The City Council on Wednesday voted to ramp up oversight on privately owned public spaces (known as POPS), after nearly 200 properties — including Trump Tower — failed to meet requirements laid out by the city.
In April, City Comptroller Scott Stringer issued a report that found that 182 buildings whose owners had promised to add public spaces — in exchange for extra floors or other perks at their properties — weren’t holding up their end of the bargain.
Trump Tower [TRDataCustom] was among the violators. A required bench, intended for public use, had been removed to make way for Trump merchandise.
The City Council voted in favor of a bill on Wednesday that will require these public spaces to be inspected every three years. Landlords will also have to put up signs listing the hours the spaces are open, and the city will also need to publish a database of all the locations.
“This is not just about President Trump,” Council member David Greenfield, the bill’s sponsor, said. “Unfortunately most developers have not been keeping that deal.” [NYDN] — Kathryn Brenzel