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cover of episode New Year, New Neighborhood

New Year, New Neighborhood

2024/12/24
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99% Invisible

AI Deep Dive AI Insights AI Chapters Transcript
People
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Daniel Kudla
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Katie Thornton
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Lynn Segalin
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Sharon Zukin
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Tom Harris
叙述者
Topics
Lynn Segalin: 叙述了时代广场早期(Longacre Square时期)的荒凉景象,为后来的发展变化作铺垫。 叙述者: 详细描述了时代广场从剧院中心到色情业中心再到旅游胜地的演变过程,包括股市崩盘、二战、郊区化等因素的影响,以及政府的干预和商业改善区(BID)的作用。 Katie Thornton: 介绍了政府利用征用权整顿时代广场的计划,以及这一计划的争议性。 Daniel Kudla: 解释了商业改善区(BID)的运作机制和在城市发展中的作用,并指出BID与城市绅士化之间的联系。 Tom Harris: 作为时代广场联盟(BID)的现任主席,他从积极的方面阐述了BID对时代广场的贡献,包括改善安全、举办活动、与社区合作等,并反驳了对其的批评。 Sharon Zukin: 对商业改善区(BID)提出了批评,认为其加剧了城市绅士化,导致小型企业被挤出,并对公共空间的控制提出了质疑。 叙述者: 对时代广场的转型进行了总结,并探讨了商业改善区(BID)模式的利弊,以及其对城市公共空间的影响。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why did Times Square transform from a gritty, seedy neighborhood to a family-friendly tourist hub?

The transformation was driven by a combination of government intervention, private investment, and the formation of a Business Improvement District (BID). The city used eminent domain to seize and redevelop the area, while the BID, led by property owners like the New York Times, focused on cleaning up the neighborhood, improving security, and hosting large-scale events like New Year's Eve to attract tourists and businesses.

What role did the Business Improvement District (BID) play in Times Square's transformation?

The BID, formed in 1992, was a private organization of property owners who taxed themselves to fund improvements in the neighborhood. They hired security, cleaned the streets, and organized events like Broadway on Broadway and a revamped New Year's Eve celebration to promote Times Square as a safe and family-friendly destination.

How did the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square change after the formation of the BID?

The BID transformed the New Year's Eve celebration into a major spectacle, redesigning the ball, adding fireworks, and incorporating confetti to create a magical atmosphere. This event was crucial in rebranding Times Square as a vibrant, safe, and exciting place for tourists and families.

What was Times Square like before its transformation in the 1980s and 1990s?

Before its transformation, Times Square was known for its seedy adult entertainment industry, including porn theaters, peep shows, and topless bars. The neighborhood was also associated with crime, poverty, and a declining tourism industry, making it a symbol of urban decay.

What were the key factors that led to Times Square's decline in the mid-20th century?

Times Square's decline was caused by several factors, including the 1929 stock market crash, World War II, post-war suburbanization, and the rise of the pornography industry. These events led to the closure of theaters, restaurants, and other businesses, turning the area into a gritty, crime-ridden neighborhood.

How did the city of New York use eminent domain to redevelop Times Square?

The city used eminent domain to condemn and seize private land in Times Square, compensating property owners but forcing them to sell. This allowed the city to clear the area for redevelopment, focusing on replacing adult entertainment businesses with offices, theaters, and family-friendly attractions.

What criticisms have been raised against Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) like the one in Times Square?

Critics argue that BIDs prioritize property owners and businesses over local residents, contributing to gentrification and rising rents that push out small businesses and low-income residents. They also question the lack of democratic oversight, as BIDs are private organizations with limited public accountability.

What is the significance of the ball drop tradition in Times Square?

The ball drop tradition, started in 1907, is a key part of Times Square's identity and New Year's Eve celebration. It symbolizes the neighborhood's history as a hub of entertainment and celebration, and its modern-day transformation into a global tourist destination.

How has the Times Square BID contributed to the neighborhood's public space?

The Times Square BID has transformed the area by pedestrianizing Broadway, creating vibrant public spaces, and hosting over 80 live shows annually. They also run a public art project where local artists take over billboards nightly, adding to the neighborhood's cultural vibrancy.

What is the current status of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in the U.S. today?

There are approximately 1,000 BIDs in the U.S., with New York City having 76 and Los Angeles 40. BIDs are widely used to manage urban spaces, providing services like security, street cleaning, and public events, often funded by a tax on property owners within the district.

Chapters
This chapter explores the evolution of Times Square from its origins as Longacre Square to its transformation into a global New Year's Eve spectacle. It discusses the role of the New York Times, the rise and fall of the theater district, and the impact of the stock market crash and World War II.
  • Times Square's history spans 3000 years, beginning with the Lenape people.
  • It evolved from Longacre Square, a carriage trade area, to a theater district.
  • The New York Times' move to the area in 1903 significantly impacted its development.
  • The first ball drop was in 1907.
  • The Great Depression and World War II negatively impacted the area, leading to its decline.

Shownotes Transcript

The story of New Year's Eve in Times Square, and how a quiet group of unelected Manhattan property owners used the holiday — and their own undemocratic municipal power — to transform the neighborhood from its porn-theater-and-vice-rich past to its flashy, family-friendly present.

New Year, New Neighborhood)

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