Two summers ago, the city announced that it was taking a good hard look at (as every politician seemed to phrase it) “putting the park back in Park Avenue.” The “back” part of the catchphrase referred to its deep past: A century ago, the median down the middle of Park Avenue was much more welcoming than it is today, a place with seating and substantial plantings where you’d consider spending time. Starting in the 1920s, the city added a traffic lane on each side by paring the median down to a narrow strip, creating a pleasant but not useful viewing garden. In 2024, the city announced a call for proposals wherein those two lanes would be reclaimed from traffic for leisure and greenery.
It was a once-in-a-century opportunity, because the aged Metro-North tunnel running under the avenue is being reconstructed, allowing its roof above to be rethought. (Some of those costs are being borne by the landlords along the street, including JPMorgan Chase.) The rebuilt mall, the announcement said, would extend from 46th Street, where it emerges from the pass-throughs at the Helmsley Building, up to 57th Street. Each half of Park Avenue would go from four lanes to three. Yesterday, we got a first look at plans produced by the firm Starr Whitehouse, and here they are.
