Jan Ransom/ New York Daily News
Kwanza Smith, executive director of New East Harlem Merchants’ Association Inc. is leading an effort in partnership with the city to improve the look of 125th St. and Park Ave. beneath the Metro-North station.
Uptown’s very own “Grand Central” is on the way.
A sketchy, poorly lit intersection at East 125th St. and Park Ave. below the Metro-North Railroad viaduct appeared to have been forgotten in the midst of Harlem’s renaissance, but now it’s slated to get a serious makeover.
“We really want to focus on that space and make it into a community amenity and a worldly gateway to Harlem,” said Adam Meagher, vice president of the city’s Economic Development Corporation. “E. 125th St. has needed that kind of attention for a long time. It’s typically been a space that you want to get out of as soon as possible.”
Richard Harbus/for New York Daily News
City will spend roughly $ 6 million to reactivate the seedy 125th St. Metro-North viaduct.
The city envisions a transportation hub with shops, restaurants, urban furniture and a farmers’ market, dotted with public art and trees to liven the space.
The city expects to shell out roughly $ 2.6 million to rehab a vacant comfort station beneath the viaduct where the homeless seek refuge along the walls of the building, and another $ 3.5 million on pedestrian safety improvements like better lighting and a station plaza.
The city expects to issue a Request for Proposals in the spring for a design team with the hopes of completing construction in 2016.
Aerial view of 125th St and Park Ave. where the city will soon make improvements.
The Park Ave./125th St. Public Realm project will focus on 124th to 126th streets and the Park Ave. and 125th St. intersection. The city hopes the improvements will encourage development within the area where the landmark Corn Exchange Building on 125th St and Park Ave. will undergo a $ 16 million renovation.
The city teamed up with local community groups including New East Harlem Merchants Association Inc. which received a $ 100,000 grant from the city department of Small Business Services to reactivate and clean the space below the station.
“E. 125th St. is extremely rundown,” said Kwanza Smith, head of the New East Harlem Merchants Association, adding improvements to the intersection will help local businesses by making the area more attractive.
Passerby will soon be able to listen to jazz or enjoy a farmer’s market as they stroll through the intersection beneath the viaduct said Smith. Some of the grant money will also go toward hiring the homeless to help clean up.
jransom@nydailynews.com
http://newyork.greatlocalnews.info/?p=20039
via Great Local News: New York http://newyork.greatlocalnews.info
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