City Hall in the next few weeks is set to kick off a series of traffic studies and community engagement meetings tied to the redesign of a key Manhattan Chinatown intersection and neighborhood revitalization.
The $56 million “Chinatown Connections” initiative — funded by the city and state — will include the renovation of the historic Kimlau Square, the design of a privately funded Gateway Arch and the beautification of an adjacent street to lure foot traffic from the nearby Brooklyn Bridge.
Mayor Eric Adams unveiled more details on the plan earlier this month, after previewing the initiative in his State of the City address. He pledged the city would invest in the high-profile projects, on top of $11.5 million already allocated by the state.
The initiative aims to increase and improve the scant public space in the area, fix longstanding traffic problems and pump new life into a neighborhood that has faced a series of economic headwinds from 9/11, Hurricane Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In the past, public space across this neighborhood has lacked investment,” city Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said at a recent press briefing at Kimlau Square. “That ends today.”
“We are revitalizing the future of this neighborhood with our new initiative,” he added.
Many local residents and elected officials agree that the square has been a chaotic and dangerous traffic nightmare in need of fixes. But the new initiative has also reignited heated debates, with some community groups questioning the need for a Gateway Arch — a common structure in other Chinatowns across the world and staunchly supported by local business and cultural leaders.
Rodriguez said the projects would feature a "new and unprecedented level of community engagement,” adding the local Chinatown community would be “front and center.” Adams and other City Hall leaders have echoed that sentiment.
The city will create a working group this month with local residents and leaders to guide the design and implementation of the plan. The 18-month engagement process will include meetings with the local community board and broader public.
But it remains to be seen how the city will reconcile divisions about how best to spend limited government resources and who will be part of the community working group.
The infusion of $44.3 million in city dollars will be combined with $11.5 million in state grants approved by Gov. Kathy Hochul at the end of 2022. Under the state Downtown Revitalization Initiative, she set aside $5 million to renovate Kimlau Square, $2.5 million to design the arch and $4 million to beautify Park Row from Brooklyn Bridge to the square, following a set of recommendations from a local planning committee.
The city will also kick off a traffic study this year to expand Kimlau Square and improve traffic safety at the plaza. City officials say they plan to replace the current six-road intersection — often manned by traffic agents — with a standard four-way intersection, along with improved bike crossings and shorter pedestrian crosswalks. Construction is set to run from 2027 to 2029.
The study will also evaluate the possibility of reopening car traffic on Park Row. The street has been closed off since 9/11 due to what the NYPD has said are security concerns at its nearby headquarters. Many Chinatown locals say the road closure has shut out a key source of revenue: crowds of office workers in the Financial District who once flocked to the neighborhood.
City officials also announced that this spring they will launch a street improvement project on Park Row, between the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge on Frankfort Street and Kimlau Square, with the goal of beautifying the area and luring more foot traffic and tourists to Chinatown. It will include adding planters, signs, art installations and other short-term fixes throughout the year, while the city consults with the community to decide on permanent improvements.
