A plaza the community dreamed up in 2007 as part of the 9th Avenue Renaissance report is becoming reality as the first meaningful public space in Hell’s Kitchen South, on 9th Avenue at 36th Street. The plaza which reclaimed one full lane of parking, is connected to the north by a signaled pedestrian crossing where there used to be a pedestrian barricade.
In 2009 then Speaker Quinn, negotiated with the City the installation of the plaza as part of the Western Rail yards rezoning. Ensued four years of traffic study and endless negations between lawyers of the Port Authority who owns part of the land, the DOT and the Parks department. Finally late last summer , DOT went ahead and implemented most of the plan, with the trees and benches coming last week. Still a few details to work out but already a huge difference!
