The plazas draw their inspiration from public spaces of Europe

Taking inspiration from the sidewalk cafés and public plazas of Europe and California, the city Department of Transportation is planning to open three new pedestrian-only spaces in Lower Manhattan. The first is a temporary plaza at the intersection of Water and Whitehall Streets. The plaza would replace the plain concrete traffic triangle between Whitehall and Moore with colored-pavement and seating that extends up Whitehall to Pearl Street. The city plans to begin work this month at the intersection, to open the plaza in September. A similar plaza is in the planning stages for Hudson Street between Chambers and Reade, beside Bogardus Garden.

Meanwhile, a DOT pilot project will bring a “pop-up café” to Pearl Street just east of Broad. The concept is similar to a successful program in San Francisco, and involves installing modular floor panels to extend the curb line outside two restaurants at 54 and 56 Pearl Street. The pop-up café allows additional table seating and improved pedestrian flow along the busy Financial District sidewalk. It is expected to be complete approximately November 2010. More information about the DOT’s plaza programs is available here.