Privately owned public space

The terrace of the Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco, California, a privately owned public space
The sign to the terrace of the Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco, California, a privately owned public space

Privately owned public space (POPS), or alternatively, privately owned public open spaces (POPOS), are terms used to describe a type of public space that, although privately owned, is legally required to be open to the public under a city's zoning ordinance or other land-use law. The acronym POPOS is preferentially used over POPS on the west coast of the US. Both terms can be used to represent either a singular or plural space or spaces. These spaces are usually the product of a deal between cities and private real estate developers in which cities grant valuable zoning concessions and developers provide in return privately owned public spaces in or near their buildings. Privately owned public spaces commonly include plazas, arcades, small parks, and atriums. Many cities worldwide, including Auckland,[1] New York City, San Francisco, Dublin,[2] Seattle,[3][4] Seoul, and Toronto, have privately owned public spaces.

  1. ^ Reeves, Dorie (1 September 2016). "Open up hidden public places in Auckland towers". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Less of the Docklands is Public Space Than You Think". Dublin Inquirer. 13 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Privately Owned Public Open Spaces (POPOS)". Seattle City Council.
  4. ^ "Map Of Seattle POPOS" (PDF). City Of Seattle. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-08. Retrieved 2015-09-21.