In the 1960s, the area around Water Street was dramatically transformed from a low-rise working waterfront into a large office district. In exchange for additional density, the developers of these new buildings were required to allocate some of the site for public use. Many of the resulting privately-owned public spaces (POPS) provide gathering spaces for workers and residents of the surrounding neighborhood.

Yet some of the Water Street POPS, especially the covered arcades that wrap the bases of many buildings, never became the vibrant meeting places that the designers intended. The City Council is now debating whether to allow property owners to seal the arcades and convert them into commercial space.

Join the Design Trust for a communal meal and conversation about the Water Street POPS. Douglas Woodward, Senior Advisor to Advocates for Privately Owned Public Space (APOPS), will join us to share a brief history of Water Street and discuss the merits and challenges of POPS around the city.

We’ll provide beveraged, plates, and napkins, but all attendees are asked to bring a dish to share. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP here.