THE DE-BROADING OF BROADWAY

by Kevin Walsh

BEFORE my purists say anything, there’s nothing “Forgotten” about Broadway; it’s the street most people think of when they think of New York City, which is sort of the premise of this piece. By far it’s the longest street in NYC that runs under one name (I haven’t looked up the mileage but I think it beats out Northern Boulevard in that regard) and runs from Bowling Green to the Bronx line and beyond, known as Broadway as far north as Dobbs Ferry. The road itself continues as US 9 almost all the way to the Canadian border, and off an on the Broadway name is slapped on it along the way along with other names including the Albany Post Road.

Broadway doesn’t get really broad until it gets north of Columbus Circle, where it gains a center median (known colloquially as “Needle Park”that is there, off an on, as north as West 169th Street. When it was named by the Dutch in the New Amsterdam era in the 1620s, it was indeed much “broader” than the cart paths that to this day retain their narrowness at the south end of Manhattan.

But FNY is also about infrastructure, and over the past decade or two, Department of Transportation officials have been putting Broadway on a diet, as far as lanes open to automobiles go, and have even completely closed off certain sections. Since I’m in the mood this weekend for a relatively short piece, I thought I’d delineate those closures, as they do involve some occasionally interesting installations, as far as I’m concerned.

Here’s a look at Times Square, 7th Avenue and Broadway, taken from the then-new Times Tower in 1905. The Astor Hotel can be seen on the left. Automobiles were still quite rare at the time and rapid transit was mostly streetcars that took power from electric lines beneath the street. The new IRT subway was running under 7th Avenue. It’s hard to tell but at this time I think both Broadway and 7th Avenue had two-way traffic; some decades later, both would be switched to one-way south. Note the Budweiser ad at West 47th. The “King of Beers” has been brewed since 1876. Many of the buildings on the right still stand, but are today hidden by gigantic video advertisements.

Looking north on Broadway from East 23rd Street (at Madison Square, Broadway switches from the East to West side, at least as numbered streets go. The 1903 Flatiron Building is on the right, while an apartment tower built around 1982 can be seen on the left. Broadway is especially wide here, the story goes, because the Eastern Post Road branched away from it here on its way uptown; that road was closed and then demapped when Madison Square opened in 1844. Until just recently the right (west) side was open to traffic and as a matter of fact when I worked in the area, I’d occasionally treat myself to an express bus ride home to Brooklyn, which stopped right there.

As you know Manhattan has several extra-wide numbered cross streets: 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, 57th, 72nd, 86th etc. They were plotted and built wide from the very beginning, and chroniclers of Manhattan’s street grid under the Commissioners’ Plan of 1811 have always been somewhat flummoxed by why these streets were chosen to be highlighted in this way. My guess is that Broadway intersects them, or nearly does, at major north-south avenues: at 4th/Park (14th) 5th (23rd) 6th (34th) 7th (near 42nd; not quite). 57th is an exception, while Broadway meets 10th (Amsterdam) Avenue at 71st.

Broadway has not always been called Broadway for its entire length. It encompasses two former roads north of Union Square: Bloomingdale Road and Kingsbridge Road. In the 1800s both were straightened to better conform with the grid, and for a couple of decades Broadway was called The Boulevard from 59th to about 110th. By the early 1890s, all of it was Broadway.

Traffic is now barred on Broadway at West 25th Street. Southbound traffic actually has to turn left at West 26th and right on 5th; West 25th is one-way west.I believe delivery trucks are allowed through, as there have been no barriers placed, but there’s a new Do Not Enter sign for everyone else.

Obelisks of different eras can be seen at left: the Met Life Building, for a brief time the city’s tallest, was built in 1893 with the clock tower addition in 1909. To its right, the General William Jenkins Worth Monument, built in 1857 with the Mexican War fighter interred beneath it; the 65-story Madison Square Park Tower, 45 East 22nd Street, completed in 2017 with incredible views if you can afford an apartment; and One Madison, a luxury residential condominium built from 2006-2013 whose actual address is #23 East 22nd.

Though auto traffic still flows on Broadway between Madison and Greeley Squares, as far back as 2010 I noted that it had been narrowed considerably by a bicycle path. Since the parking lane was retained, auto traffic here has been slimmed down to just one lane!

Broadway in this region, when I worked here in the late 1980s and again from 2000-2004, was a bustling realm of wholesale importers, many from Africa, arrayed on the ground floors of many buildings that were hotels and offices built during the Gilded Age, 1890-1910; many of the wholesalers have been hustled out to be replaced by boutique hotels. Seen above left is the 1903 Johnston Building, now home to the NoMad Hotel (north of Madison).

The traffic engineers have exerted the greatest change in Broadway traffic where it meets both 6th and 7th Avenues, at 33rd-35th and 42nd-47th Streets. Though Google Maps effectively shows this, Open Street Map does a better job because it colors the closed sections of Broadway completely in gray. In recent years Broadway has been completely closed to traffic between West 32nd and 35th Streets. Formerly, this was one of Manhattan’s most complicated crossroads, as traffic on 6th went north, Broadway’s went south, and East 34th went both ways.

Broadway between West 32nd and 33rd, now a pedestrian mall with movable tables and chairs that stay here, like the ones in Bryant Park, via the honor system and whatever cops happen to be around. The east side of Broadway borders the Hotel Martinique, built from 1897-1911 and named for its owner, William R.H. Martin. The west side of Greeley Square here was ffor many years occupied by Gimbel’s, the chief competitor of Macy’s a block away. However I best remember it for the Manhattan Mall, which has been in the building since 1988. The interior was hollowed out, so shoppers could look up or down at shops on different floors, and the elevators were glass-encased, a novelty at the time. For me, though, the real fascination was the food court on the 7th floor; when I worked in the area, I’d get a treasured window seat and look up and down Broadway. After a few years, though, management decided the space would be better used for executive offices and the food court, and its denizens such as myself, where shunted to the basement.

Broadway at West 34th Street. Formerly, the triangle of Herald Square between Broadway, 6th Avenue and West 35th was the only safe pedestrian area at the front entrance of Macy’s, but today, autos have been banished and crowds gather for special events. Herald Square is named for the newspaper owned byJames Gordon Bennett; the Herald building was torn down decades ago but the cluster of statues at the top, the goddess Minerva and the bell ringers Stuff and Guff, were placed in the square. Bennett’s favorite bird was the owl, and green-eyed copper owls can be found on the fencing surrounding Herald square.

Cars are still to be found on Broadway between West 35th and 39th Streets, but there’s just one southbound lane with parking/dining sheds on the west side and pedestrian seating/bicycles on the east side.

The newest section of Broadway to be closed to auto traffic is the stretch between West 39th and 40th, the block were the former Metropolitan Opera House was situated; autos were replaced by planters and a bicycle path. Anyone know why this one block was closed?

Iam aware the DOT paints (some) bicycle lanes green, but I don’t know the significance of blue paving.

The stretch of Broadway between West 42nd and 47th is the largest closed section as you see on this Open Street Map. The change was effected in 2017 in this lengthy crossroads that includes Times and Duffy Squares. In recent years, tourist traffic had increased massively, forcing the Department of Transportation’s hand in making Broadway a lengthy pedestrian mall. Today southbound traffic on Broadway must turn left on West 48th and right on 7th Avenue to traverse the Crossroads of the World.

Looking north from West 42nd Street on Broadway. At left is the Times Tower, the tallest building for miles when it was built in 1905 for the offices of the New York Times. The first animated “news zipper” came to the exterior in the 1920s. By 1960 it was the Allied Chemical Building, and the company stripped off all exterior ornamentation; today, the building is basically a tall signpost on which to hang video boards. But there must be a door someplace, and a key that opens that door and I’d pay a few pennies to get inside.

Looking south on Broadway from West 47th Street; here, only a right turn is permitted. The TKTS booth, offering discount tickets to Broadway shows, has been a fixture since the 1980s. I’d like to find a complete survey of all the buildings in Times Square along 7th Avenue and Broadway, as most are quite old; but their age is hidden by all the neon billboards. The building at right, with the “support small business” sign, dates to about 1880 and still has a painted ad for Keal’s Carriage Manufactory, dating to the days when Longacre Square serviced the horse and carriage trade.

As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.

1/30/22

17 comments

David Meltzer January 30, 2022 - 4:18 pm

You really never do miss a chance to spread your disgust for cyclists. This time you even did it in red ink. Yes Kevin, we are opening up spaces for bikes and pedestrians. Making the City more accessible and livable. You are stuck in the past with Robert Moses and his love of cars cars and more cars.

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Kevin Walsh January 30, 2022 - 6:44 pm

There are no overt criticisms of DOT policies in this piece. Actually I favor the pedestrianizing of Broadway in Times Square. I do not like curbside restaurant shacks because many are eyesores and yes, they do eliminate perfectly good parking spots.

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Brian January 30, 2022 - 10:16 pm

David: Kevin has been using the color red to signify a hyperlink on previous posts also.

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Anonymous January 30, 2022 - 5:02 pm

Stupid A-hole DiBlsio closed all our streets and made driving a nightmare. What a schmuck.

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Andy January 30, 2022 - 10:08 pm

May I have the liberty of adding some comments? A prior poster claims that “we are opening up spaces for bikes and pedestrians. Making the City more accessible and livable.” The problem as I see it is not “Robert Moses and his love of cars” – it is that today’s cyclists are often dangerous to pedestrians, making the City less livable. Too often I see cyclists run red lights, travel against one-way traffic (including cyclist traffic), travel on sidewalks, and weave all over the roadways.

I rarely drive into Manhattan or Downtown Brooklyn and almost always take rail transit, but when I emerge from the commuter rail station walking is my preferred option for short trips. Very few vehicle drivers disrespect my rights as a pedestrian, but too many cyclists put me in jeopardy when I’m walking. I am an active senior (70 plus) but don’t move as fast as once did, so my concern is legitimate.
And when I do drive, I certainly respect pedestrians, but also find that too many cyclists take risks that can cause accidents.

With regard to the anonymous comment that the recently departed Mayor “closed all our streets and made driving a nightmare,” that statement is untrue and a gross oversimplification. The Broadway street closings go back to Mayor Bloomberg. Driving in Manhattan has been a nightmare for as long as I can remember, back to the 1950s when I was a youngster but already took notice of anything related to transportation, including street lamps. I drove a medallion taxi on two occasions when I was a young adult 50 plus years ago, and NYC driving even then was no picnic.

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redstaterefugee January 31, 2022 - 10:40 am

Bravo, Andy (be prepared to be trolled by the perpetually outraged). There’s a new Secretary of Transportation who has no prior experience & his plan calls for bicycles, wheelchairs, public transportation, & useless EVs (because of their high MSRP,& long, slow recharge time). The late, great Brock Yates’ Antidestination League has arrived. “Let’s go, Brandon!”

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Tal Barzilai January 31, 2022 - 1:24 am

I wouldn’t be surprised if closing off streets especially if they are major thoroughfares was used as a way to promote congestion pricing by creating the very traffic hence the Bloomberg Way.

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chris January 31, 2022 - 1:44 pm

Restaurants shouldnt be allowed to squat public property(sidewalks) like
a bunch of skater punks squatting a building in the east village.Sidewalks
are for pedestrians not private enterprise.I never seen such lawlessness

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Anonymous January 31, 2022 - 2:16 pm

Back in the 90s I also worked right off Broadway in the upper 20s. It was indeed a gritty neighborhood of low end wholesale and quirky small businesses. The transformation of the area is quite amazing – like lots of NYC old timers I (naturally) prefer it the way it was, but many of the old buildings have been beautifully restored – especially the one on the NW corner of 27th.

I do favor the pedestrianization of Broadway that has been done – between 14th & 59th it was really redundant as a thru street, and the former traffic conditions at 23 & 34 were dangerous – there is still the ability for loading and deliveries, and the increase of areas to walk and sit is welcome. Not all changes to this city are for the worse.

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Joe+Brennan February 1, 2022 - 11:41 am

A hundred years ago people debated using streets for automobile storage. 19thC street photos look so wide open because there aren’t lines of carriages along the curb!
Using the space for restaurants is no worse, but they do need to keep the sidewalk open for handicapped people to go by.

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mrsman February 1, 2022 - 1:37 pm

Between Columbus circle and Union square Broadway is better off closed to through traffic then open. There is a lot of complexity each time Broadway intersects with any of the avenues. For the most part what dot has done is excellent. The majority of this section of Broadway should have a two-way bikeway one lane of traffic and one lane for loading. The rest of the street can be used to give more space to pedestrians. It is quite a busy area and is certainly well used by people walking.

As far as the block between 39th and 40th I believe I’ve read about something known as the garment district Urban market. Long distance traffic should stay on the avenues so Broadway can be left for local traffic that needs to load and unload. En that long-distance traffic is discouraged from Broadway anyway it makes sense that certain blocks will be closed as a further discouragement. Basically anyone going southbound can you use 9th 7th or 5th instead of Broadway if you’re driving. This reserves Broadway for bikes and pedestrians.

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William Hohauser February 1, 2022 - 9:17 pm

That beige colored pavement area below 25th street is indeed for deliveries and car drop-offs/pick-ups however speeds are limited to 5mph. The reason for the “Do Not Enter” signs is that the intended entrance is a right turn off 5th Avenue at approximately 24th street. Then the vehicle has to turn onto 25th when exiting. The reason for the designed disruptions on Broadway between 17th and 59th street is try to mitigate the gridlock the diagonal street causes in midtown. Broadway south of 14th and north of 72nd is more in line with the grid pattern and doesn’t contribute to traffic snarls any more than the other north/south avenues.

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Allan Berlin February 2, 2022 - 10:58 am

From what I could find on the internet, Manhattan is between 13.11 and 13.4 miles from South Ferry to the Bronx border. Broadway starts at the northern end of Battery Park so lets say Broadway is 13 miles in Manhattan.

Northern Blvd is about 5 miles in length

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Kevin Walsh February 2, 2022 - 2:56 pm

I mean Northern Boulevard well into Nassau.

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Andy February 2, 2022 - 3:43 pm

Northern Blvd. from the foot of the Queensboro Bridge to the Queens-Nassau border is about 12-13 miles, so its length in NYC is comparable to Broadway in Manhattan and The Bronx. Then you can compare the Nassau County portion of Northern Blvd. versus the Westchester portion of Broadway. Broadway probably wins.

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JokeDog February 7, 2022 - 9:17 am

I like the transformation. Makes it pedestrian friendly and reduces cars pollution. Definitely sways me from driving into Manhattan to avoid the congestion. Manhattan is a walking “city” anyway. NY’ers will adapt.

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