Jane’s Walk NYC 2021 Notes

Notes for friends; thank you all who attended our Jane’s Walk NYC 2021 chat last week. While family and weather meant that it was mostly me talking and less walking, we had a great turnout. We are scheduling future walking events, to keep informed subscribe to the project or go to our Instagram page. We…

Roosevelt Island Air Tubes

Our favorite parts of Roosevelt Island are the exhaust/fresh air tubes which are at the WIRE buildings section of the island, which come in different pleasing 1970’s colors. At least we think they are exhaust/fresh air tubes since if you put your hand on them you can feel air movement, and there is a slight…

Why studying street furniture is important

Street furniture is where public policy meets our bodies. Topics like zoning and land use are fascinating, and I can speak or read books about these topics all day. But, it’s really really hard to understand zoning – and really difficult to hold zoning in our minds eye without scrambling a bit. We can kind…

Primary source in process: The Plan for Welfare Island

Primary sources are incredibly important to decipher the decision making process. Especially when it comes to procurement, and other government decision making. I found out there is a Municipal Library at City Hall (well, adjacent), part of the New York City Department of Records and Information Services. Searching their records, I found this handy primary…

Jane’s Walk NYC 2021 Starts

Happy Monday, friends of tiny urban devices, and those who were waiting for Jane’s Walk NYC 2021! A happy reminder that starting today thousands of New Yorkers and visitors alike will take to the streets and tune in online for Jane’s Walk, which lasts between May 3-9. We are hosting our own Jane’s Walk 2021…

Roosevelt Island Red Bins

Red Island Bins carrum insula Ordersupellex Familydepono Genuscarrum Speciescarrum insula Description Red trash bin on Roosevelt Island, complete with tram logo. Identification Boxy in form, with vertical perforations running up and down the main body; spherical removable top with two opposing openings; trashcan inside. Aerial Tram logo near bottom. Red in color. Powder-coated recycled cast…

Roosevelt Island Master Plan

I spent the weekend playing around Roosevelt Island, the tiny island in the East River between Manhattan and Queens. It’s an amazing place, which feels like another world. Accessible by the F train, Tram, ferry, and car you can get to it, but it isn’t easy. At the southern end is the Franklin D. Roosevelt…