New York Construction Report staff writer
The Future of Fifth, a public-private partnership between the city, the Fifth Avenue Association, the Grand Central Partnership, the Bryant Park Corp. and the Central Park Conservancy, this week unveiled plans to transform Fifth Avenue between Bryant Park and Central Park into a “pedestrian-centered boulevard.”
The proposed design expands sidewalks by 46 percent, shortens crosswalks making for safer crossings, reduces the number of traffic lanes from five to three, and adds plantings and lighting for aesthetics and safety. Once complete, this project — the first major redesign in the avenue’s 200-year history — is projected to pay for itself in less than five years through increased property and sales tax revenue.
“As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of one of the most famous streets in the world, New Yorkers can look forward to a brand-new Fifth Avenue that will return the street to its former glory as a pedestrian boulevard,” said Madelyn Wils, interim president, Fifth Avenue Association, and co-chair, Future of Fifth Steering Committee. “Reversing the century-old trend of putting cars first, this visionary design will transform our overcrowded avenue into a spacious and green corridor for shoppers and workers, visitors and New Yorkers, and everyone on Fifth.
“We are grateful to this administration, our partners in government, and the businesses that help power the city’s economy as we work to turn this vision into a reality.”
Fifth Avenue is currently 100 feet wide, comprised of five lanes of vehicular traffic and two 23-foot sidewalks. Even though pedestrians make up 70 percent of all traffic on the corridor, sidewalks account for only 46 percent of the space.
Each block serves approximately 5,500 pedestrians an hour on an average day and up to 23,000 people an hour during the holidays — the equivalent of a full Madison Square Garden (MSG) plus 4,000 additional people. The current configuration can no longer accommodate this volume of foot traffic, especially given that only 15 feet on either side is unobstructed for walking; the rest is occupied by street infrastructure like signage, bus stops, lighting, and trash cans.
The new design nearly doubles the width of the sidewalks to 33.5 feet each, expanding unobstructed walking space to 25 feet on each side and adding another 8.5-foot-wide section for trees.
Changes will reduce crossing lengths by more than a third, increasing pedestrian safety. Beyond rebalancing Fifth Avenue’s space to reflect its usage, the new design also greens the corridor with more than 230 new trees and 20,000 square feet of planters, new seating and activation space, better lighting, and more. Greening Fifth Avenue will create additional shade cover to protect against heat and innovative stormwater infrastructure to prevent flooding. The design draws inspiration from Fifth Avenue’s historic landmarks and art deco influences, heightening the iconic architectural features integral to the avenue’s visual identity.
It is also inspired by other iconic shopping street redesigns, including the Champs Elysees in Paris; Calle Serrano in Madrid; Bond, Oxford and Regent Streets in London; and Ginza in Tokyo. The effort builds on the core tenets of the “New” New York panel’s action plan, which identified public space as a key force for the city’s economic recovery.
“Our Future of Fifth Partnership plan will transform one of the world’s most iconic corridors into a pedestrian-friendly hub of unprecedented activity,” said New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar. “Inspired by the Holiday Season Open Streets that generated $3 million in additional consumer spending, the reimagining of Fifth Avenue will remove traffic lanes, increase sidewalks by 46 percent, and add much-needed greenery to our concrete jungle.
“We will increase pedestrian safety while boosting foot traffic and commercial activity to new heights. This project is also fiscally responsible, expected to generate so much added property and sales tax revenue that it should pay for itself in under five years. From Central Park to Bryant Park, we will refashion Fifth Avenue into an epicenter of energy in our city.”