Our Very Tall, Very Expensive New Neighbor

According to transit data from MTA and Citi Bike, Union Square continues to be one of the City’s top destinations for employees, residents and visitors alike. While subway ridership remains low across the system, currently 20% of normal use, turnstile activity at the Union Square-14th Street station has tripled since April.

Similarly, bus ridership on the M14A/D busway is gaining momentum as average daily bus ridership has tripled since its low point in late March, reaching nearly 60% of pre-COVID daily ridership levels. For those visiting the district by Citi Bike, Broadway and 17th Street remains one of the City’s top 10 destination stations and ridership is up 45% since April. Another popular end station, Broadway and East 14th Street has experienced a 57% increase in use since April.

Other indicators are up too. Union Square’s public Wi-Fi use is up to 42% from 15% at the start of the pandemic, signaling an uptick in outdoor activity. The district’s active public realm can be attributed to the draw of the Greenmarket, the expansion of outdoor dining activating sidewalks and roadways, and the reopening of local business that attracts steady foot traffic across the district.

Union Square’s zip codes (10003, 10010 and 10011) make up 16% of Open Restaurants applications in Manhattan with the City’s highest number of applications located in 10003! Within Union Square-14th Street, nearly two thirds of businesses are conducting storefront activity and this number continues to grow as additional businesses and cultural institutions are making exciting plans to open their doors with events and programming as soon as it is safe to do so.

It’s back. The Holiday Market returns on November 18.

When the New School builds its new building on the corner, one of its major uses will be to house a consolidated Parsons School of Fashion Design, which is currently scattered among many midtown buildings. That’s according to the New School student newspaper. So expect even more groovily dressed teens outside our front doors.

Next week (September 16 to September 20), material and equipment deliveries and installation work will continue on the academic floors inside the building.

The following week (September 23 to September 27), material and equipment deliveries and installation work will continue on academic floors. This weekend the site will be open on Saturday, September 14th for interior activities between the work hours of 7AM and 5PM as permitted by the City.

Next week (April 22 to April 26), material and equipment deliveries and installation work will continue on all floors inside the building. We will be work on the new sidewalks around the building as well.

The following week (April 29 to May 3), material and equipment deliveries and installation work will continue on all floors.

This weekend the site will be open on Saturday, April 20th for interior and sidewalk activities between the work hours of 7AM and 5PM as permitted by the City.

Jooy Tea Shoppe has opened at 7 East 14th St. Enjoy.