Times Square Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ====Pedestrian plaza==== {{multiple image | align = right | direction = vertical | total_width = 250 | header = Pedestrian plaza | image1 = Tsq green chairs jeh.jpg | caption1 = Pilot program (2009) | image2 = NYC 07 2012 Times Square 4002.jpg | caption2 = Temporary conversion (2012) | image3 = Times Sq Feb 2017 4.jpg | caption3 = Permanent reconstruction (2017) }} On February 26, 2009, Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]] announced that traffic lanes along [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]] from [[42nd Street (Manhattan)|42nd Street]] to 47th Street would be de-mapped starting Memorial Day 2009 and transformed into pedestrian plazas as a trial until at least the end of the year. The same was done in [[Herald Square]] from 33rd to 35th Street. The results were to be closely monitored to determine if the project was successful and should be extended.<ref>{{cite news |last=Seifman |first=David |title=Broadway Cars Can Take A Walk |work=New York Post |date=February 26, 2009 |url=https://nypost.com/2009/02/26/broadway-cars-can-take-a-walk/ |access-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221221002/https://nypost.com/2009/02/26/broadway-cars-can-take-a-walk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Bloomberg also stated that he believed the street shutdown would make New York more livable by reducing pollution, cutting down on pedestrian-vehicle accidents, and helping traffic flow more smoothly through the Midtown street grid.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vanderford |first1=Richard |last2=Goldsmith |first2=Samuel |date=May 25, 2009 |title=Walk, bike or sit, car-free, in Times Square and Herald Square |work=New York Daily News |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/walk-bike-sit-car-free-times-square-herald-square-article-1.374694 |access-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090526140720/http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/05/25/2009-05-25_broadway_stroll_walk_bike_or_sit_and_check_email_carfree_in_times__herald_sqs.html |archive-date=May 26, 2009}}</ref> The pedestrian plaza project was originally opposed by local businesses, who thought that closing the street to cars would hurt business.<ref>[https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/citing-livability-and-mobility-bloomberg-declares-broadway-plazas-a-success Citing "Livability and Mobility," Bloomberg Declares Broadway Plazas a Success] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409222140/https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/citing-livability-and-mobility-bloomberg-declares-broadway-plazas-a-success |date=April 9, 2022 }}. Next City Retrieved on February 21, 2022.</ref> The original seats put out for pedestrians were inexpensive multicolored plastic lawn chairs, a source of amusement to many New Yorkers; they lasted from the onset of the plaza transformation until August 14, 2009, when they were ceremoniously bundled together in an installation christened ''Now You See It, Now You Don't'' by the artist Jason Peters, and shortly afterward were replaced by sturdier metal furniture.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nyclovesnyc.blogspot.com/2009/08/jason-peters-now-you-see-it-now-you.html |title=Jason Peters' ''Now You See It, Now You Don't'' – Lawn Chair Sculpture |author=Noel Y.C. |date=August 16, 2009 |publisher=NYC ♥ NYC |access-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-date=March 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330073638/https://nyclovesnyc.blogspot.com/2009/08/jason-peters-now-you-see-it-now-you.html |url-status=live }}. See also: [//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/NowYouSeeIt-TimesSq2009.JPG Media:NowYouSeeIt-TimesSq2009.JPG].</ref> Although the plaza had mixed results on traffic in the area, injuries to motorists and pedestrians decreased, fewer pedestrians were walking in the road, and the number of pedestrians in Times Square increased.<ref>[http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/broadway.shtml#greenlight Nyc Dot] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216052229/http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/broadway.shtml#greenlight |date=February 16, 2015 }}. Nyc.gov. Retrieved on August 17, 2013.</ref> On February 11, 2010, Bloomberg announced that the pedestrian plazas would become permanent.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 30, 2010 |title=Pedestrian Plaza To Remain Permanent Fixture of Times Square |url=http://www.ny1.com/5-manhattan-news-content/top_stories/113521/pedestrian-plaza-to-remain-permanent-fixture-of-times-square |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214105806/http://www.ny1.com/5-manhattan-news-content/top_stories/113521/pedestrian-plaza-to-remain-permanent-fixture-of-times-square |archive-date=February 14, 2010 |access-date=April 21, 2010 |publisher=NY1.com}}</ref> The city started rebuilding the plaza in 2010, hiring the design and landscaping firm [[Snøhetta (company)|Snøhetta]] to permanently replace Broadway's roadway with custom-made granite pavers and benches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Times Square Reconstruction |url=http://snohetta.com/project/9-times-square-reconstruction |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208162724/http://snohetta.com/project/9-times-square-reconstruction |archive-date=December 8, 2013 |access-date=December 29, 2016 |publisher=[[Snøhetta (company)|Snøhetta]]}}</ref> By December 2013, the first phase of the Times Square pedestrian plaza had been completed at the southern end of the square in time for the Times Square Ball drop on New Year's Eve.<ref name="ArchDaily-2014">{{Cite news |url=http://www.archdaily.com/465343/nyc-s-times-square-becomes-permanently-pedestrian/ |title=Snohetta Makes Times Square Permanently Pedestrian |date=January 9, 2014 |newspaper=ArchDaily |access-date=December 29, 2016 |archive-date=February 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218204947/http://www.archdaily.com/465343/nyc-s-times-square-becomes-permanently-pedestrian/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The project was originally intended to be completed by the end of 2015.<ref name="ArchDaily-2014" /> The entire project was finally completed just before New Year's Eve 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://abc7ny.com/news/times-square-reconstruction-finished-just-before-new-years-eve/1676304/ |title=Times Square reconstruction finished just before New Year's Eve |last=Evans |first=Dave |date=December 28, 2016 |newspaper=ABC7 New York |access-date=December 29, 2016 |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019231335/https://abc7ny.com/news/times-square-reconstruction-finished-just-before-new-years-eve/1676304/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Some safety [[bollard]]s were also installed as part of the renovation to prevent [[Vehicle-ramming attack|vehicular attacks]] or [[Traffic collision|collisions]] on the sidewalk.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/05/18/what-stopped-car-times-square-closer-look-bollards/101851466/ |title=What stopped the car in Times Square? A closer look at bollards |last=Blumenthal |first=Eli |date=May 18, 2017 |work=USA TODAY |access-date=May 20, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819062055/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/05/18/what-stopped-car-times-square-closer-look-bollards/101851466/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After [[2017 Times Square car attack|a 2017 vehicle-ramming attack]], there were calls to install more bollards along Times Square.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-new-york-crash-times-square-idUSKCN18F2KM |title=Times Square mayhem raises question about recent redesign |date=May 19, 2017 |work=Reuters |access-date=May 20, 2017 |archive-date=May 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509133009/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-new-york-crash-times-square-idUSKCN18F2KM |url-status=live }}</ref> Times Square's pedestrian plaza is frequented by [[Toplessness|topless]] women (with painted breasts) called "[[desnuda]]s", as well as [[costumed characters]], who typically [[Begging|panhandle]] for tips.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/being-a-times-square-elmo |title=Being a Times Square Elmo |last=Blitzer |first=Jonathan |date=June 26, 2014 |magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=May 15, 2017}}</ref> The pedestrian plaza became a source of controversy in the summer of 2015 because of a large number of complaints about the topless women and panhandling characters.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/24/nyregion/debating-value-of-pedestrian-plazas-beyond-new-york-city.html |title=Debating Value of Pedestrian Plazas Beyond New York City |last=Dunlap |first=David W. |date=August 23, 2015 |website=The New York Times |access-date=August 24, 2015 |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819062050/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/24/nyregion/debating-value-of-pedestrian-plazas-beyond-new-york-city.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Although neither of these activities are illegal, opponents believed that the panhandlers' presence was detrimental to the [[quality of life]] in the area.<ref name="Barkan 2015"/> There were calls from Police Commissioner Bratton and Mayor [[Bill de Blasio]] to remove the plaza, although Manhattan Borough President [[Gale Brewer]] opposed the proposal.<ref name="Barkan 2015">{{cite web |last=Barkan |first=Ross |title=Manhattan Beep Calls Plan to Tear Up Times Square Pedestrian Plaza 'Preposterous' |website=Observer |date=August 24, 2015 |url=http://observer.com/2015/08/manhattan-beep-calls-plan-to-tear-up-times-square-pedestrian-plaza-preposterous/ |access-date=August 24, 2015 |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819062055/https://observer.com/2015/08/manhattan-beep-calls-plan-to-tear-up-times-square-pedestrian-plaza-preposterous/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2016, work started on "pedestrian flow zones" where no one was allowed to loiter, as well as "activity zones" where costumed characters were allowed to perform.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/times-square-pedestrian-flow-zones-new-york-city/2030947/ |title=Elvis, Elmo Bummed by City's New Times Square Flow Zones |newspaper=NBC New York |access-date=February 21, 2022 |archive-date=March 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309003457/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/times-square-pedestrian-flow-zones-new-york-city/2030947/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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