Vision aims for a car-free Union Square
BY MARK HALLUM
A new vision for Union
Square is taking shape
and gaining traction for a
plan that would build on the success
of the 14th Street busway and
expel cars to create 33% more
public space.
The Union Square Partnership
says it wants the city to expand
the park to the west with a pedestrian
plaza, exiling cars from
southbound side of Union Square
East making the traffi c island to
the southeast essentially part of
the park and creating a new masterplan
for Union Square that will
fi t with modern needs.
“The ultimate goal here is for
parkgoers to know they have arrived
at a place that is special,”
said Jennifer Falk, Executive
Director of Union Square Partnership.
“Initiated as a response
to the proposed L train shutdown,
this Vision Plan evolved as COVID
19 upended our world, and
with it, our relationship with
public space. More open space,
safer pedestrian and cyclist travel,
better transit, and more outdoor
seating and greenery – all of these
changes are called for in this plan
and will benefi t our community
immeasurably as we chart the
district’s next chapter.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio, in
RENDERING COURTESY OF UNION SQUARE PARTNERSHIP
response Streetsblog editor
Gersh Kuntzman, said on
Tuesday that while he was not
aware of the proposal’s details,
his administration had set a
precedent in 2020 to prove that
transformations that closed
roadways for public space were
a successful strategy.
“Well, I’m defi nitely interested.
I have not seen the plan. I look
forward to seeing it,” de Blasio
said We had an extraordinary
experience in 2020, despite the
pain, despite the challenges, we
moved to the Open Streets model.
We found it to be very successful,
obviously, particularly in
Coalition to Protect Chinatown and the
Lower East Side hold MLK day rally
BY DEAN MOSES
Members of the Lower
Manhattan community
held a rally to announce
their day in court to continue the
fi ght against the construction of
the Two Bridges Luxury Towers
Monday afternoon.
Jan. 18 marked the third annual
demonstration the Coalition to
Protect Chinatown and the Lower
East Side has gathered on Martin
Luther King Day to protest the
Luxury development from being
erected in their neighborhood. This
coalition has been at war with what
they call “Racist rezoning” for
years now, and by the large gathering
on 275 Cherry Street at 12 p.m.
on Monday they are not willing to
back down anytime soon.
The group brandished signs
taking Mayor Bill de Blasio to
task for backing affl uent high-rise
projects in low-income neighborhoods,
even going so far as to
compare him to President Donald
Trump for pandering to wealthy
constituents. Many at the protest
Protesters against the Two Bridges Luxury Towers compared Mayor Bill de Blasio to President
Donald Trump at a rally on Jan. 18th.
say the Mayor is “Shameful” for
approving such an extravagant
project while they are suffering
amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
This prompted chants of “No
towers, no compromise” to echo
throughout the streets.
“We know that de Blasio is not
on our side so we have to force him
to make the just decision. We can
and we will, we have the community
on our side, we are the community!
We are students, workers,
small business owners, and New
Yorkers—each and every one of
us are the lifeblood of this city,
not these empty, vampiric luxury
developments,” said Jihye Song.
Supported by Council Member
Ben Kallos, speakers spoke
of their long struggle combating
combination with the Open
Restaurants. We’re now looking
at that model on a broader level,
for sure. So, I want to see this
plan and I’m happy they’ve put it
forward.”
But while de Blasio had not
been made briefed on the proposal
as of Tuesday, Councilwoman
Carlina Rivera had, saying that
the proposal would have benefi ts
for mass transit users, neighborhood
residents and the business
community.
“As we’ve seen from the success
of the 14th Street Busway,
prioritizing streetscape and open
space for pedestrians, cyclists,
and public transportation, can
have a unique and positive effect
for nearby businesses, residents,
and our City as a whole,” Rivera
said. “The Union Square Partnership
Vision Plan demonstrates
the next step that we can take in
collaboration with the community
to promote a connected and accessible
Union Square Park and
District of the future.”
the development and the many
rallies and legal battles they have
undergone in an attempt to prevent
the construction from getting
underway. The organization also
called upon Council Speaker Corey
Johnson to stand by a 10-year
plan he released that criticizes
zoning actions.
In a letter to Johnson, the
group states: “Our working class
community of color has fought
tirelessly from mass displacement,
air pollution, pervasive loss of
sunlight and the destruction of
neighborhood character that these
towers would cause.” The letter
goes on to say: “We urge you to
follow through on your words
and stand up to Mayor de Blasio’s
displacement agenda.”
After contacting Johnson
for his response, his offi ce told
amNewYork Metro that “The
Council has moved to appeal to
the court of appeals and we are
awaiting their decision.”
In March 2019 the Lower
East Side Organized Neighbors
(LESON) sued to reverse the
city’s approval to build the towers,
which they won about a year later.
However, the case was appealed
and the case is set to be heard on
to Jan. 27th in the Appellate Court.
4 January 21, 2021 Schneps Media