Hudson Boulevard

File:SiteJ Future Site Work June 2014 (9084530453).jpg depiction of the 33rd and 34th Streets block of the park and boulevard, with subway entrance and buildings included]]

In the 1930s, there was a proposal to build a street in the middle of the block between 10th and 11th Avenues, running from 34th to 42nd Streets within roughly the same place as the current Hudson Boulevard. It would have fed into the Lincoln Tunnel. One block of the street was actually built between 40th and 41st Streets. The road was named Galvin Avenue, after Port Authority of New York and New Jersey chair John F. Galvin, and was labeled as such through the 1980s.{{cite web | title=LAST OF THE HIGH LINE, Chelsea | website=Forgotten New York | date=2014-10-10 | url=http://forgotten-ny.com/2014/10/last-of-the-high-line-chelsea/ | access-date=2018-01-14}} This name was still in use as recently as 2017,{{cite web | last=Geiger | first=Dan | title=Silverstein Properties reboots Far West Side development plans | website=Crain's New York Business | date=2017-01-19 | url=http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20170119/REAL_ESTATE/170119868/silverstein-properties-reboots-plans-to-develop-two-towers-mixing-condos-and-commercial-space-on-the-far-west-side | access-date=2018-01-14}} although there are no street signs for it.

In January 2005, the New York City Council approved the rezoning of about 60 blocks from 28th to 43rd Streets, creating the neighborhood of Hudson Yards;{{cite news |title=What Rises in the West? Uncertainty |first=Joyce |last=Purnick |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/20/nyregion/20matters.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 2, 2005 |access-date=2010-03-06}} the need for a park in the area was seen when Hudson Yards was being planned.{{cite web | url=http://chelseanow.com/2014/09/cb4s-benfatto-tapped-to-head-hudson-yardshells-kitchen-bid/ | title=CB4's Benfatto Tapped to Head Hudson Yards/Hell's Kitchen BID | work=Chelsea Now | date=September 11, 2014 | access-date=13 September 2014 | first=D. S. | last=Malesevic |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914022054/http://chelseanow.com/2014/09/cb4s-benfatto-tapped-to-head-hudson-yardshells-kitchen-bid/ |archive-date=September 14, 2014}}

The park and boulevard was developed concurrently with the New York City Subway's 7 Subway Extension to 34th Street. The park contains the two entrances to the 34th Street station.{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/capital/no7_alt.html|date= December 20, 2013|title=Capital Program 7 Line Extension|publisher=MTA.info |access-date=January 30, 2014}} The first entrance is located between 33rd and 34th streets, and a second entrance is between 34th and 35th streets.{{cite news | url=https://nypost.com/2012/06/05/no-7-train-6-mos-late/ | title=No. 7 train 6 mos. late | work=New York Post | date=June 5, 2012 | access-date=April 21, 2014 | author=Cuozzo, Steve}}

Phase one of the park's layout, led by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates,{{cite web | url=http://inhabitat.com/hudson-park-by-michael-van-valkenburgh-associates/ | title=MVVA Designs Hudson Park and Boulevard | work=Inhabitat | date=December 7, 2008 | access-date=May 22, 2014 | author=Chen, Olivia}} was finished in January 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.mvvainc.com/project.php?id=56 |title=Hudson Park and Boulevard |website=Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates |access-date=January 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107010813/http://www.mvvainc.com/project.php?id=56 |archive-date=January 7, 2014}} Construction began in January 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.hydc.org/html/project/hudson-park.shtml |title=Hudson Park & Boulevard |website=Hudson Yards Development Corporation |date=February 16, 2011 |access-date=January 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310211726/http://www.hydc.org/html/project/hudson-park.shtml |archive-date=March 10, 2014}} Since the boulevard was brand-new, it would conform to New York City Department of Transportation standards set in 2012. A traffic signal was installed at 34th Street to facilitate pedestrian flow through the park.{{cite web |date=May 2012 |url=http://www.hydc.org/downloads/pdf/streetscape_manual_060812.pdf |title=Streetscape Manual - Hudson Park and Boulevard |website=Hudson Yards Development Corporation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190315150413/http://www.hydc.org/downloads/pdf/streetscape_manual_060812.pdf |archive-date=March 15, 2019}}

A business improvement district for the park, started in early 2014,{{cite web | url=http://chelseanow.com/2014/01/hudson-yards-bid-hopes-to-be-fully-operational-by-mid-2014/ | title=Hudson Yards/ Hell's Kitchen Alliance became fully operational in February 2015. | work=Chelsea Now | date=January 15, 2014 | access-date=May 9, 2014 | author=Stiffler, Scott | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512214444/http://chelseanow.com/2014/01/hudson-yards-bid-hopes-to-be-fully-operational-by-mid-2014/ | archive-date=May 12, 2014}} is being led by Robert J. Benfatto Jr., of Manhattan Community Board 4. The BID has a $1.2 million budget in its first year, which will go up to $3 million in subsequent years. Its budget is used for Hudson Park maintenance and operations, district-wide services and improvements, administration and advocacy.

{{As of|2014|8}}, the section of the park between 33rd and 34th Streets was completed, and was to open at the end of 2014.{{cite web | url=http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/07/22/55_photos_inside_the_hudson_yards_construction_site.php | title=55 Photos Inside the Hudson Yards Construction Site | work=The Real Deal | date=22 July 2014 | access-date=28 July 2014 | author=Dailey, Jessica}}{{cite web | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/whats-the-deal-commercial-property-transactions-1405965071 | title=A Park Takes Shape In Hudson Yards District | work=The Wall Street Journal | date=21 July 2014 | access-date=28 July 2014}} However, the section between 34th and 36th Streets was delayed to August 2015, while the 33rd to 34th Streets section did not open until the 34th Street station opened on September 13, 2015.{{cite web | last=Hogan | first=Gwynne | title=New Park Begins Transformation of Industrial Hudson Yards District | website=DNAinfo New York | date=2015-08-13 | url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20150813/hells-kitchen-clinton/new-park-begins-transformation-of-industrial-hudson-yards-district | access-date=2015-08-20 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816191648/http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20150813/hells-kitchen-clinton/new-park-begins-transformation-of-industrial-hudson-yards-district | archive-date=August 16, 2015 | df=mdy-all }}

On March 1, 2019, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation announced that Hudson Park was to be renamed in honor of Bella Abzug, a New York representative and one of the leading endorsers of the second-wave feminism movement. This was part of an effort by Bill de Blasio's association's plan to recognize female New Yorkers during Women's History Month.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/hudson-park/pressrelease/21644|title=NYC Parks announces the renaming of Hudson Yards Park in honor of activist, congresswoman Bella Abzug.|date=March 1, 2019|website=NYC Parks|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190403223105/https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/hudson-park/pressrelease/21644|archive-date=April 3, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2019}}

File:Hudson Blvd center jeh.JPG

File:Hudson Yards (21370021826).jpg

The boulevard is split into two, with a Hudson Boulevard East and a Hudson Boulevard West. The park serves as a median.{{cite web | url=http://www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com/arts-parks/neighboring-parks/hudson-park-boulevard | title=Hudson Park and Boulevard | work=Hudson Yards New York | access-date=May 9, 2014 | archive-date=May 25, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160525143922/http://www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com/arts-parks/neighboring-parks/hudson-park-boulevard | url-status=dead }} The boulevard starts from a restricted driveway (extending from 31st Street westbound) at 33rd Street and is one-way northbound to 35th Street, with the park to the west of the roadway. North of 35th Street, a southbound roadway forms and the park is located between the two roadways up to 36th Street. Future plans call for the park to be extended up to 39th Street (although the western roadway ends at 38th Street, the eastern roadway and the park go up to 39th Street). Then, a High Line-style promenade above the Lincoln Tunnel entrance will be constructed in the second phase to connect the greenway to 42nd Street.{{Cite web|url=http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/08/14/tour_hudson_boulevard_and_park_the_citys_next_park_avenue.php|title=Tour Hudson Boulevard and Park, the City's Next Park Avenue|work=Curbed|first=Zoe|last=Rosenberg|date=August 14, 2014|access-date=August 26, 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://bettercities.net/news-opinion/blogs/philip-langdon/15667/new-york-plans-out-place-boulevard | title=New York plans an out-of-place boulevard | work=Better Cities and Towns | date=December 2, 2011 | access-date=May 22, 2014 | author=Langdon, Philip | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522215633/http://bettercities.net/news-opinion/blogs/philip-langdon/15667/new-york-plans-out-place-boulevard | archive-date=May 22, 2014 | url-status=dead }} The boulevard's southern end is integrated with the Hudson Yards Public Square, an L-shaped public square that is intended to be Hudson Yards' centerpiece.{{Cite web|url=http://chelseanow.com/2013/02/hudson-yards-set-to-alter-skyline-transform-neighborhood/|title=Hudson Yards Set to Alter Skyline, Transform Neighborhood|work=Chelsea Now|last=McCroy|first=Winnie|date=February 6, 2013|access-date=June 2, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724172516/http://chelseanow.com/2013/02/hudson-yards-set-to-alter-skyline-transform-neighborhood/|archive-date=July 24, 2014}}

The first phase of the park and boulevard has lawns, a fountain, a café, wooden benches, planting beds, and a playground. Three fountains between 34th and 35th Street are able to detect wind speeds and shut off during high winds. A 50-foot-high pole designed by James Carpenter between 35th and 36th Streets was built as a café location. Additionally, the Amtrak Empire Connection will run underneath the park.{{cite web|first=Jessica |last=Dailey |url=http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2012/12/07/with_hudson_yards_comes_a_4acre_10block_long_park.php |title=With Hudson Yards Comes a 4-Acre, 10-Block Long Park |website=Curbed NY |date=December 7, 2012 |access-date=January 6, 2014}} The park will be owned by the city.{{cite web|url=http://therealdeal.com/blog/2013/06/03/related-refuses-to-cough-up-funds-for-west-side-park/ |title=Related Hudson Yards | Hudson Park & Boulevard |publisher=Therealdeal.com |date=June 3, 2013 |access-date=January 6, 2014}} It, along with the High Line, Hudson Yards public square, and Hudson River Park, will create a pedestrian-friendly greenway. The first phase and part of the second phase of Hudson Boulevard West is already completed.

The boulevard is bordered on the west and east between 33rd and 34th Streets by the future locations of 55 Hudson Yards and 50 Hudson Yards, respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com/the-story|title=The Master Plan - 17 Million Square Foot Mixed Use Development - Hudson Yards|work=hudsonyardsnewyork.com|access-date=May 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713120809/http://www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com/the-story|archive-date=July 13, 2016|url-status=dead}} Currently, the 55 Hudson Yards space is occupied by a subway ventilation building, with a facade containing a U.S. flag pattern on the side of the building facing the park and boulevard. On April 30, 2014, Tishman Speyer announced the acquisition of land between the Hudson Park & Boulevard and Tenth Avenue, between 34th and 35th Streets; which will be razed{{cite press release | url=https://www.tishmanspeyer.com/news/announcements/tishman-speyer-acquires-the-rights-to-develop-285-million-square-foot-tower-in-manhattans-hudson | title=Tishman Speyer Acquires the Rights to Develop 2.85 Million Square Foot Tower in Manhattan's Hudson Yards District | publisher=Tishman Speyer | date=April 30, 2014}} to make way for a "Hudson Spire", to be the tallest building in America with a potential height of over {{convert|1800|ft|0}} and 108 stories.{{cite web | url=http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/02/06/meet_hudson_spire_the_uss_potential_future_tallest_tower.php | title=Meet Hudson Spire, The U.S.'s 'Potential Future Tallest Tower' | work=Curbed NY | date=February 6, 2014 | access-date=4 June 2014 | author=Alberts, Hana R.}}

Although the boulevard is six blocks long, the {{convert|30|ft|m|adj=mid|-wide}} park extends as a non-vehicular greenway north to 42nd Street via a pedestrian bridge, and through the Hudson Yards development south to 30th Street and connecting with the High Line.

One side of the park is to be commercial and the other side residential.

• 3 Hudson Boulevard, planned building
• 34th Street, subway station, serving the {{NYCS trains|Flushing}}
• 50 Hudson Yards, building
• 55 Hudson Yards, building

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• [http://www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com/arts-parks/neighboring-parks/hudson-park-boulevard Hudson Yards New York page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160525143922/http://www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com/arts-parks/neighboring-parks/hudson-park-boulevard |date=May 25, 2016 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150218025817/http://www.hydc.org/html/home/home.shtml Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project]
• [https://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2011/11/28/nyregion/28hudson-map.html?ref=nyregion Map of the planned boulevard and park]
• [http://www.hudsonyardshellskitchenalliance.org/ www.hudsonyardshellskitchenalliance.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120104448/http://www.hudsonyardshellskitchenalliance.org/ |date=November 20, 2015 }}

{{Hudson Yards}}

{{Streets of Manhattan}}

{{Protected areas of New York City}}

Category:Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan

Category:Chelsea, Manhattan

Category:Hudson Yards, Manhattan

Category:Streets in Manhattan

Category:Greenways in New York City

Category:2014 establishments in New York City