NYC building at 780 and 3rd Ave bars people from accessing its public space. TikTok users threaten to turn it into a ‘new hangout spot’

Public spaces are a benefit to any community—because who wouldn’t want to be reading books out in the open under bright natural light while hearing the sounds of the neighborhood? Strangely enough, a residential building at 780 and 3rd Ave in New York City is discouraging the use of its public front yard. New Yorkers reported being shooed aggressively by the building’s management.

Scourge (@scourgebliss) on TikTok reported on the situation happening in The Garden building’s front yard. He said, “In a viral video, building staff were denying regular people and elderly people the ability to actually sit here and saying they didn’t want people coming here and “ruining” the aesthetic of the building.”

If the allegations are true, then it defeats the purpose of a public space. Moreover, how could people possibly “ruin” the aesthetic of a building? Unless they’re vandalizing it outright, there should be no problem with taking a seat around the perimeter. The space dedicated to it looks like a park—it’s meant to be enjoyed even by non-residents of the building.

One New Yorker said, “They want to keep the beauty of the building. They want it to look a certain way.” Another voice off-camera said that the management want it “to look nice for the rich folks.”

An elderly interviewee said, “It says ‘welcome.'” Then, he gestured to a carving on the floor. He asked, “Why do you have it carved on the granite (‘welcome’) if we’re not welcome?”

Why are public spaces encouraged in NYC

One man told two people sitting on the stone benches, “It’s a public-access plaza. I’m just letting you guys know that you can sit here lawfully.”

Scourge saw the sign on the plaza, and it said that the space is open 24/7. Technically speaking, people shouldn’t be chased off. But if the owners of the buildings didn’t want people to loiter near the property, why would they establish a plaza in the first place?

“Building developers get tax break incentives to make public spaces,” Scourge explained. “And when they get the public spaces and they get their buildings put up, then all of a sudden, they don’t want you sitting here.” If the owners were so afraid of certain people making their buildings look less aesthetically pleasing, then maybe they should have chosen to pay taxes instead. Instead, they want to have their cake and eat it too.

“The staff has also reportedly given threats to people who sit here for too long, claiming they would hurt them.” Scourge showed several pieces of footage of alleged staff from the building cussing at the person holding the camera.

One staff member threatened the man behind the camera, saying, “You’re gonna lose your life.” Seriously, over a seat at a public plaza? But this wasn’t the only threatening clip. Another one showed a man looming around to intimidate the cameraman.

TikTok has the opportunity to do the funniest thing

Scourge told his followers, “If you’re in the area, why not come sit over here in your public space that you belong to be in?”

One of his TikTok commenters commented, “I think people forget the power of the internet and how petty people are.” Social media has encouraged Scientology speed runs for absolutely no reason. These entitled building owners have no idea what beast they’ve poked online.

A social media user said they’re “reporting” this incident to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Another commented that this is their “new hangout spot” for the summer. Meanwhile, another user chaotically threatened that they’d create a Facebook event for everyone to join—where they would all sit down in front of the property in sweats and pajamas. If the building owners were worried about aesthetics, they must be quaking in their boots now.

Public access spaces are for everyone. If they want to keep people out, the building owners better start paying the right taxes.

(featured image: Matthis Volquardsen)

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