Of course, Woodbury has little housing near it, and most shoppers either drive their own car or take a bus. There’s lots of parking around the exterior of the shopping area.
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NYC has areas that could emulate this magic of pedestrianized commercial corridors: SoHo, Meatpacking, Fifth Ave.
But we stop short of permanent pedestrianization, clinging to car access. Why? These areas already draw crowds—just imagine the potential with fully car-free streets!
We’ve dabbled with this. Fifth Ave is pedestrianized for a couple of days around the December holidays. And it’s hugely popular! But event the latest draft renderings for the “Future of Fifth” still fall short of full pedestrianization.
Pedestrianization is pro-people and pro-business. Woodbury Commons shows people WANT to shop in places designed for them, not cars. Imagine the economic impact of turning NYC’s best retail districts into people-first spaces.
Beyond economics, it’s about quality of life. Walkable spaces make shopping fun, social, and stress-free. The air is cleaner. It’s quieter. You feel comfortable—not dodging traffic while holding shopping bags.
The formula is simple: design spaces for people, not cars, and watch businesses thrive. Woodbury Commons nailed it, and NYC could too. Let’s stop half-measures and go all in. Let’s build places we actually want to be.
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But we stop short of permanent pedestrianization, clinging to car access. Why? These areas already draw crowds—just imagine the potential with fully car-free streets!