“New” NY Plan Highlights District Vision Projects
Major public realm improvements could be on the way for the Union Square-14th Street neighborhood! On December 14th, Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams released their action plan, Making New York Work for Everyone, to rethink NYC’s business districts in the wake of COVID-19. Featuring 40 initiatives to create a “New” New York, the plan has the following goals:
Reimagine New York’s commercial districts as vibrant 24/7 destinations
Make it easier for New Yorkers to get to work
Generate inclusive, future-focused growth
The plan specifically references potential projects included in the Union Square District Vision Plan. The result of robust community engagement, the Union Square Vision Plan is a bold new vision for transforming the greater Union Square-14th Street into New York City’s most accessible space. The Union Square Vision Plan centers on five key improvements prioritizing multi-modal accessibility, district-wide connectivity, and substantial increases in public open space. We are excited about partnering with our leaders in government to bring these projects to fruition and help “Make New York Work for Everyone.”
Below are the USP Vision projects specifically identified in the “New” New York Plan
Increasing Public Space in Union Square
Enlarging pedestrian areas around Union Square will create a more unified “town square” feeling and help reduce pedestrian crowding. The Union Square Vision Plan proposes installing additional seating, encouraging active ground-floor uses, enlarging the subway entrance at 16th Street with an escalator and elevator, and building permanent flexible infrastructure for the Greenmarket. Currently, the Triangle Plaza at 4th Avenue is an underutilized public space within a large traffic island. The Union Square Vision Plan proposes opening the southbound side of Union Square East to pedestrians to join the plaza to the park and create a large new open space for walking, gathering, and programming.
Transit + Pedestrian Improvements on 14th Street
The Union Square Vision Plan envisions 14th Street as a world-class boulevard by building on the initial positive effects of the City’s busway program. This includes expanded pedestrian areas and designated bus boarding zones, as well as prioritizing access and connectivity to create an activated streetscape. New parklets, trees, planters, and other elements will enhance the walking experience. Sidewalks at Union Square will be doubled in width to alleviate congestion at transit entrances and allow for ground-floor retail activation.
Completing NYC DOT’s Broadway Vision Plan
NYC DOT is implementing a series of “slow blocks” (minimizing vehicle traffic and prioritizing walking and biking), shared streets, and public plazas to turn a two-mile stretch of Broadway between Columbus Circle and Union Square into a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly pathway. Much of the corridor has already been pedestrianized using temporary materials, including Broadway between Union Square and Madison Square. In 2011, DOT implemented a temporary plaza at 17th Street and Broadway, where the roadway widens to meet Union Square Park. The vision for Broadway Gateway Plaza makes this plaza permanent so that it becomes a welcoming “gateway” into Union Square with a unified paving scheme and park-like elements.
Read more about our vision plan here.