The city has unveiled its latest proposal for the Times Square revamp project which will confine street performers to a designated "activity zone."
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, along with councilmen Daniel Garodnick and Corey Johnson, revealed the latest Times Square proposal to the New York Daily News last Thursday. The proposal would reportedly call for a change in zoning rules at the Times Square pedestrian plaza. Instead of it being mapped as a street, the plan will introduce a district called "Times Square Commons." Once the remapping is complete, the city officials would then divide the area into three zones.
The Daily News report mentioned that each zone would be governed by different rules. A few slivers of spaces will be designated as "activity zones" specifically for street performers. Meanwhile, the solicitation of money for goods, services or entertainment will also be prohibited in Times Square, except in the designated "activity zones." The rest of the space would then be divided and turned into pedestrian areas. Obstructions would reportedly be removed from these areas to allow tourists or locals quicker access to Times Square. A general space will also be identified which will have tables and chairs for tourists to enjoy the scene.
According to the Daily News, the Times Square Alliance has also endorsed the "Times Square Commons" proposal. Tim Tompkins, the Alliance's president, even described the plan as "a relatively simple resolution to some complex problems." He added, "It strikes the right balance between freedom of expression and freedom from hassling and congestion. It will no longer be a free-for-all."
Previous suggestions to the Times Square revamp included re-opening the pedestrian plaza to vehicle traffic, according to a report from Wall Street Journal last month. The suggestion was raised by Mayor Bill de Blasio and was met with criticisms from various organizations and city politicians. The mayor then formed a city task force that was tasked to look at other options for the Times Square revamp.
It seems that the city's officials have done a good job with its latest proposal, given the rave reviews it has received from brokers, states the Daily News.
