A book about the Internet's physical infrastructure inspires a closer look at how fiber optic cables are woven — literally — into the city's fabric.

Two new elegant waterfront firehouses prompt a closer look at the Fire Department's Marine Operations unit, its unique architectural needs, cultural significance and essential function as part of the complex system of services that keeps the city safe.

David Vega-Barachowitz traces the origins of our entrenched notions of how streets should be used, and suggests an alternative future built on an ethic of shared responsibility and common sense.

Urban planner Douglas Woodward analyzes the rules posted in privately owned public spaces to investigate some of the challenges involved in the private provision of public goods.

In the final selection from the Unfinished Grid Essay Competition, Annie Choi takes us on a neighborhood stroll that reveals the grid's subtle influence on our everyday experience of the city.

Another selection from the Unfinished Grid Essay Competition considers what two centuries of interpretation of Manhattan's street grid can tell us about ourselves.

Lawrence Stelter discusses his book on the 3rd Avenue Elevated, which combines a rich archive of his father's photography with a comprehensive understanding of New York’s public transit history.

Announcing the winner of the Unfinished Grid Essay Competition: a personal essay that blends family history with individual mobility to explore Manhattan's built and natural environment.

The Pastor of Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral shares the history of the iconic Soho church and reflects on his work in ministry, social work and affordable housing in the context of a constantly changing city.

The idea was to allow for more light and air in dense, vertical areas, and to have developers give back to the city a little bit for what they were gaining by building bigger. But vague rules led to the creation of inaccessible, inhospitable spaces with little or no public benefit.