Hudson Street To Be Transformed Into A 7-Block "Grand Boulevard"

HUDSON SQUARE, NY — A seven-block corridor of Hudson Street is getting a makeover, the Economic Development Corporation announced Thursday.

The project at Hudson Square will expand Hudson Street's sidewalks by up to five feet, as well as add several new street amenities.

"The Hudson Street streetscape will become a vibrant destination for surrounding communities," EDC president James Patchett said in a statement.

Prima Paving Corporation, Sam Schwartz Engineering D.P.C. and Mathews Nielsen Landscaping Architects will take on the project — which runs between Canal and West Houston streets along Hudson Street.

The project is led by EDC, the Department of Transportation, and the Hudson Square Business Improvement District.

Additional protected bike lanes, more than 40 bike racks, expanded pedestrian space, among other upgrades will be made, according to the city.

"With protected bike lanes, wider sidewalks, new seating, bike racks, landscaping and improved stormwater management, we are proud to play a role in a comprehensive effort to make this burgeoning community safer, more livable, and more sustainable," Department of Transportation commissioner Polly Trottenberg.

Per the EDC's release, the project includes:

• 8,041 square feet of planting areas filled with various trees, shrubs, and perennials
• Application of the Hudson Square Standard for urban forestry, using continuous tree pits and permeable pavers to maximize stormwater capture and support healthier trees
• 168 seats worth of new benches
• 2,255 square feet of space for future sidewalk cafes
• Sidewalk realignments and new pedestrian ramps
• A dedicated and parking-protected bike lane on Hudson Street from Houston to Canal streets
• More than 40 additional bicycle racks

Construction is expected to kick-off later this year, the EDC said. The streetscape upgrades are a part of a $27 million plan that started a decade ago.

Transforming seven blocks of Hudson Street into a "grand boulevard" will be the final phase of the project.

"The transformation of Hudson Street into a grand boulevard will make Hudson Square more walkable than ever and create a continuous stretch of green space and bike lanes throughout this vibrant West Side corridor,” Hudson Square BID president Ellen Baer said in a statement.