HUDSON SQUARE — Fast-changing Hudson Square is getting a $27 million makeover.
Sidewalks, parks and other outdoor spaces will be revamped in the area stretching from the Hudson River to Sixth Avenue and from West Houston Street to Canal Street, to turn it into a more vibrant community, the neighborhood's business improvement district announced.
The first phase of the project — which aims to upgrade Hudson Square's appearance in the wake of a rezoning that will allow new residential and commercial development in the area — will transform a park at Spring Street and Sixth Avenue into a welcoming gateway to the neighborhood with new seating, lighting and trees, the Hudson Square Connection said.
The group also plans to improve the lighting on Spring Street and install signs for pedestrians to navigate the neighborhood more easily.
“Hudson Square is a growing neighborhood that [is] home to a diverse array of creative companies and individuals,” New York City Economic Development Corporation President Kyle Kimball said in a statement.
“Our investment in this community helps to ensure the success of businesses in the area, while also significantly bettering the infrastructure and providing critical upgrades that will benefit Hudson Square both now and in the future.”
The City Council, Economic Development Corporation and the Hudson Square Connection are funding the project.
West side residents have said ensuring sufficient open space in Hudson Square after the neighborhood was rezoned in March is a key concern.
