NYC’s Fifth Avenue to feature pedestrian plaza in $150 million redesign

Mayor Eric Adams said today that a stretch of Fifth Avenue will receive a $152.7 million facelift after commemorating its 200-year heritage.

According to Adams’ written statement, Fifth Avenue is a major contributor to New York City’s economy, supporting almost 300,000 employment and $44 billion in earnings. This investment will put money in the pockets of the people who work on Fifth Avenue as well as the people who shop there, making this city more affordable for hard-working New Yorkers.

The Fifth Avenue renovation depicted in these sketches will be finished in the upcoming years. (Image provided by City Hall.)(Image provided by City Hall.)

According to the statement, such a significant overhaul will be carried out for the first time in its history.

The following adjustments will be made to Fifth Avenue between Bryant Park and Central Park as part of the proposed redesign:

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  Sidewalk space increases 46%
  
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  Pedestrian crossing will be decreased by a third of their current length
  
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  Five traffic lanes will be cut to three traffic lanes in total
  
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  Updates and upgrades to the water mains and sewers beneath Fifth Avenue
  
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  New lighting
  
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  More flora and fauna
  

The current architecture on Fifth Avenue and other prominent avenues, such as London’s Regent and Bond avenues, Paris’ Champs Elysees, Madrid’s Calle Serrano, and Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district, served as inspiration for the renovation.

The Fifth Avenue renovation depicted in these sketches will be finished in the upcoming years. (Image provided by City Hall.)(Image provided by City Hall.)

Adams mentioned more property and sales tax collections as the source of the additional tax money.

200th birthday celevration

In honor of the famed Fifth Avenue’s birthday, it was blocked to all traffic between 48th and 55th streets from 2 to 6 p.m. today.

During the winter holidays, pedestrians were able to enjoy the entertainment, food, and window displays that captivate millions of people.

The Fifth Avenue website reports that Sunday’s events included pop-up shopping, live music, and art exhibits from some of the city’s most cherished establishments, including the Museum of Modern Art.

In addition to the Christmas celebrations, the party marked the beginning of a year of Fifth Avenue events. You’ve Come on Fifth: Two Centuries of Dreams and Icons.

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