What is at stake as 'public' space is privatized? Identity three ways in which this privatization occurs. Identify reciprocal relationships - i.e. how are private spaces 'publicized'? What is at stake? Identity at least two positions from texts read thus far in the term. Where does this right exist legally, in the Constitution?

Define three types of public space in Atlanta, specific to your research, and explicate in relationship to your chosen readings.

Expand (Documentation) 1)Need specific references to texts.   2)Gather supporting information.

Your first Amendment Rights state that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”  Most often these particular rights are exercised in ‘public’ locations: public parks, DC’s National Monuments, the steps of the capital buildings, even the middle of the road.  It is becoming more and more evident that the responsibilities for these types of places are being taken over by the private sector thus privatizing these places.  Take for instance Centennial Park; this park is not a public park which means there is a list of dos and don’ts that must be followed if you intend to be allowed to publicly use this private area.  As discussed in class, even the arts which are produced to publicly show private expression have become privatized.  One must succumb to the capitalistic ways of the museum and pay to be allowed to view a piece of work that was meant to be viewed by all.  Even one of our most fundamental places of public expression, the sidewalk, is becoming privatized.  More often than not, especially in cities, sidewalks are being created not merely for public use but for a buffer around the huge, normally private, parking lots for a business.  These sidewalks which run the length of any ‘strip mall’ or commercial enterprise are definitely a privatized feature.  Signs are posted saying “NO running, NO biking, No skating, etc.” and you must have the private organizations permission to do anything (solicitation, speaking, etc.) other than walking to and from their business, even if you are loitering or meeting a group of people, on the sidewalk or in the parking lot, you can be removed from the property.  All of the privatization that is occurring has lead to many private spaces becoming an area for ‘public’ use.  Artists who have become tired of the museum and gallery extortion/monopolization/profiting off of an artists work have moved to development of public work, site specific exhibits that all can see and experience.  The Tilted Arc for instance was designed site specific and could not be displayed anywhere other than its original site and be expected to have the same meaning or way of expression.  Other artists use billboards and matchbooks to display a work or even creating a stationary piece within their own studio that can be seen by all who come by.  People have realized the extent of privatization and are countering it by making more and more private property open for public use or view.  In midtown there is a skate park that has been marked with graffiti and the like and is used by the local kids.  The land that this skate park is on is a private place and at any time the owner of the land could no longer let the kids use it but the owner has let it become what it is knowing there isn’t anywhere else for the public to go and skate without being charged to use the other private locations that have been set up in the area.  With the use of the internet many other private places have become publicized.  The act of voyeurism is becoming more and more popular whether it is viewing a “bubble cam” of someone’s backyard or watching a surveillance camera of any number of locations many places and acts that would normally be private have become open to the public realm.  Public space is becoming far less everyday from the city not wanting responsibility of taking care of a park and selling it to a private entity to public town centers being devoured by the commercial and business districts, without actual public spaces, private spaces will begin to be used for public use.

How will you represent these issues - not solely through writing

Atlantic station seems to be attempting to develop in a new urbanist method by way of bringing back the pedestrian, the person, into the city.  It is trying to recreate the traditional neighborhood of mixed use areas, the five minute walk to get or do what one needs, the public park for gathering.  Yet at the same time there is not a “town center,” civic activities that are essential for a traditional neighborhood are left out of the design.  With the development being a purely private development the ‘public’ park is very limited in the fact that it is not open to all events.  Sure a “street musician” will be allowed but a religious evangelist will be removed from the property.  Sidewalks and streets are privately owned (unless they are turned over to the city after construction) so there is the likelihood that the public use of them for “gathering” (what ever the reason) is bound to be limited to what the private owner(s) of the area are willing to allow.  Seeing how it is still under construction it will be interesting to see how it turns out and what unexpected uses and changes follow the development.

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