City Unveils Design Concepts for Reimagined Chatham Square with more Pedestrian Space, Simplified Intersection

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Design proposal transforms Chatham Square to be safer, more
pedestrian friendly and more welcoming to both residents and
visitors. Renderings are part of Chinatown
connections plan to add new public space and improve Traffic
Safety in Chinatown. New renderings for the proposed
redesign of Chatham Square, the latest milestone in the

(00:22):
implementation of Chinatown Connections, a multifaceted
public space improvement projectthat will celebrate the cultural
heritage of Chinatown, improve multimodal circulation in the
area, and support local economicdevelopment, was released today.
The redesign would dramatically expand pedestrian space while

(00:43):
simplifying a complex intersection, improve
circulation with shortened pedestrian crossings, and
provide more direct routes for drivers.
The project will also include opportunities to plant trees and
greenery to beautify and expand available public space,
including in Kim Lau Square, thesmall park in the center of

(01:05):
Chatham Square, as part of the Chinatown Connections Plan.
The redesign of the square was informed by a thorough traffic
study and an ongoing, robust community engagement process.
The Intersection, currently Chatham Square, features a
complex 5 point intersection, resulting in many conflict

(01:27):
points that endanger drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Even though pedestrians account for nearly 80% of users of the
intersection, with nearly 10,000counted during peak afternoon
evening hours, they often must walk long distances to cross the
street, usually at the same timeas a high volume of turning

(01:47):
vehicles. The existing public space is
made less welcoming and less accessible by the exposure to
surrounding traffic and accompanying noise, and is not
large enough to accommodate public events such as Lunar New
Year and Mid Autumn Festival. The complicated intersection
requires traffic enforcement agents to direct traffic, with

(02:07):
vehicles usually needing to makemultiple turns due to the
indirect design of the street. Chatham Square Design The
proposed redesign transforms Chatham Square into a standard
four way intersection that will better serve the high number of
pedestrians and will allow drivers continue on their routes
with fewer turns. The proposal shortens pedestrian

(02:30):
crossing distances to reduce exposure to vehicles and
increase accessibility, especially for seniors and
children. The design maintains the
location of the Kim Lau MemorialArch in Kim Lau Square, which
sits at the heart of the ChathamSquare redesign and connects the
arch and public space to adjacent blocks.

(02:52):
Nisek has procured Marvel as thedesign team project lead to
oversee the redesign of Chatham Square.
Working closely with Nisek, NYC,dot and the local community,
Marvel is leading a multidisciplinary team of
engineers and consultants to develop design ideas that
reimagine this important civic intersection as a safer, more

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accessible and connected public space.
This milestone builds on the recent selection of artist
Jennifer Wen Ma to design the new Chinatown Welcome Gateway,
which promises to highlight the neighborhood S cultural heritage
to fulfill a long standing community desire for an iconic
symbol to demarcate a key entrance to Chinatown outreach

(03:35):
and implementation. Extensive community engagement
supported the development of this design.
The City began gathering information in May 2025 and
further refined the proposal in consultation with Chinatown
Connections Working Group and through community tabling, pop
up events, and other forms of focused engagement gathering.

(03:57):
Nearly 350 comments on a visual survey of the project.
Final design and construction are slated for 2027.
About Chinatown Connections Chinatown Connections is a
55,000,000 capital effort in Chinatown funded by New York
City and New York State to support the needs of existing

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community and the local economy.Bolster neighborhood identity
and culture. Expand pedestrian space and
support connections with surrounding communities by
creating safer pedestrian and cyclist connections in the
neighborhood. About Nissek New York City
Economic Development Corporationis a mission driven nonprofit

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organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally
competitive economy for all New Yorkers.
We take a comprehensive approachthrough 4 main strategies,
strength and confidence in NYC as a great place to do business,
grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity, build
neighborhoods as places to live,learn, work and play, and

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deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities
and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do,
visit us on Facebook X LinkedIn and Instagram.