were paid for by the Times Square Alliance. That's a private non-profit, not funded by tax dollars.
Are you sure they don't received Taxpayer's money. NYC Go is a Quasi-govt agency and all the money is funnel to blomberg business friends. nonprofit Friends of the High Line (BID) received over 100 million of taxpayer's money. Shame, many of them are receiving large salaries and are close allies of both Bloomberg and Quinn.
http://chelseanow.com/articles/2009/08/16/news/doc4a843eab180c1929222831.txt
uh no? fiction can be fun, but let's roll on over to some hard facts.
the TSA report for 2009 is not out yet for obvious reasons, so let's look at the wide array of funding for a recent project, Duffy Square. from their 2008 report:
"The transformation of Duffy Square was made possible by support from public sector leadership and private donations. The Alliance and its partners thank Mayor
Michael R. Bloomberg and Speaker Christine C. Quinn, along with former Speaker Miller, Representatives Nadler and Maloney, Assembly Member Gottfried, and a host of City agencies, including the Departments of Cultural Affairs, Design & Construction, Parks & Recreation, Small Business Services, and Transportation, as
well as the Economic Development Corporation, and New York City Transit, for their generous support for this project."
http://www.timessquarenyc.org/about_us/indicator_reports.html
Yep they do received our money which is funnel for their own business needs. Bloomberg and Quinn have been diverting MILLIons of public money into private hands. shame on them. Vote them both out.
Well, duh! Of course there's some public funding for massive projects like Duffy Square and Times Square. Who do you think is responsible for the roads and sidewalks? You don't think the city might want to do have some say in what's being built above its subway? Yeah, I'm sure DOT would let anyone do whatever they want to the streets. Right. But you have yet to produce any proof that this furniture was paid for by the city and not by the Alliance's capital fund, as you assert.
Ladies and gentlemen: Our long citywide nightmare is over.
yay chairs & tables!
Is that a homeless vagrant that smells like pee with the de rigueur duane reade bag christening the first table in the first pic? awesome.
Gold watch, expensive looking headphones, and Starbucks double-frappa-mocha-chino-latte says otherwise.
(However, there is no doubt the homeless will find these chairs irresistible within the next few days).
I remember when the homeless shopping bags all said "47th Street Photo"
You wouldn't say that if the guy was white, with that watch, that coffee and headphones he doesn't look like a vagrant.
You wouldn't say that about a white guy wearing that watch and drinking a fancy coffee with headphones on.
A 2 bagger.
Separated by 16 minutes. A Gothamist hiccup.
that guy ISN'T white? how can you tell?
White guys don't wear headphones like that.
Mmmmm breathe in that fresh air everyone!!!
At least a bit fresher minus a few lanes of belching automobiles.
yes the impact is immeasurable...
That caps off my daily dose of sarcasm :)
at least the seats are smaller so the obese won't be able to sit. I seen all these men sitting with their guts hanging out and all I could think was if you only went vegetarian then you would be slim as me.
Does becoming a vegetarian also come with a stick up your ass?
no the stick is up yours and you like it there don't you?
Now maybe this was addressed at some point and I missed it, but why didn't they just get these chairs to start with?
That was addressed in an earlier article. These chairs were part of the plan before the space was converted. But for a reason that was never revealed, they could not be delivered before August, so the Alliance scrambled to get any kind of furniture they could before the pedestrian plaza opened. Pintchik Hardware on Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn came to the rescue at that point.
Thanks,Spirit. Though I guess it remains partially shrouded in mystery. . .
These pedestrian malls should keep those pesky street performers and vagrants that haven taken a ticket outta town away.
Old ratty seats were great and comfortable, these bryant park seats are just made to keep the hobos, and everyone else off, by being so uncomfortable.
That photo on the right is just a zoomed in crop of the one on the left. Gothamist couldn't take another photo? It's digital photography for crying out loud!
I'm disappointed. I was really hoping for those airport lounge seat that come attached in rows.
Andrea Peyser was joined by the Times's Susan Dominus who, in a ridiculous article (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/nyregion/01bigcity.html), complained about the tables, chairs, and ambiance that wasn't up to her lofty downtown standards. What's really offensive is some of the ethnic/racial overtones (see above) to criticism of the area. If you're scared of diversity, people with accents, or people who don't spend all their time in Manhattan, stay away from the plaza; that'd be better for everyone. And if the chairs on Broadway are too saggy for you, the tables too cheap or the "vagrants" too fat, go down to Ikea and get your own damn furniture.
I recorded a podcast on this subject last month; please check it out at http://tiny.cc/sc1Bo or detweilogs.com
I think portable seating, even if engineered for those of smaller posteriors, makes more sense now than permanent seating. As analyses change, seating ideas may change. and also leaves the area adjustable for emergencies, special events, NYE, etc. The chairs can also be used elsewhere if needed, for other events. And the Bryant park chairs have survived. While my walk- thru a few weeks ago was interesting, heat, crowding and poor flow were a problem. Traffic in surrounding streets actually seemed better, but the whole project needs continued adjustment & tuning. Winter should be interesting.
Just a comment, i'm 6'6 and about 380, and the bryant park chairs hold up just fine, so i'm pretty sure they can accomodate 99.999% of new york's residents and guests. Felix, i hope i get to sit real close to you on as many subway and bus rides as possible and turn your your rides into an ocd, fat hating nightmare. your double standards are amazing. animals are cool, and all people are cool except fat people and politicians. you also make a lot of borderline homophobic comments. here's hoping my back roll finds your elbow soon, sailor.
Even if funded publicly, these tables and chairs are a good idea. I spent an hour relaxing and people-watching in one of the old ones, and I'll admit it made being in Times Square actually enjoyable for once.
People tend to forget that permanent park furniture costs a lot, lot more because it needs contractors to install it, funding to maintain it, and eventually contractors to remove it if they decide to change traffic plans again. I'll bet you could replace this stuff four times for the same cost as permanent fixtures.
Are people going to even use this stupid traffic-causing bullshit in the winter time when it is 20 degrees out?