The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) has tapped landscape architecture firm Starr Whitehouse to redesign eleven blocks on Park Avenue between East 46th Street and East 57th Street. The redesign is part of NYC DOT’s commitment to “Put the ‘park’ back in Park Avenue,” a component of an overall strategy to improve pedestrian accessibility in the city’s heavily trafficked commercial corridors. Last year, an RFP went out to solicit bids from landscape designers for the addition of green space in East Midtown.
The Park Avenue upgrade is concurrent with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) rehabilitation of the Grand Central Terminal Train Shed, sited directly beneath the site. As the MTA works to reinforce the underground structure, the DOT will be street-side developing more pedestrian-friendly public green space.
“This is a unique opportunity to make Park Avenue greener, safer, and more pedestrian-friendly—while honoring the character that makes it one of New York City’s most recognizable streets,” NYC DOT commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez shared in a press release. “With the ongoing reconstruction of the train shed, we have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reimagine this corridor for the next century, and we look forward to engaging with the community to bring this vision to life.”
The above and below-ground work also point to a larger recognition of New York City’s need to increase flood resiliency in its transportation infrastructure. Drainage and irrigation strategies along with the MTA’s replacement and waterproofing of the train shed structure could encourage more integrated efforts toward sustainability.
The Avenue Upgrades
Based out of New York and Atlanta, Starr Whitehouse specializes in playful, research-based design. As part of an 18-month contract, the firm will be working with the DOT to lead a series of events that gather input from the local community to further the design vision. A final report of the community-informed design guidelines will be produced at the end of the public engagement process.
“Starr Whitehouse is honored to support NYC DOT to re-imagine Park Avenue as a signature promenade,” Laura Starr, partner and cofounder of Starr Whitehouse told AN. “We look forward to working with public and private stakeholders to envision a Park Avenue that expresses New York’s global leadership.”
The new Park Avenue will include a wider median, pedestrian enhancements, and increased amenities. Part of the firm’s design will include a “kit of parts,” crafted based on community feedback, which will incorporate customizable design elements such as seating, landscaping, and public art. Additionally, the firm will develop conceptual designs that address both the need for drainage and irrigation, along with measures to keep pedestrians safe.
Funding for the redesign comes from the East Midtown Governing Group, which was created as part of the East Midtown Rezoning Plan. The plan, started in 2017, aims to revitalize the area through the improvement of transportation and public space.
The Park Avenue redesign is one of multiple improvement initiatives in the area, including the pedestrianization of Fifth Avenue between Bryant Square and Central Park, led by Field Operations.
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