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By: Hadassa Kalatizadeh
Hudson Square was once an industrial area, which had housed the city’s printing industry in the early 1900s. Unlike other neighborhoods with skyscrapers, it has long horizontal buildings, many spanning entire blocks, but not too tall relatively.
As reported by the New York Times, developers are now trying to brand Hudson Square as an up-and-coming hot neighborhood for residents and businesses. There are plans to add more recreational spaces and more pedestrian-friendly areas. After all, why shouldn’t Hudson Yards be a great place to be? It has close proximity to public transit. Plus, its flanked by some of the most vibrant neighbors — SoHo to the east, TriBeCa to the south, and in the north the West Village. Already two of America’s most iconic companies — Google and Disney — have committed to make the neighborhood their New York headquarters. “Hudson Square has a lot of capacity to absorb new space and convert old space,” said Mitchell L. Moss, a professor of urban policy and planning at New York University.
For example, he added, “there are so many underused parking lots still there.”
Historically, the neighborhoods proximity to the Holland Tunnel and railway terminals, made it a noisy and best suited for industry. According to the information provided in the New York Times report, the 2013 rezoning efforts allowed the Hudson Square district to be transformed into a mixed-use district, complete with affordable housing, retail space and office buildings. The rezoning, which included some 10 million square feet of nonresidential space, allowed for about 3,300 new housing units. To facilitate this transformation, on Hudson Street the sidewalks have been widened, with a protective bike lane added. Also, more than 530 trees have been planted and some 170 chairs have been placed along sidewalks and in recreational areas.
“There is a basic formula for what goes into that — wider sidewalks, benches, trees, plants and welcoming street art,” said Samara Karasyk, president and chief executive of the Hudson Square Business Improvement District. At the entrance of the Holland Tunnel, two vacant parking lots have been transformed into recreational spaces called Freeman Plaza East, an outdoor oasis with tables, chairs and a giant red Noguchi sculpture; and West, a 900-square foot turf lawn, with ping pong tables, a mini library and board games.
For businesses, the neighborhood’s current buildings have room for expansions, and there are opportunities for new buildings too. Disney’s new 22-story building at 7 Hudson Square, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, is slated to open this year. It will span an entire city block. The building boasts 1.2 million square feet of space, floor-to ceiling windows, and retail frontage. Google’s new headquarters, designed by Cookfox Architects, boasts three acres and 12-stories, boasting some 1.3 million square feet of space. Google had purchased the building in 2022 from Oxford Properties for $2.1 billion, per the Times. The expansive structure has multiple terraces with views of the Hudson river, and the structure has kept the exposed rail lines on which freight trains once traveled, integrating history and nature into the headquarters.
“I’m happy they’re here,” said Martin Sheridan, president of the Ear Inn, which was established in 1817 and is one of the oldest bars in the city.
