The Shape of the Square Is Changing Again

Finally, the big part of the renovation is complete. And the fountain lines up with 5th Ave., which, apparently, was really important to the architects even though no one else seemed to care much.

New to the neighborhood: Layers Bakeshop at 209 East 14th St., between 2nd and 3rd Aves.

This 1920 photo shows the northeast corner of 5th Ave. and 13th St., the current location of The New School’s main building. If you look down 13th St. at the right of the photo, you can see our 13th St. building. 104 years ago!

An urban planner who has been looking around for ways to make the city more pedestrian-friendly (and to open up more space for protesting) wrote “Union Square could be greatly enhanced by following through on a 2010 plan to pedestrianize Union Square West. Also pedestrianizing University Place would be a bold step that could link Union Square and Washington Square Park, merging two vital public spaces into a permanent platform for open expression.”

That would certainly change the neighborhood.

Here are the details:

Saturdays 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Union Square Partnership has teamed with Big Onion Walking Tours to create a free 90-minute walking tour. The tour explores the social and political history of the Union Square neighborhood through discussions of the people, history, architecture, and forces that have shaped this community.Location: Union Square Park: Meet at Lincoln Statue by 16th Street Transverse, Union Square Park

More Information:
(212) 460-1200
Union Square Walking Tour