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First Look at $27M Plan to Bring Outdoor 'Living Rooms' to Hudson Square

By Andrea Swalec | October 11, 2012 9:21pm

HUDSON SQUARE — Hudson Square's business improvement district is seeing green in the future of the lower west side neighborhood.

The group, called the Hudson Square Connection, unveiled a $27 million plan Wednesday that would create a park at the mouth of the Holland Tunnel, build outdoor "living rooms" on medians along Hudson Street and redesign SoHo Square, the narrow park west of Sixth Avenue from Spring Street to Broome Street.

Ellen Baer, the BID's president, said the five-year plan would enhance the neighborhood for those who live and work there.

"No one wants Hudson Square to be very different — we just want it to be a little more for the people who are here," she said. "We want Hudson Square to be more of what you all love."

The plan, which will undergo a public review process, would also add walkways, trees and additional public seating in the former manufacturing district, which is located west of SoHo, south of the West Village and north of TriBeCa.

According to the plan, the work on public land would be financed through private and public sources.

West side residents said at a community meeting last week that ensuring sufficient open space in Hudson Square is one of their key concerns as the neighborhood is redeveloped.

Trinity Real Estate's application to rezone Hudson Square is being reviewed by city agencies now.