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The 5th Avenue car-free Open Street is even longer this year for tourists, holiday shopping
By
James Ramsay
Published Nov 8, 2023
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Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images
By
James Ramsay
Published Nov 8, 2023
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For three Sunday afternoons this December, New Yorkers will once again get to walk up the middle of a car-free Fifth Avenue to go holiday shopping or enjoy the window displays and holiday decorations.
The 0.6-mile stretch from 48th to 59th streets will close to car traffic from noon to 6 p.m. on Dec. 3, 10 and 17.
That amounts to a 25% increase in space compared to last year's holiday Open Streets, which ended two blocks below Central Park at 57th Street.
Additionally, West 49th and 50th streets between Fifth and Sixth avenues will be turned into pedestrian plazas from 11 a.m. to midnight beginning on Wednesday, Nov. 29, when Rockefeller Center will light its Christmas tree.
"Whether you are window-shopping or taking in the Rockefeller Center tree, we are building upon last year’s successful program to add improvements this year that will make the Open Street an absolute must-visit part of the holidays for New Yorkers and visitors," said Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez in a statement.
The announcement of this year's expanded holiday Open Streets comes after news that last year's program drove an additional $3 million in retail sales.
A study conducted by Mastercard and the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation, stores along the pedestrianized stretch made 13.9% more transactions than other businesses in the area.
During the designated Open Streets times, Mayor Eric Adams' office said public seating will be set up, along with stages for yet-to-be-announced performances.
On weekday afternoons during the holiday season, the city said barriers will be used to repurpose one lane of car traffic on each side of Fifth Avenue for pedestrians. On weekends, those barriers will go up in the morning.
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James Ramsay
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