Hudson Yards, one of the city’s most-watched neighborhoods, is about to get a little greener thanks to the addition of three acres of brand-new parkland that is now in the works.
The final phase of the city’s master plan for Hudson Yards, which was announced Wednesday, will bring new parks between West 36th Street and West 39th Street on Manhattan’s West Side.
“Every New Yorker deserves well-designed public space,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “In a growing neighborhood like Hudson Yards, three acres of new parks is a vital investment in the wellbeing of residents for generations to come.”
The forthcoming park area “has been a goal of the West Side community for years,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “Securing this financing is an important step in ensuring that this neighborhood has essential public green space as Hudson Yards grows. All New Yorkers and people from around the world will one day enjoy this remarkable public park in what is currently a rail-cut.”
The city’s investment into Hudson Yards includes up to $500 million for infrastructure projects such as the three-block expansion of Hudson Park and Boulevard that will increase the neighborhood’s parkland by 75 percent. The expansion will also open the northern portion of the site up to commercial development.
This final phase of the Hudson Yards master plan includes the acquisition, design and construction process. Design is expected to begin this fall.
Hudson Yards in full swing
Hudson Yards recently welcomed its first restaurant debut when fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen opened its doors, Eater reported.
The site will eventually include retailers such as Athleta, The Body Shop, Neiman Marcus, Van Cleef & Arpels, Urban Decay and more.
Celebrity chef Jose Andres will open Mercado Little Spain in spring 2019, a Spanish food hall that will be his first city-based project. Other chefs, including David Chang, Thomas Keller and Costas Spiliadis, will also open outposts in the area.
Coming in the spring is The Shed, a movable structure and the city’s first arts center dedicated to commissioning, producing and presenting performing and visual arts and pop-culture. Nearby, Thomas Heatherwick’s climbable Vessel will be a public landmark consisting of 154 interconnected stairways and 80 landings. The Vessel is slated to open sometime next year.
