Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday pitch a $422 million makeover to Midtown’s Fifth Avenue shopping district that would be almost entirely funded by city taxpayers. The changes would be implemented on a 0.9-mile stretch between Bryant Park and Central Park, reducing the number of traffic lanes on the street from five to three. The plan would also expand the sidewalks on either side of Fifth Avenue from 15 feet to a roomy 25 and add 230 new trees to the corridor. Adams say the reconstruction of the street would not begin until 2028. He nonetheless want to fund the work through the city’s upcoming annual budget that’s due at the end of June. The spend would require the City Council’s approval. Officials from the mayor’s office say public money would be used to cover $402 million, while business groups with the Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District would kick in an additional $20 million. City officials hope the changes would turn the portion of Fifth Avenue — which houses luxury shops like Saks and Tiffany’s flagship stores — into an international shopping destination like Paris’ Champs-Élysées. “No more crammed sidewalks,” Adams say during a news conference. “No more dodging traffic. We’re making Fifth Avenue more walkable, greener and safer.” The stretch targeted for the redesign include Trump Tower.
Criticism of the plan come from transit and cycling advocates, who complain the changes would eliminate one of the street’s two bus lanes while fail to give cyclists any dedicated space. Riders Alliance spokesperson Danny Pearlstein say the mayor be “throwing riders under the bus to favor luxury boutiques.” “Just like Gov. Cuomo’s notorious Buffalo Billion, Mayor Adams’ Fifth Avenue Half Billion be a huge corporate giveaway at New Yorkers’ expense,” Pearlstein say. Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Ben Furnas worry the changes would push cyclists onto the sidewalks, put pedestrians at risk. “This shortsighted ‘vision’ snubs bus riders, pedestrians and people on bikes alike,” Furnas say in a statement. The mayor’s office reach a deal with Fifth Avenue merchants to overhaul the street last fall, but it not clear at the time how much of the work would be paid for by private merchants. Previously, the price tag for the work be estimated at $350 million — but have since balloon to $422 million. Wednesday’s announcement show the private business groups would pay for less than 5% of that cost. City officials note the bulk of the money be spend on relocating and upgrading underground infrastructure, like sewer lines, water mains and other utilities. Officials say that work be long overdue, and that the costly relocation of the utilities be necessary in order to plant new trees on the street. The utility work would require the city to rip up Fifth Avenue during construction, officials say. The work can’t begin until 2028 because the project still be design. The city also need to coordinate with Consolidated Edison and the city Department of Environmental Protection, according to Madelyn Wils, the CEO of the Fifth Avenue Association. Adams argue Fifth Avenue generate valuable tax dollars for the city, make it a worthwhile investment for public money. Commerce on that stretch create $111.5 billion in “total economic output each year,” the mayor say.
In conclusion, Mayor Eric Adams’ proposal for a $422 million makeover to Midtown’s Fifth Avenue shopping district is stirring up controversy among transit and cycling advocates. The plan, which aims to reduce traffic lanes, expand sidewalks, and add more greenery to the area, is facing criticism for potentially neglecting the needs of bus riders and cyclists. While Adams argues that the investment in Fifth Avenue will benefit the city economically, concerns about the impact on public transportation and pedestrian safety persist. The future of Fifth Avenue remains uncertain as discussions continue between city officials, business groups, and advocacy organizations.
