Public/Private Plaza on E. 89th St. Descends Into Disrepair

New York City is home to hundreds of privately owned public spaces, or POPS—unique plazas, courtyards, and small parks that developers often must maintain in exchange for building larger structures. However, many fall into complete neglect without consistent enforcement by the city.

In recent months, a privately owned public space (POPS) behind 200 E. 89th St. has been scrutinized after a resident who wished to remain anonymous reported its continued deterioration and lack of upkeep.

The resident, who spoke exclusively with Our Town, said she has lived in the neighborhood for more than 12 years and claims that the conditions have steadily worsened over the years with little to no upkeep or city oversight.

“When the building went up, they let [the POPS] fall into disrepair, and it was just horrible, and I could see rats running around in there, and it wasn’t any kind of park where a mother would take her kids.”

The resident said she has raised concerns about the space for over a decade. Though these previous complaints yielded temporary improvements, the public space has returned to its poor condition, with peeling benches, empty planters, and a lack of signage.

Today, no progress has been made in restoring the space. The resident says the area is littered with rat holes and newer construction materials. The POPS signage has been removed; only a few area residents know the park is open to the public.

“More recently, in the last year, they have been doing a lot of work back there, to the back of their building. They tore out all the bushes they had planted there,” the resident said.

The residents have not seen a Department of Buildings or a Department of City Planning inspection occur at the site. The only form of supervision comes from the building’s superintendent, who comes in, unlocks the park, sweeps it, and empties the garbage.

The resident, who has added her potted plants on occasion to improve the space, believes the public deserves better. “I’m sure that the Department of Buildings and New York City, when they said to create all these public parks, in no way, shape, or form meant dirt and rats,” she said.

The condition of the park speaks to a larger issue regarding POPS, a result of trying to strike a balance between private development and public benefit. Though POPS are intended to enhance livability in neighborhoods by adding relief places—shaded benches, flower beds, and open-air gathering space—without proper insight the goal becomes lost.

When asked about the condition of the POPS behind 200 E. 89th St., the Department of Buildings (DOB) stated that the inspector identified multiple violations related to the complaint. These violations are still being issued; once issued, they will be publicly available.

As of June 2025, an on-site inspection revealed that the building—The Monarch, a 45-story condominium tower built in 1987, according to StreetEasy—has a total of 137 DOB violations and 23 violations issued by the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH/ECB).

The DOB system lists 31 additional complaints about the property and 134 recorded actions, potentially suggesting continuing unresolved maintenance issues or neglect.

According to an email exchange with the resident and the office of Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, as of June 2025, two enforcement summonses were issued by the DOB—one for failure to maintain the POPS as required, and another for failure to provide the proper signage.

However, while this is undoubtedly a step in the correct direction, and civilian action and enforcement may lead to local improvements, citywide management remains fragmented and inconsistent, and citywide problems unresolved.

“Pleased to see they have followed up!” the resident said. “But I still think a citywide analysis needs to be done.”

When asked, Community Board 8 and Council Member Julie Menin’s office failed to respond to a request for comment by press time.

Douglas Elliman Property Management, which oversees The Monarch, also did not respond by press time.