Outside the doors of the Stuyvesant Park Residence are people, pets, and mediocrity. Jane Jacobs would not adore 15th and 1st, but the famous “ street ballet” she fondly speaks of is present. People drift up and down the block, rather than scramble as many do around the city. Some walk their dogs, some push children in strollers, and some simply walk- to class, to work, to the store, or anywhere. There is a certain flow of my block that is quite unusual, but it works; as Jacobs say “The ballet of the good city sidewalk never repeats itself from place to place, and in any once place is always replete with new improvisations.”
My block was sold to the City of New York in 1836 by Peter Stuyvesant. Over the years, the city enhanced the park and beautified it, adding fencing and fountains. Stuyvesant Square was considered a swanky location in the 1900’s, as, by then, it had been adorned by the city. The block has always been a space for living; a space that is not quite as fast-paced as the rest of the city, but still has a city a feel to it. This, I believe, is the soul of my block. A place where people can walk, not scurry, with friends, pets, children, or even alone, and be surrounded by foliage and a peaceful atmosphere.
Last year I lived in a typical suburban neighborhood in Princeton New Jersey. IT is similar to Stuyvesant in that neighbors often meet while walking pets, but, conversely, there was no city feel to it. The silence in the neighborhood often made it feel dull.
My block is used for residential purposes, but entertainment is not far. This offers a wonderful balance to those who occupy the block. Seeing as Stuyvesant Square has been, and is currently used for residential purposes, I presume that the future of the block will hold similar, if not identical uses.
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