NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF STATE ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF $774,000 EXPANSION OF SPRING STREET PARK WITH NEW HUDSON SQUARE PLAZA IN MANHATTAN

 

Part of the NY Forward Program, Hudson Square Plaza Features Vibrant New Gathering Place for Community

The Project Received $744,000 Through NY Forward Award

New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley today announced the completion of the $744,000 expansion of Spring Street Park with the new Hudson Square Plaza, as part of Hudson Square’s $4.5 million NY Forward award. The new space expands the impact of the well-loved Spring Street Park, creates a welcoming eastern gateway to the Hudson Square neighborhood, and provides a vibrant new gathering place for residents, workers and visitors.

“Hudson Square is a beloved neighborhood in the heart of New York City, and this new plaza gives the people who live, work and visit there a vibrant place to gather, connect and enjoy the community,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “Through the NY Forward program, New York State was able to help make this project a reality and bring new energy and excitement to the neighborhood. I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and for continuing to invest in projects that make our communities stronger, more welcoming and better places to live and work.”

New York State’s NY Forward program, a companion initiative to the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), supported the establishment of Hudson Square Plaza with a $744,000 investment. The 6,500-square-foot public space features seating and tables, free Wi-Fi, space for community programming and a vibrant 6,500-square-foot asphalt mural. Located near the new C/E Spring Street subway entrance and elevator and surrounded by offices, schools, residences, cultural destinations, ground-floor businesses and transit, the plaza creates a new gathering place for the Hudson Square community.

The plaza was designed by Hudson Square Business Improvement District (HSBID) in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT). The NY Forward program builds on the success of the DRI, extending New York State’s downtown revitalization efforts to additional communities across the state.

Hudson Square is a roughly 33-square block neighborhood located on lower Manhattan’s west side. The neighborhood is primarily commercial in use, with over 12 million square feet of office space. Because of its long industrial history, Hudson Square’s streets are more suited to the movement of goods and vehicles than the movement of people. In addition, the neighborhood has also been historically disconnected from neighboring parts of lower Manhattan, including SoHo, the West Village, and Tribeca. The NY Forward grant will assist in growing local businesses, increasing residential opportunities, and connecting the district with its adjacent communities.

Hudson Square was named the New York City NY Forward winner for the second round in 2024. Other NY Forward winners in the region include the Garment District and Far Rockaway.

In addition to the new Hudson Square Plaza, the following projects are also funded by the NY Forward in Hudson Square:

• Build A Signature Open Space at Hudson-Houston Plaza: Establish an interactive, engaging and welcoming new public space at the corner of West Houston Street and Hudson Street to activate an underutilized City parcel and provide critical green space along the active pedestrian corridor.
• Upgrade Film Forum’s Lighting: Upgrade lighting throughout the Film Forum’s lobby, concession stand, offices and projection booth to reduce the organization’s energy consumption and costs while ensuring a high-quality customer experience.
• Install a Jackie Robinson Statue in the Museum: Install an 8-foot-tall bronze sculpture of Jackie Robinson in the Jackie Robinson Museum space on the corner of Canal and Varick Streets to honor the legacy of Jackie Robinson, activate the ground floor of the Museum, and create a point of interest that is visible from the prominent intersection.
• Renovate the NYC Fire Museum Event Space: Renovate the NYC Fire Museum’s third-floor event space with new floors and ceilings, A/V equipment, and code-required HVAC system, allowing it to host fire safety classes, community events and private events that would help financially sustain the Hudson Square institution.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Great neighborhoods need great public spaces. Hudson Square Plaza builds on the neighborhood’s remarkable transformation by creating a welcoming new destination that connects people to local businesses, institutions and one another. Through NY Forward, we are investing in the places and amenities that strengthen communities and help New York City neighborhoods continue to grow and thrive.”

New York City Regional Economic Development Council Co-Chairs Félix V. Matos Rodríguez and William D. Rahm said, “Hudson Square has evolved into one of Lower Manhattan’s most dynamic neighborhoods, and investments like this help ensure its public spaces evolve along with it. Hudson Square Plaza creates a stronger connection between the neighborhood’s businesses, cultural institutions, residents and visitors while providing an inviting new place for the community to come together.”

About the NY Forward Program

First announced as part of the 2022 Budget, Governor Hochul created the NY Forward program to build on the momentum created by the DRI. The program works in concert with the DRI to accelerate and expand the revitalization of smaller and rural downtowns throughout the State so that all communities can benefit from the state’s revitalization efforts, regardless of size, character, needs and challenges.

NY Forward communities are supported by a professional planning consultant and team of State agency experts led by DOS to develop a Strategic Investment Plan that includes a slate of transformative, complementary and readily implementable projects. NY Forward projects are appropriately scaled to the size of each community; projects may include building renovation and redevelopment, new construction or creation of new or improved public spaces and other projects that enhance specific cultural and historical qualities that define and distinguish the small-town charm that defines these municipalities. Through four rounds, the NY Forward program will have awarded a total of $340 million to 77 communities across every region of the State. As part of the FY 2027 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul has secured another $100 million for the program.