Meatpacking District Unveils Pedestrian-Centered West 14th Street Promenade​: See Here

NEW YORK CITY — One of the busiest street in the Meatpacking District is now home to a new pedestrian-centered promenade that aims to enhance connections to Hudson River Park and repurpose a two-way underutilized roadbed along West 14th Street.

The West 14th Street Promenade, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, opened to the public earlier this month and offers visitors five new gathering areas, lush landscaping, and in the future, opportunities for public art and small concessions, enhancing the pedestrian experience, officials told Patch.

The reimagined street will improve safety and connectivity, increase visitor dwell time, and vastly upgrade the pedestrian experience along the corridor.

The Meatpacking District Management Association (Meatpacking BID), design partners Street Plans and TYLin, the New York City Department of Transportation and a number of local elected officials all had a hand in making the promenade a reality.

”This project is a powerful example of the untapped potential of the space outside and how reimagining our streets with people at the center can transform the urban experience,” Jeffrey LeFrancois, Executive Director of the Meatpacking District Management Association told Patch. “As part of the Meatpacking District’s Western Gateway Vision Plan, this project builds on our pedestrian-focused approach to public realm planning. It’s the second major milestone in the Plan, and was a truly pioneering effort, requiring us to chart a new course through the City’s design and approvals process.”

The Promenade uses 18’ of roadway off the curb on each side of the street to create five custom decks with distinct seating, adding over 4,000 square feet of new deck space, with additional space for future programming, officials said.

This block of 14th Street will provide vehicle traffic flow for one lane in each direction, with dedicated commercial parking and pickup and dropoff zones.

The West 14th Street expansion marks the second major implementation in the Western Gateway Needs Report and Public Realm Vision, following the successful debut of Gansevoort Landing in 2023.

“This project is a shining example of how we can reimagine our streets to put people first. By transforming West 14th Street into a vibrant, green, and welcoming promenade, we’re making our city more livable, more walkable, and more connected,” Erik Bottcher, New York City council member, said “I’m proud to support this initiative and thank the Meatpacking BID, DOT, and our community partners for their vision and dedication to improving public space for everyone.”