QUESTION
How is the new design process for public initiatives approached, and what are the considerations for deployment in equity and destination neighborhoods?
1:38:39
·
6 min
Matthew Fraser details the process of selecting new designs for public initiatives and the considerations for rapid deployment in various neighborhoods.
- The design process includes presenting to community boards and the public design commission, and opening a design competition for public contribution.
- A significant focus is on deploying in equity districts to provide broadband access to communities lacking it.
- Fraser highlights the importance of deploying technology in destination neighborhoods to ensure connectivity for financially disadvantaged individuals.
- Concerns about the aesthetic fit of new technology in historic districts are addressed, with efforts to adapt designs accordingly.
- The process aims to balance utility, public opinion, and rapid deployment to meet community connectivity needs.
Erik D. Bottcher
1:38:39
Can you tell us your process for looking into a new design potentially?
Matthew Fraser
1:38:43
Sure.
1:38:43
So I it'll be much like the last process that we had for selecting the existing design.
1:38:48
We went before the community boards just showed the design and said this is the direction that we're going.
1:38:53
Then we went before the public design commission to get their approval.
1:38:56
To deploy, not just once, but multiple times.
1:38:59
And we we selected a design based on based on capability and utility.
1:39:06
Now we are we're looking to do something very interestingly opening up a design competition.
1:39:11
To give New York City the opportunity to design some of its street furniture.
1:39:15
Not saying that every one of those thing not saying that every one of those be practical, but we're we're trying to figure out a better way that we can do it.
1:39:22
But by involving our constituency, I think it's it's it's a way that we can get a very public forum to talk about what it's going to look like.
1:39:30
We can do something very fun.
1:39:32
And when something is designed, maybe do a couple a couple of proof of concepts.
1:39:36
Limited demonstrations and then get the public vote on something like that.
Erik D. Bottcher
1:39:39
That's a great idea.
1:39:40
We have the best the best design community in the world.
1:39:44
I agree.
1:39:45
Here in New York City.
Matthew Fraser
1:39:46
I agree.
Erik D. Bottcher
1:39:48
And And so on the west side of Manhattan, Council District 3, Will you will you hold off on installing those that the previous design until we can come up with something better.
1:40:01
Because once those things are there, how long are they gonna be there?
Matthew Fraser
1:40:05
Well, unfortunately, would love to tell you that I will, but there's the cost of an action.
1:40:10
So the reason why we push in here is that we push them into very heavily.
1:40:14
If you look at the existing deployment schedule, it's heavily skewed towards equity districts.
1:40:18
Now these are communities that typically do not have access or have limited access to broadband.
1:40:24
So we wanna get that as quickly as we can, but we wanna move very swiftly as we've done on many other fronts to see how we can get get a more palatable design.
1:40:34
You know, the thing about design is, like, it's like an opinion.
1:40:36
Everybody has one, but we have to figure out what pleases the most while serving utility to those that need it.
1:40:43
So I don't wanna be in a position where I stop and inadvertently impact the community of people that will continue to have no acts test.
1:40:50
But I wanna make sure that we move swift enough so we're not in a position where we're continuing to deploy something that also a large portion of the community doesn't feel as aesthetically pleasing.
Erik D. Bottcher
1:41:02
I understand that.
1:41:03
There's been confusion around the deployment of them, especially in some historic districts like Yeah.
1:41:12
Allen Lewis Village with these Mahany streets.
1:41:15
Big old 5g tower.
1:41:20
That's not a area like lacking in WiFi access.
Matthew Fraser
1:41:26
So I'll give you I'll give you an example.
1:41:29
Imagine being a kid that's coming from someone in the Bronx.
1:41:34
Right?
1:41:35
You're here, your family, your family, migrated or your family's here and they're and they're they're not financially stable.
1:41:46
Now you have a device You can use that device in home.
1:41:49
You can use that device in your community, but you get up and you go to the museum of Modern art.
1:41:54
And then you leave the museum.
1:41:55
I mean, you wanna call your mother to tell your mother you're coming home.
1:41:58
You have no data plan.
1:42:00
You have no cellular plan.
1:42:02
So your only connection is to connect to a free kiosk so that you can make a FaceTime call to say, Mom, I'm coming home.
1:42:08
Reason why we put it in places where in some places where the demand isn't driven solely by income is still that when people that travel that have that income limitation, aren't boxed out of the system.
1:42:20
So that that's that's why we put in those errors.
Erik D. Bottcher
1:42:22
So the idea is in addition to the communities where folks might not have the access in destination neighborhoods.
Matthew Fraser
1:42:33
Exactly.
1:42:33
Mhmm.
Erik D. Bottcher
1:42:34
Like, the West Village, and what other neighborhoods would you consider like priority destination neighborhoods?
Matthew Fraser
1:42:44
So the deployment, we have a a potential deployment map, and we have zones.
1:42:50
And then the zones are really pushed into, like, 2 categories.
1:42:55
Your business district your business districts and your equity districts.
1:42:58
Our focus is heavily on the equity districts.
1:43:01
I forget the specific number.
1:43:02
I believe it's over 70% 90% sorry.
1:43:06
90% of this phase will go into equity districts.
1:43:09
10% will go into districts that are non equity districts.
1:43:13
So in terms of other destination locations, we may have the legacy link kiosk already in many of those, which is why when you walk by them, it may not be as offensive physically, you know, visually offensive.
1:43:28
But we we will certainly work on a different approach and look at how we can make that a little bit better.
Erik D. Bottcher
1:43:36
Think with historic preservation and and historic districts, we really should try to get the design right.
1:43:45
Yeah.
1:43:46
I know the state office of historic preservation has expressed concern about the current design.
1:43:53
I'd love to become become they kept up the date on the process first looking at other designs.
1:44:01
And look, maybe we don't have to create a design from scratch.
1:44:06
When you're looking at what other cities are doing, perhaps you could bring in a new design quickly that's much better.
Matthew Fraser
1:44:13
Yeah.
1:44:13
And I appreciate the I appreciate the feedback, and we will certainly look to do do just that.
1:44:19
And I appreciate the state's concern.
1:44:23
But at the same time with the city of New York.
1:44:26
And you're our council member in the greatest city across the nation.
1:44:30
And we're responsible for getting things done.
1:44:32
A lot of this can sit back and just watch us.
1:44:35
So we'll work with you hand in hand to make sure that we can do something quicker, and we'll gladly keep you up to date.
Erik D. Bottcher
1:44:41
Thank you.
Jennifer Gutiérrez
1:44:43
Thanks, council member.