The Fifth Avenue Redesign Project Will Revitalize Retail Activity From Midtown to Central Park

In Manhattan, the section of Fifth Avenue that extends from Bryant Park north to the edge of Central Park is one of the world's most renowned shopping destinations. As the home to iconic retail establishments such as Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue, and the flagship Apple Store, Fifth Avenue has not gone through major thoroughfare renovations since the late 19th century; however, that will soon begin to change through the Future of Fifth Partnership, a plan to transform it into a pedestrian boulevard.

The New York City Mayor's Office has been releasing details about the project proposed by the Future of Fifth Partnership with the support of the council. The Dutch design and engineering firm Arcadis has been part of the project since the initial brainstorming sessions hosted by Mayor Eric Adams a couple of years ago. The Arcadis portfolio includes major urban projects such as the Long Beach International Gateway in California and some sections of Downtown Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

When Arcadis and Mayor Adams unveiled the first set of renderings, the first detail that stood out was the shortening of the traffic lanes from five to three, with an exclusive lane for bus transit running across the middle. The sidewalks would be widened considerably to accommodate urban amenities such as pocket parks, benches, and outdoor lounge spaces. The plan also provisions the planting of at least 230 trees and more than 20,000 square feet of planters. For reference, members of the NYC council evaluated notable pedestrian landmarks like the Champs Élysées of Paris and the pedestrian-centered districts of Pontevedra in the Galician region of Spain.

Catering to pedestrians on Fifth Avenue makes perfect sense. According to comments made by Mayor Adams during the press conference for the unveiling of the conceptual renderings and elevations, 23,000 people walk down the Fifth Avenue sidewalks every hour during the holiday shopping season. Many tourists enjoy strolling the 1.5 miles from the northern edge of Bryant Park to the southeast corner of Central Park even if they don't get any shopping done; unfortunately, this often creates human gridlock with pedestrians packed like sardines on the sidewalks closer to Grand Central Station.

Retail operators and key members of the Fifth Avenue Association have largely expressed positive reactions to the renderings because they reverse the trend of making way for automobiles in Manhattan, a borough that should be friendlier to pedestrians. Urban planners who research New York City estimate that the Manhattan borough gets an average daytime population of 4 million; during the holidays, the estimate climbs to 6 million, and this has been a challenge for the Fifth Avenue sidewalks.

Initial reactions by New Yorkers have been largely positive; however, many drivers are concerned about the congestion that the project will create by shortening traffic lanes. Bicycle riders are disappointed to learn that there will not be bike lanes; nonetheless, civil engineers agree that this stretch of retail locations, which cuts across parts of Midtown, Little Brazil, and the Diamond District, should be focused on foot traffic as much as possible. Most retail operators are welcoming the plan; they feel that the status quo of people spilling onto the avenue because they can't fit on the sidewalks is not sustainable.

The first round of funding for the project involves $152.7 million provided by the city. This is just a fraction of the $4 billion in real estate transactions completed across the corridor since the project was rumored two years ago. The high level of commercial real estate activity indicates how positive this project is to retailers; after all, Fifth Avenue generates an annual economic output of $111.5 billion while employing 313,000 New Yorkers. Another positive impact of the project will surely be felt in the residential property market, which includes upscale landmarks such as Trump Tower and The Olympic Condominium. The addition of pedestrian corridors and green spaces invariably boosts property values, both commercial and residential.

The pedestrian transformation of Fifth Avenue will inject it with an ambiance similar to shopping districts such as Ginza in Tokyo and Oxford Street in London. In recent years, the NYC Mayor's Office has implemented a Holiday Season Open Streets initiative around Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall; it involves closing certain streets to vehicles, thus allowing pedestrians to move more freely and safely. According to statistics compiled by local retail associations, the initiative generates an additional $3 million in revenue during the holidays.