34th Street: The Best of New York
History
Famed for decades as the premier shopping destination for New Yorkers and visitors alike, 34th Street suffered from the cycle of retail flight and urban decline through the 1970s and '80s, which blighted this once-thriving thoroughfare and depressed it economically and visually. Welcoming the challenge, in 1992 the 34th Street Partnership set out to create a new miracle on 34th Street - not with a magic wand, but with hard work, a carefully developed plan, professional leadership, and meticulous management. Our goal: to link 34th Street's anchors - Penn Station, the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden, and Macy's - with safe, litter-free, and well-lit streets and to transform the neighborhood into an exciting destination and a booming, profitable retail district.
A walk through these same streets today dramatically illustrates 34th Street's comeback story and the fruits of the Partnership's efforts:
- Greeley Square and Herald Square, now completely renovated, have become oases of amenity and comfort.
- Handsome, custom-designed street furniture - litter receptacles, sidewalk planters and hanging planters, bicycle racks, light poles, benches, trees, and other urban amenities - help give the neighborhood its distinctive and orderly appearance.
- Crime in the district has dropped by 60% since January 1992.
- Graffiti have been virtually eliminated from storefronts, security gates, and other surfaces, and litter is almost a thing of the past throughout the district.
- Handsome store signs and window displays have replaced much of the visual clutter.
- Retail space is at a premium, as newcomers - including national giants that have established their flagship stores in the district - take advantage of the extraordinary pedestrian traffic and sales volume.
For more information on the Partnership's services and projects, please click on What We Do.