When Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC 2030 kicked off last summer, it called for the creation of 800 acres of new green space, including 31 new public plazas, to be built by 2009.
So far, only three of those plazas have been built. But the Department of Transportation, which is managing the initiative, says 20 plazas will be created by next year.
The existing plazas — two are in the Meatpacking District, and one is in Dumbo — are already generating enthusiasm from both pedestrians and real estate brokers.
The city also carved out an unusual space for an esplanade on Broadway. In August, it eliminated two of four traffic lanes on the thoroughfare between 35th and 42nd streets, creating a new pedestrian area with benches, tables and chairs that provides nearby office workers a place to eat lunch, albeit a loud one. The rushing traffic is blocked off by large planters as well as additional parking along the esplanade, a project that cost a reported $700,000.
Retail brokers say that the green spaces are helping to drive rental interest, but they say it’s difficult to determine whether buildings next to plazas will be able to charge more per square foot.
“Of course I see the public spaces as [having] a very positive impact on the retail landscape,” said Faith Hope Consolo, chairman of the retail leasing division for Prudential Douglas Elliman. “The designs presented for the public plazas and the new green spaces, coupled with the [city’s] ongoing ‘street trees’ program, gives a softer setting to a sometimes hard platform.
“As long as these elements do not dramatically interfere with the visibility of a storefront, it is seen as a plus, not a minus,” she said.
The two Meatpacking District plazas were created in the spring. One is at Ninth Avenue and 14th Street, and another at Ninth Avenue and 16th Street. The spaces feature planters, sculptures and concrete blocks acting as benches.
The space in Dumbo, a green adaptation of a former 12-spot parking lot, was unveiled last August.
“The rents are higher [around the Dumbo plaza area], but more importantly the value is more,” said Glenn Markman, executive director for Cushman & Wakefield. “Back about three years ago, rents were 25 percent less, but now the new plaza has improved the value of the area by 50 percent. It’s a great benefit.”
Andrew Wiley-Schwartz, assistant commissioner for the Department of Transportation, noted the end goal is to have accessible public space within a 10-minute walk of every person in all five boroughs.
“We are always trying to improve the public realm for pedestrians — and we are actively looking for ways to do that all over the city,” he said.
The financial burden for the plazas is shared between the city and other groups.
For example, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden donated furniture and planters to the Dumbo space, while the Dumbo Improvement District contributed $25,000 and the city kicked in $20,000.