Call the POPOS!

The Paradox of Privately Owned Public Space

The is a unique paradox unique typology within the geopolitical realm of architecture known as Privately-Owned Public Property or POPS. This typology seems quite unusual in that public space can have ownership by a non-public party. If this was set up similar to the way a Non-Constitutional Monarchy, where the Monarchy effectively has no power but presides over the connection to the public realm I think it would make sense. Unfortunately, this relationship is designed to incentivize developers to buy the land, which makes it private, but then creates public space. This is incredibly problematic due to the absence of the “public” in the conversation to decide what happens with this land. By selling through incentive, the developer is only subject to minimum building standards along with answering to building authority. Public discourse is all but removed and its right of protest is remanded to the city/state in which the property is occupied. This places the incentives and sale of the land above the interest of the tax-paying citizen which made the incentive possible. 

This paradigm makes for a strained relationship between city|citizens and developer|citizens by privatizing the right to express an opinion through the public forum which does not seem right. Although there are examples of successful public-private initiatives, it comes at the cost of some amount of land which the public must concede and a voice in what happens with the land. The developer’s primary goal is to make money, which places the public realm in jeopardy. 

This topology needs a thorough rethink to reprioritize the public realm over financial gain. Privately owned public property is a conflict of interest that places the public realm in a contest with financial gain. I comprehend there needs to be an investment to build but not at the expense of the vox populi.

TL: DR

Privately owned public space is an oxymoron.

Reprioritize the public realm and public space, of all typologies, higher than a quarterly statement or annual report.

Vincent Christopher