Design opportunities through data
The Flatiron District is one of New York City’s densest neighborhoods with iconic landmarks and streets like Broadway, 23rd Street, and the Flatiron Building. Despite it being a well visited area, the BID — a non-profit organisation dedicated to enhancing the Flatiron District — recognized there was ample opportunity to improve the public realm to make it more comfortable to move through and stay. Gehl saw the neighborhood’s expansion as an opportunity to identify the nuanced micro-neighborhoods within this one district as well as to develop a shared vision amongst the partnership’s interested parties.
Gehl’s data analysis revealed opportunities to double-down on investing in Broadway as a place for people, not cars. The study also highlighted a lack of public seating, micro-mobility amenities, shade, and greenery, as well as insufficient wayfinding or signage, making it difficult for people to navigate to other iconic destinations.
Based on these findings, Gehl provided a set of urban strategies to guide the development of the expanded district, along with recommendations for quick wins that drive long-term change. In an ongoing effort, since 2007, New York City’s Department of Transportation, with the Flatiron NoMad Partnership’s support, has created over 75,000 square feet of usable public spaces. With updated public life data from this study, the Partnership was able to prioritize clear steps to continue making the public realm more inviting for everyone.
