Burden: Vanderbilt pedestrian plaza won’t resemble Times Square

Although plans are not yet complete, the Vanderbilt Avenue pedestrian plaza is not likely to resemble Times Square. The Department of City Planning — not the Department of Transportation — is behind efforts to transform the block, and Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden does not want a plaza speckled with temporary furniture items, the New York Post reported.

Burden told Post that the plan aims to “bring elegance and stature befitting the distinction of the location.”

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As previously reported, a Post opinion piece asserted that the transformation of the street into a pedestrian plaza would create problems similar to those seen in Times Square and that city officials are turning a blind eye to the effects on area businesses. However, Burden told the Post that cars would be able to Travel Down The Avenue and that she is aware of the needs of companies, like Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, who have entrances on Vanderbilt. [Post, 2nd item] — Zachary Kussin