I'm going to refrain from making a comment about Flushing because my parents live there 😅, and honestly, I don’t think I have anything clever to say. But reflecting on this article, I wonder if there has been any attempt at a broader roadmap/project plan/etc. (as opposed to piecemeal efforts) to move us from the current state—which we can all agree isn’t great—to a place that’s at least incrementally better. Even if that means starting with solutions that aren’t fully ADA compliant or rely on ad-subsidized facilities, having a path toward a more ideal vision would be so much better than the status quo. Progress doesn’t have to be perfect from the start, but it has to start somewhere.
Such a good point-- I couldn't agree more that we just have to start somewhere!
There was a bill that passed back in 2022 to basically task the agency with gathering information and making proposals. It tasked the agency with identifying locations in every ZIP code where a public bathroom should be located and also "require that the agency/office consider public and community board input and provide recommendations for overcoming any identified barriers regarding locations suitable for public bathrooms". https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5570473&GUID=85B9DA11-6B8A-444A-9964-F413C6CCC324
So it's like a roadmap, but holding current conditions constant. Not changing any of the things that make it impossible to actually execute on.
I know! It made me wonder how many of the bus shelters and other infrastructure from that same deal is going unused. Like, is it just the toilets, or are there also 200 news stands in another warehouse in the Bronx? 😂
Sounds like a lot of money down the drain… Excellent article!
1) Always skeptical of the % completion and forecasts on the capital projects trackers, so we’ll see 🤞🏼
2) I’ve seen the special inspection requirements for steel (structural performance diligence baked into building code), but public facing toilets? Definitely process bloat
3) Did you come across any open competitions for design? Could a new RFP
Yeah good points. I didn't search for RFPs, that's a good idea though. But one article I read said that NYC Parks was also piloting a composting toilet. I couldn't anything else on that, so I stopped digging, but that'd be fascinating....
I'm going to refrain from making a comment about Flushing because my parents live there 😅, and honestly, I don’t think I have anything clever to say. But reflecting on this article, I wonder if there has been any attempt at a broader roadmap/project plan/etc. (as opposed to piecemeal efforts) to move us from the current state—which we can all agree isn’t great—to a place that’s at least incrementally better. Even if that means starting with solutions that aren’t fully ADA compliant or rely on ad-subsidized facilities, having a path toward a more ideal vision would be so much better than the status quo. Progress doesn’t have to be perfect from the start, but it has to start somewhere.
Such a good point-- I couldn't agree more that we just have to start somewhere!
There was a bill that passed back in 2022 to basically task the agency with gathering information and making proposals. It tasked the agency with identifying locations in every ZIP code where a public bathroom should be located and also "require that the agency/office consider public and community board input and provide recommendations for overcoming any identified barriers regarding locations suitable for public bathrooms". https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5570473&GUID=85B9DA11-6B8A-444A-9964-F413C6CCC324
So it's like a roadmap, but holding current conditions constant. Not changing any of the things that make it impossible to actually execute on.
Great article. 15 toilets sitting in a warehouse… what a waste.
I know! It made me wonder how many of the bus shelters and other infrastructure from that same deal is going unused. Like, is it just the toilets, or are there also 200 news stands in another warehouse in the Bronx? 😂
Burn it down!
Anne, I thought if anyone you would have a Flushing pun for me!
Sounds like a lot of money down the drain… Excellent article!
1) Always skeptical of the % completion and forecasts on the capital projects trackers, so we’ll see 🤞🏼
2) I’ve seen the special inspection requirements for steel (structural performance diligence baked into building code), but public facing toilets? Definitely process bloat
3) Did you come across any open competitions for design? Could a new RFP
add some lifeblood to the efforts?
Yeah good points. I didn't search for RFPs, that's a good idea though. But one article I read said that NYC Parks was also piloting a composting toilet. I couldn't anything else on that, so I stopped digging, but that'd be fascinating....