The public square

Over at the Times Union, Amy Biancolli considers the Empire State Plaza as Albany's "square" -- a gathering space for people, both planned and unplanned. (We've wondered for a while if it'd be somehow possible to remake the edges of the ESP so it's less of a fortress, and is more open to the surrounding area -- some of the early renderings for the plaza incorporated ideas along those lines.) [TU+ (link around)] Earlier: The ESP with a massive lawn?

Comments

Just by looking at the lack of replies for this topic can sort of explain to us what an utter disaster the ESP is as a civic structure. I am down there a lot, primarily walking for exercise, and primarily because it is a vast empty space that is pretty quiet, even during the work day. Has anyone in this city ever been anywhere else to see what a REAL functioning civic center is really like, a place where life is lived and not some bogus area to have a monthly concert or lame "farmer's market"? As I said I love cities, particularly small ones, that function and have life. As a symbol of harsh government blandness I do see the "beauty" of the ESP but to call it in any way shape or form a functional civic meeting place is a little outlandish. There is NOTHING there AT ALL to make it a common meeting point to lounge about and have a coffee or to establish it as a destination for anything at all except to watch aging has been rock stars in their 70's perform one last time before they die. It does have it's merits like the Fire Works etc but it must be THE most useless piece off functional civic architecture in the world. It looks impressive from the air, but like most things run by the government, the reality of it is down right an expensive, dated, nonfunctional piece of hideous 1970's architecture with no real practical use other than for the aforementioned yearly fireworks show or odd concert. Can you imagine how awesome, vibrant, and lively it would have been to have incorporated the Crossgates Mall and Colonie Center into this albatross instead of strip mining the rural suburban areas to create further crap on the the city's periphery?With regards to our cities and town when will America ever learn how to do things right? Sadly I think never. Can't wait for the new "food market" downtown...........how pathetic that opening up a small food market in the center of your state Capital can rate as "unusual" or "exciting"!!!! Much better to have 2 billion dollar piece of crap occupy a formerly vibrant part of town!

There is a real, functioning civic center at the plaza, especially during weekdays. It just happens to be directly underneath the plaza you're talking about.

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