Public Management

There has always seem to be a struggle when there is a public space that multiple people use on a daily or weekly basis. For the most part no one truly knows who is in complete control keeping it up. Some will take over control of the park while others will not even care what happens too it. When i went back to my home town there is a public garden down the road which the whole neighbor is supposed to take charge for. The only problem is that my mom and friend are the only ones that work at the garden while the other people of the neighborhood doesn't mind not helping in organizing and cleaning something that is theirs. The more this happens the thought of a leader needs to take control. The department of park and rec. is an organization in my town that monitors and controls most of the parks and hires people to take care of them. This organization is a good cure for a larger scale project, though when is comes to a smaller residential site, its harder for them to locate and control.

Stream of conciseness:

Being on the site is there is a 360 view of friends and family laughing smiling and having a good team. There is so much to do here, not just to a place to sit and relax to eat food but rather a place to shop. Locally owned place that people what to venture into to see what they have. This warm fall day is extremely unique with a lot of people out and about unlike the past couple of days where no one was probably walking around here with a smile on there face. This one couple has gone into every store that they have pasted by even the one that has to olden feel to it though it is actually a Walgreens. Much of the buildings that are here seem to be here for hundreds of years. This area takes you away from the City life though still has a city feel to it with the hustle and bustle of the people moving around. The horns of higher end cars blaring in the background although if you didn’t know that Coolidge corner you would have thought it was in Boston. 

Coolidge Corner

Coolidge Corner is a public space as well as a neighborhood that is located in northern                                            Brookline, MA. The main location and area that this public space takes up is where Beacon St, and Harvard Street intersect each other. The way this public space got its name was from the Coolidge brothers’ general store that was built on that intersection in 1857. This general store now known as the S.S. Pierce building, which was one of the first commercial businesses in northern Brookline. Even today in Coolidge Corner the S.S. Pierce building is still there today. Since the S.S. Pierce building entered the community the commercial district has grown rapidly and became a tourist attraction for northern Brookline as well and a family friendly public space. Not just tourist come to this public space but also families from the neighbor as well as people from Allston and Boston, since its only a few streets away from both cities. There are multiple ways for these people to enter the site, the way that is used the most is the MTBA system wither it is the Green-line of the T has a stop for these space as well as the Bus route 66.Many popular coffee shops, pharmacies, small independent boutiques, an independent bookstore, and ethnic restaurants are located there, as well as a few retail chain stores. One of the Big landmarks that is located right down the street from Coolidge Corners the old fashion Coolidge Corner Theater sign. Even though most of the buildings on the street are commercial there are still many buildings that are residential building that line Harvard and Beacon St.

Brookline History

Once part of Algonquian territory, Brookline was first settled by European colonists in the early 17th century. The area was an outlying part of the colonial settlement of Boston and known as the hamlet of Muddy River. In 1705, it became the independent town of Brookline. The northern and southern borders of the town were marked by two small brooks, hence the name. The northern border with Brighton was Smelt Brook. The southern boundary, abutting Boston, was the Muddy River. The Town of Brighton was merged with Boston in 1874, and the Boston-Brookline border was redrawn to connect the new Back Bay neighborhood with Allston-Brighton. This created a narrow strip of land along the Charles River belonging to Boston, cutting Brookline off from the shoreline. In the 1890s, the Muddy River was integrated into the River way and Olmsted Park, creating parkland accessible by both Boston and Brookline residents. Since the mid-1800s, Brookline has had civic-minded leaders and citizens who wanted land use, park and preservation planning and were responsible for laying the historic foundation. Brookline not only invested in land purchases to meet its recreation needs, but was also fortunate to have lands donated by several forward thinking citizens, who anticipated the need for green space for parks, open space, and recreation facilities. Following the passage of the Playground Act by the legislature in 1893, the Town widely acquired land to develop parks and playgrounds. The Town created its first public playing fields, Cypress Field and Boylston Street Playground in 1871, and its first public pool in 1895. In 1882, the Brookline Country Club was founded as the first in the nation to provide open land for riding and outdoor recreation. Also in the late nineteenth century, the Town founded the Tree Planting Committee, which was the only one in the state until 1934. Brookline purchased its public golf course at Putterham Meadows in 1899. Today Brookline is a well-developed community that is more on the higher middle class, of the Greater Boston area. Still considering its own town, and not joining the city of Boston. 

Creating Public Space: Ritual / Practice and Event Spaces

Growing up in a small farm town in western mass I have truly was able to fully experience amazing architecture that I do in Boston. I had to drive by 3 farms just to get to school every day. Being able to see cows and horse was pretty much a daily routine for me. Plus the tallest building in the town was my high school, which had a small strip which was three stories tall. Going to the city was always a treat to me. My yearly trip to Boston to go to Faneuil Hall and the aquarium. My mom always told me I was a city person so Boston was the place I always wanted to go to school. Moving to Boston and going to school here changed my life completely.  The architecture all around has changed for me. From the farmhouses all around me to the Boston skyline. To me the city is my home and all the architecture is my new neighbors. Exploring and being able to extremely expand my horizon from ranches and capes to skyscrapers. These skyscrapers are the type of architecture that interests me now days. These massive buildings that help find my way around the city. Architecture is important to me because it’s always different. And impacts the entire city no matter where you live. 

Skateboarding and the Performative Critique of Architecture

There is never the right way to view the public zone. Everyone has there own opinion. Skate boarders see the building and public space a lot different than any other person that just walks down the street. When trying to understand the curbs benches and tables the average person looks at these places as a place to sit and relax while the skateboards use this place in order to explore and understand a brand new and unique world. Every time the skateboard goes back to that same location they always can do something different and fun based on the tricks that they want to do they don't have to be the same thing. We should allow these so called "rebels" into places that we created over the time. They see the world around us with creativity. Though the reaction that we have toward them is banishment and harassment from the local authorities and the general public. I have always wanted to skateboard but it was something i was never good at. Over the years these people will grow and get better and find new places and ideas that will scare people even more even though we should embrace it instead. The only part that truly has come out of this fight between the two cultures is that parks have been created for the skateboarders in order for them to avoid the general public. Many give the skateboarders but that is not something that many would like to do. The average skateboard is someone that enjoys living on the edge.

Megaform As Urban Landscape

When reading about Megaform there seems like a lot different and planned than most other building that are presented in the world. The reason why the whole thing seems to be planned out. Most of the Megaform that are created are designed in a location. They have to build in that amount and cant change the form unlike all the other buildings. The only part that they can really change is the vertical part of the building. However Frampton also argues for a connection between the two terms in that a megaform may include a megastructure but a megastructure may not necessarily be a megaform.  This reminds me of how all scotches are whiskeys but not all whiskeys are scotches.  A contextual and elegant urban response such as a megaform may include a megastructure, but a megastructure on its own does not have the same contextual awareness of a megaform. When it comes to the vertical aspect of the building it is able to make anything that the architect would like. It is basically a blank canvas that is going to be seen from far away in horizon. 

The Costs and Benefits of Sprawl

In regards to Gordon, P., & Richardson, H. W.’s (Fall 1998) Prove It: The Costs and Benefits of Sprawl there is a big difference between suburbia and the city. Even though there are many concepts between the two are similar, there are many parts that are extremely different and benefit in certain areas. When dealing with this class we realize that a true public space becomes unique to the location that it is in. When it comes to a city or suburbia, the city has the upper hand. The pubic space is a lot more noticeable in a city environment rather than a suburbia environment. In the city the green grass of a park or the openness of a public space contrasts from the multiple skyscrapers scattered around the city. Where as when you try and view a park in suburbia environment is a lot harder to notice as well as used. In these locations the public spaces don’t needed to be used as much because of the yards and private spaces that people are able to have in a suburbia lifestyle. When dealing with the style of living both environments have there own way that works well. Both of them are completely different, but a city is able to control living by apartment style, though housing individual families is also a successful way in the suburbia environment. With the understanding that both environments are needed for each other. The city needs suburbia in order to survive and visa versa. 

What Was Forgotten

To me alleyways always seemed like an interesting and unique part of the city. People avoid them left and right always hearing the stories about the long, dark sketchy alleyways, where something happened to someone. The stories in my opinion are endless. When people found out I was moving to Boston from back home they truly didn’t mind the fact the my school was only two blocks away from Roxbury, or the T stop that I get off of was that. Though that every single alleyway throughout Boston was much different than the next. I wanted to go throughout Boston and prove that many alleyways where clean not trashy and dark and try to get a positive name going for the alleyways themselves. I traveled through different parts of the Great Boston area such as, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, The North End, Fenway and Symphony area. The majority of the time the back roads or alleyways were deserted though they were clean and light, not dark and sketchy that we always think about. There was the occasional car that would be going through the alleyway it the width could see as well as some parking behind retail shops over by Newbury Street. There was no contract with anyone on foot through these locations that I documented besides me. With looking at completely different sites throughout the Boston area, I noticed that each alleyway was completely different from the next. The context was extremely unique to go along with the barrow that the alley is located in. In Back Bay alleyways even had the historical bay windows on either side of the building as well as in Beacon Hill many of the alleyways were hilly. When you think of Back Bay you’re truly don’t think of Public Alley 401, instead you think of Newbery Street, or Commonwealth Avenue. These Public Alleyways are as important to the part of Boston that they are in, though many people don’t want to take these urban phenomenons into account.

Interviewing the Petition

Question that were asked:

1.     Why is a real “in the streets” protest necessary when the internet provides an alternative public forum?

2.     How does Dewey Square facilitate or hinder the needs of such a protest/ occupation?

3.     How have you coped with living in public?

4.     Is everyone that is at Dewey Square here protesting here for the same reason?

5.     Are you at all worried about the police at all?

Interview 1:

            1: When you are in the street it is more personal, where as on the internet there is no way the people you are trying to talk to can take notice if your not in there face.

            2: To me Dewey is too small for our scale. It hurts us we need to grow and move to show our strength in numbers.

            3: Its not that bad, we have formed a strong community.

            4: Reforming Wall Street and removing special interest from government.

            5: No I’m not at all, if I’m getting arrested it is for something that I believe in.

Interview 2:

            1: I want to be able to voice my opening to the world in front of a news camera instead of typing and being protected by a user name on the computer.

            2: I feel as though this location is great publicity, right off from south station, which thousand of people walk by us every day.

            3:  Its not as bad as I thought it was going be, besides the cold nights, we can make hot chocolate if need be.

            4: CEO’s are making way to much money, and they are not helping our downfall in the economy but is saving it for his own willing.

            5: Fuck the police. They are all pigs.

Interview 3:

            1: Its going back to the roots of the 70s dude.

            2: Soon we will be over the whole country; this location is a great base for our future.

            3: We have a lot of people here for the same reason which makes this place have great atmosphere but I when I get some Lysol I smell nice for the whole day.

            4: I would like the United States to take legalizing Marijuana into consideration.

            5: I hate the police though I’m keeping my cool, over 100 people got arrested yesterday I don’t want to be one of those.

Interview 4:

            1: So I know that I am being listened too. People take notice in my actions which I’m happy about.

            2: We need to expand and move, this place has been over stayed. We have been growing every day and we need additional space.

            3: I have showed the public what I live and fight for in during the day and night. Living out here is something that I take pride in.

            4: I want to stop abortion; everyone needs a chance to live.

            5: I am not someone that wants to be taken in by them but ill stand up to what I believe in.

Interview 5:

            1: Not everyone has the Internet or know what is going on in the world around them.

            2: We are in a prime location in front of the financial district of Boston. Though it may be small we still have plenty of attention and supporters.

            3: At times its stressful with the sirens and my believes going on in my head, be you need to fight through it.

            4: Because I have the freedom of speech according to the 1^st amendment.

            5: If the police want to take me away that’s fine by me. 

Occupy Boston

Openings to Copley Square

Threshold: A location or passageway that allows to person to avoid the chaotic city to a location where there is a calm and controled environment. A pathway or doorway can be used as one. To me there is an aditional one that is the door to the Trinity church which allowys you to go into an even more peaceful location than Copley.