111-637: Chelsea Waterside Park , formerly Thomas F. Smith Park , is a public park located at West 23rd Street between 11th and 12th Avenues along the West Side Highway in Chelsea, Manhattan , New York City. It was originally operated by the government of New York City under the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation . As of 2023 it is part of the Chelsea section of Hudson River Park and managed by
222-506: A New York City landmark in May 1989, it is an irregularly-shaped district consisting of 440 buildings on 28 blocks and parts of blocks, from roughly 15th Street to 24th Street and from Park Avenue South to west of Sixth Avenue. East 23rd Street, which runs between Fifth Avenue and the East River ( FDR Drive ), is one of the main thoroughfares of Gramercy Park . The 22-story Flatiron Building
333-461: A car float bridge on the south side of the ferry terminal. They also created a small freight yard on the block across from the terminal, between 22nd and 23rd Streets and between 11th and 12th Avenues. The dimensions of the rail yard were 380 feet (120 m) by 200 feet (61 m). As the turn of the century approached, the railroad considered expanding the yard to the next block east, in order to accommodate newer and larger boxcars . In April 1901,
444-449: A comfort station . The Phase II renovations added a comfort station along the central area, doubling as a gatehouse into the athletic field. Designed by CDR Studio Architects, the building's facade utilizes granite and wood salvaged from the park's original walls and benches. Solar panels were also installed atop the roof of the building. The comfort station was placed as such to connect with the sewer line running underneath 23rd Street. At
555-402: A landscaped or terraced footbridge called a "platform park" would have run above the highway from the pedestrian plaza towards the shorefront sections of Hudson River Park. At the north end of the park are an artificial turf athletic field used for soccer and other sports, and a basketball court. The turf field measures 32 yards (29 m) by 60 yards (55 m). Both the athletic field and
666-512: A public park called the Thomas F. Smith Park, later the Chelsea Waterside Park . In 2000, the westernmost block of 23rd Street was demolished as part of a reorganization of traffic patterns and an expansion of the park. The expanded 2.5-acre (1.0 ha) park contains a dog run, children's playground, basketball court, and soccer green. Just west of Tenth Avenue, the street passes under
777-430: A 24-foot (7.3 m) long "fallen tree" sculpture for dogs to interact with. The dog run was named "Best of New York" by New York Magazine in May 2005. The Phase II renovations enlarged the dog run to 7,400 square feet (690 m), splitting it into "small dogs" and "large dogs" sections. The original Thomas F. Smith Park also featured a dog run. As constructed in 2000, the park contained portable toilets in lieu of
888-415: A four-bedroom penthouse apartment sold for $ 6.44 million. Every New York City Subway line that crosses 23rd Street has a local station there: There is also a PATH station at 23rd Street and Sixth Avenue . In the past, every former IRT elevated line had a station at 23rd Street, most of which were local stations: MTA New York City Transit 's M23 route runs the length of 23rd Street. In 2003,
999-679: A four-to-six lane surface boulevard. This was a revised version of the "Outboard Alternative" in the West Side Highway Project study. The Westway plan evolved from the 1971 "Wateredge Study" by the state Urban Development Corporation , which sought to build the new Interstate along the Hudson River coastline, either atop pilings above the river, at grade, or in a tunnel. As part of the Westway plan, 92.96 acres (37.62 ha) of continuous parkland known as Westway State Park would be created along
1110-512: A jogging track. Piers 62 and 64 would be converted into public facilities for waterfront views. A lawn acting as an "informal amphitheatre " would be created on Pier 63. A playground and community garden would be established at the east end of Pier 64 at West 24th Street. The eastern or inland section of the park would be used for active recreation with a softball field and numerous tennis and handball courts, similar to its current design. The west end of 23rd Street would be de-mapped and converted into
1221-562: A meeting of Manhattan Community Board 4 , members of the Friends of Hudson River Park Playground Committee proposed a major renovation of the Chelsea Waterfront Play Area. The playground had been plagued by dilapidated equipment, and suffered drainage issues due to only one drain serving the playground. At the time, the project was estimated to cost $ 1.5 million, which would be raised through a capital campaign . The initial plans for
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#17328594750461332-429: A pedestrian mall running through the park, with a monument or fountain to be placed at both ends of the strip within the park. Unlike the original plan for the park, there would be no pedestrian bridge connecting the inland and waterfront sections, requiring people to cross the new West Side Highway at-grade. The waterfront panel described the proposed Chelsea Waterside Park as "The largest and most active recreation area in
1443-574: A separate project known as "Chelsea Cove", designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates . Pier 64 was opened in April 2009. Pier 62 and Pier 63 were opened on May 17, 2010, with the entire Chelsea Cove project estimated to cost $ 73 million. Pier 63 includes the Chelsea Lawn Bowl, originally envisioned as the "informal amphitheater" in the Chelsea Waterside project. On December 10, 2015, during
1554-419: A significant role in shaping the character of development along East 23rd Street in the early 20th century, constructing six buildings successively along the street and around the block to the corner of 24th. The tallest of these is the 700-foot (210 m) Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower , built in 1909 at the intersection of 24th Street and Madison Avenue. The tower, with its ornate clocktower faces,
1665-463: A terminal on the shore of the Hudson River at Pier 63, which aligned with the western end of 23rd Street. The ferries traveled to Jersey City , located opposite Manhattan. By the beginning of the 20th century ferries were already aging and deteriorating under heavy use, and in 1942 the terminal itself was demolished. In the late 1980s, boat enthusiast John Krevey converted an old railroad barge on
1776-400: A total of 1,670 apartments, housing 5,000 total residents. At the time of construction it was the largest residential complex in the city. In 1857, the merchant Amos Eno bought a land parcel at the intersection with Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street. He built the luxury Fifth Avenue Hotel on this site by 1859. The six-story-high structure, which was designed to accommodate 800 guests, became
1887-452: A variety of cultures, including Thai , Italian , Spanish and French cuisine. 23rd Street contains some upper-class areas with expensive real estate. One 2,500-square-foot (230 m ) office space between Park and Lexington Avenues was leased for $ 240,000 per year in March 2017, while a 1,000-square-foot (93 m ) apartment three blocks east was being sold for $ 1 million. In July 2015,
1998-466: Is 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) in size. The portion of the park south of 23rd Street formed the original Thomas F. Smith Park, which had an area of between 0.5 and 2 acres (0.20 and 0.81 ha). Located to the west of the park is the main right-of-way of Hudson River Park , which runs north-to-south between the West Side Highway and the Hudson River . Immediately across from Chelsea Waterside Park are
2109-549: Is located across FDR Drive, along the East River coast. Stretching south to 18th Street, the 2-acre (0.81 ha) public space is built on the site of a concrete plant and parking lot. The street ends at the New York Skyports Seaplane Base , which opened in 1962. The seaplane base, which is part of a marina , also contains a parking lot whose entrance and exit is located at the eastern end of 23rd Street. On
2220-406: Is located on a triangular two-block long site at the west end of 23rd Street. It is bound to the west by 12th Avenue ( West Side Highway ), to the east by 11th Avenue, to the south by West 22nd Street, and to the north by West 24th Street. The de-mapped western end of 23rd Street runs through the park as a pedestrian plaza , connecting to the rest of Hudson River Park via a crosswalk. The current park
2331-543: Is located on the south side of East 23rd Street at the street's intersection with Fifth Avenue and Broadway, occupying the triangular parcel bounded by these two avenues and 22nd Street. The origin of the term " 23 skidoo " is said to be from wind gusts caused by the building's triangular shape or hot air from a shaft through which immense volumes of air escaped, producing gusts that supposedly lifted women's skirts. The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife), headquartered at 1 Madison Avenue at East 23rd Street, played
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#17328594750462442-625: Is the 23rd Street station on the IND Eighth Avenue Line , served by the C and E trains. In May 1868, the Erie Railroad began operating the Pavonia Ferry route between the 23rd Street ferry pier on the Hudson River , at the west end of 23rd Street, and Jersey City . In 1893 the company, now operating as the New York, Lake Erie & Western , constructed
2553-809: The Chelsea Piers sports complex, and Piers 62, 63, and 64. Across 24th Street to the north is the United States Postal Service Manhattan Vehicles Maintenance Facility. To the east at 10th Avenue is the High Line . The park is located just south of the West Chelsea Historic District , which includes the landmarked Starrett–Lehigh Building . The park is located in the vicinity of the Chelsea-Elliot Houses and Fulton Houses housing projects, and
2664-646: The City University of New York system, was a successor to the Free Academy. Founded by businessman and City College alumnus Bernard Baruch , the campus includes the Lawrence and Eris Field Building at the southeast corner of Lexington Avenue and 23rd Street in Gramercy. The 16-story building, opened in 1929, is the oldest structure that is part of Baruch College. The New York Public Library contains two branches on
2775-534: The Flatiron District . West of Sixth Avenue, West 23rd Street passes through Chelsea . East of Lexington Avenue , East 23rd Street runs along the southern boundary of Kips Bay and the northern boundaries of Gramercy and Peter Cooper Village . Since 1999, an area north of 23rd Street around the park has been referred to as NoMad . West 23rd Street, which runs through the heart of Chelsea, contains many art galleries and several theaters. For much of
2886-467: The High Line , a 1.45-mile (2.33 km) elevated linear park built on the structure of the former West Side Line railroad. The High Line contains both a staircase and an elevator entrance from 23rd Street. On the north side of 23rd Street, just west of the High Line, is "HL23", a residential building that hangs over the narrow linear park. London Terrace is located across Tenth Avenue, occupying
2997-547: The Penn South and London Terrace apartment complexes. The 2000-built design of Chelsea Waterside Park was created by landscape architect Thomas Balsley during the reconstruction of the West Side Highway in the late 1980s and 1990s. Balsley would later design renovations to Gantry Plaza State Park , Riverside Park South , and the East River Esplanade . The park was reconstructed between 2017 and 2023, with Phase I of
3108-589: The Pennsylvania Railroad also opened a ferry terminal located between 23rd and 24th Streets in 1897, while the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad and the Central Railroad of New Jersey opened adjacent terminals around 1905. In 1906, the original Erie ferry terminal was demolished and a new ferry house was constructed. As part of the project, a park was constructed on the former Erie freight yard; this
3219-589: The Straphangers Campaign listed the M23 as one of the slowest in the city, winning its "Pokey Award" for going at an average speed of 3.7 miles per hour (6.0 km/h). In 2016 it was converted to a Select Bus Service route, with bus rapid transit components such as exclusive bus lanes and all-door bus boarding, to speed up service. Additional service is provided by the M9 and M34A SBS east of Second Avenue, both in
3330-621: The Westway plan, which would construct a new six-lane underground highway ( Interstate 478 ) along the west side of Manhattan between the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel and the Lincoln Tunnel . The existing Hudson River piers would be demolished and the right-of-way would be landfilled , with the highway tunnel placed within the new land. The inland West Side Highway route (Route 9A, a.k.a. West Street and 12th Avenue) would be redeveloped as
3441-462: The striped bass population in the Hudson River. After the collapse of the elevated highway, beginning in 1977 the trestle was demolished. The remaining grade-level West Side Highway continued to travel through Smith Park. The park property was ceded to the NYSDOT on February 9, 1982, in preparation for the construction of the Westway. The Chelsea Waterside Park Association was founded in 1985. Following
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3552-585: The 1950s led to a drop in rail traffic throughout the United States, and the viaduct was effectively abandoned in 1980. The Twenty-third Street Railway , a street railway originally operated as horse cars and later electric traction , was chartered on January 29, 1872. In 1893, the Twenty-third Street Railway was leased to the Houston, West Street and Pavonia Ferry Railroad , which in turn
3663-466: The 1990s as a part of Hudson River Park during the redevelopment of the West Side Highway, and opened in 2000. The waterfront sections proposed for the park were completed in 2010 under a separate project. Between 2017 and 2023, major renovations took place in Chelsea Waterside Park, with a redesigned playground opening in 2018 and the remaining upgrades completed by 2023. Chelsea Waterside Park
3774-668: The Cell Theatre, across the street from the SVA Theatre. In 1849, James Renwick Jr. constructed the Free Academy Building for the City College of New York , following a statewide referendum two years prior that had allowed the construction of the school. The Gothic Revival building was located at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and 23rd Street. The building was demolished in 1928. Baruch College , an institution within
3885-478: The Erie Railroad purchased a site for a new freight yard between 28th and 29th Streets, across from the existing yard of the Lehigh Valley Railroad . In 1902, the company began negotiations with the city to develop a new freight yard on this property. The new freight yard, known as the 28th Street Freight House, was opened on September 1, 1904, after which the yard at 23rd Street was abandoned. Meanwhile,
3996-773: The Hotel Chelsea from August 1978. The building has been a designated New York City landmark since 1966, and on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977. The emergence of many new hotels after the American Civil War contributed to the increase of prostitution in the area. By 1876, there were so many brothels in the area bounded by 23rd and 57th Streets , between Fifth and Seventh Avenues, that New York City Police Department captain Alexander S. Williams nicknamed this strip of land " Tenderloin ". Referring to
4107-673: The Hudson River Park Trust. The park was originally the site of a small freight yard for the Erie Railroad . In 1906, the railroad redeveloped the site into a park, as part of the reconstruction of the adjacent ferry terminal. In 1915, the park was taken over by the Parks Department, and was named for politician Thomas Francis Smith following his death in 1923. The construction of the West Side Elevated Highway in
4218-559: The Hudson River Waterfront Park". The Chelsea-Gansevoort section of Hudson River Park would also feature a redeveloped Chelsea Piers . The plan also proposed a "Chelsea-Convention Center Park", a grassy park on the shoreline between 30th and 34th Streets, which would support the nearby Jacob K. Javits Center and a mixed-use development to be built above the West Side Yard . The total Hudson River Waterfront Park project
4329-495: The Hudson River above the proposed highway tunnel, which would serve the increasing residential population in the area. The conversion of the West Side Highway into a surface boulevard would further improve pedestrian access to the waterfront. The outboard Westway plan was approved by the Federal Highway Administration on July 26, 1977. The West Side Highway Project included plans for a "community-oriented park" at
4440-704: The Hudson River to a floating jetty called Pier 63 . A restaurant was opened on the pier. The lightship Frying Pan and the fire vessel John J. Harvey were also originally moored to Pier 63, with both listed on the National Register of Historic Places . In 2007, the barge was moved to Pier 66 on 26th Street. On January 1, 1825, the New York House of Refuge , a jail for juvenile delinquents, opened on Broadway between 22nd and 23rd Streets. The jail housed prisoners up to 16 years old who were serving long jail sentences, including boys who were being imprisoned until at least age 21 and girls until at least age 18. During
4551-573: The M23 in 1989. During the 1870s, the Sixth Avenue Elevated was built, significantly increasing the number of customers who shopped at stores along the route. Elevated lines with stations on 23rd Street were also constructed along Ninth Avenue in 1867, Third Avenue in 1878, and Second Avenue in 1880. By the middle of the 20th century, they were all demolished. Several New York City Subway stations now serve 23rd Street (see § Public transit ). In 1869, Pavonia Ferry opened
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4662-456: The Manhattan street grid , as one of 15 east-west streets that would be 100 feet (30 m) in width, as opposed to minor side streets that were designated as 60 feet (18 m) in width. The plan also reserved the 240 acres (97 ha) of land bounded by 23rd Street, Third Avenue , 33rd Street and Seventh Avenue as the "Grand Parade", an area upon which development was prohibited. Instead,
4773-545: The Manhattan Borough President. 23rd Street (Manhattan) 23rd Street is a broad thoroughfare in the New York City borough of Manhattan , one of the major two-way, east-west streets in the borough's grid . As with Manhattan's other "crosstown" streets, it is divided into its east and west sections at Fifth Avenue . The street runs from Avenue C and FDR Drive in the east to Eleventh Avenue in
4884-712: The Manhattan Campus of the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, is located at 423 East 23rd Street, near the northeast corner of the intersection with First Avenue. Near 23rd Street's eastern end is the Asser Levy Public Baths . Built at the beginning of the 20th century, the baths were named after Asser Levy , one of the city's first Jewish settlers. In 1980, the baths were added to the National Register of Historic Places. Stuyvesant Cove Park
4995-551: The Parks Department in 1915, along with eight "recreation piers". On April 11, 1923, then-city Public Secretary Thomas Francis Smith was struck and killed by a taxicab. Shortly afterwards, the New York City Board of Aldermen named the parkland after Smith. The parks amenities at the time consisted of benches and trees. The West Side Elevated Highway , also known as the Miller Highway, was completed from Canal Street to
5106-625: The S-curve at 23rd Street was deemed dangerous. Afterwards, in January 1974 the highway was closed between Battery Park and 46th Street. That year, the federal government and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) released a study known as the West Side Highway Project to explore replacement options for the highway. As a result of the study, in April 1974 the City of New York announced
5217-589: The Seymour Club are featured in nearby Chelsea Park . The park is directly served by the M12 local bus route and the M23 Select Bus Service route. The M12 operates between Abingdon Square Park and Columbus Circle along 11th and 12th Avenues. The M23 SBS operates crosstown along 23rd Street, with its western terminus at Chelsea Piers across from Chelsea Waterside Park. The closest New York City Subway station
5328-502: The West Side Task Force, a 22-person panel to propose and evaluate redevelopment plans for the West Side Highway. Members of the panel included future New York City Mayor David Dinkins , and businessman Arthur Levitt . In January 1987, the panel recommended a six-lane boulevard, and a waterfront park to be constructed integrating some of the existing piers. At the time, the park was to extend from Battery Park to 42nd Street. Within
5439-414: The Westway project. Balsley and the association proposed a new park at 23rd Street, on the site of the existing Thomas F. Smith Park. The park would extend north to 24th Street, and west to the Hudson River shoreline. A pedestrian bridge over the new West Side Highway called a "platform park" would connect the inland park to the shoreline and Piers 62, 63, and 64. In 1986, then-Governor Mario Cuomo created
5550-477: The adjacent Hudson River coastline. In fall 1990, the panel released a report recommending the creation of the Hudson River Waterfront Park , a 270-acre (110 ha) park which would stretch from Battery Park north to 59th Street. The park would include a 4-mile (6.4 km) long landscaped esplanade featuring a cycleway and pedestrian walkway along the riverfront. The Chelsea- Gansevoort section of
5661-455: The area was to be used as an open space for military training, as well as an assembly point in the event the city was invaded. At the time, some thought that the Grand Parade might become a "central park" for the city, but the grounds were gradually reduced over the course of time. By 1847, the open area was 7 acres (2.8 ha), comprising the land of the current Madison Square Park. By
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#17328594750465772-439: The basketball court have lights for nighttime use. Next to the athletic field at the northwest corner of the park is a smaller elevated sitting area known as the "sunset overlook". At the south end of the park is the dog run . As built in 2000, it was 3,500 square feet (330 m) in size. It features an asphalt surface designed to remain at low temperature, a drinking stream, and three or four 3-foot (0.91 m) tall mounds and
5883-548: The building into a movie theater in 1938. By 1960, it was demolished to make room for the Penn South residential complex. Booth's Theatre was opened in 1869 at the intersection with Sixth Avenue. It was sold in 1881 for half the cost of its construction, becoming a dry-goods store. In 1889, the entrepreneur Frederick Freeman Proctor opened Proctor's Theatre , a theater between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. Proctor used innovations such as electric lighting and phonographs in his "continuous daily vaudeville" theater. In 1907,
5994-490: The cancellation of the Westway plan, in February 1986 the association launched a campaign to create additional parkland in the neighborhood. The association proposed a two-block long park along the Hudson River between 22nd and 24th Streets. That year, the association contracted landscape architect Thomas Balsley to create the design for a new stretch of waterfront park along the new West Side Highway, similar to that proposed under
6105-415: The cattle sculptures, Art Deco ornamental features of the former West Side Elevated Highway are also integrated into the playground as sprinklers. These are wing-shaped and made of granite. The highway formerly ran through the original Thomas F. Smith Park. Seating furniture, meanwhile, was created from the former granite arch of Pier 54 , also part of Hudson River Park. One of the features retained from
6216-634: The cycle lanes of the Hudson River Greenway between Canal Street and 14th Street, began in early 1998. At this time, construction on the expansion of Thomas F. Smith Park was expected to begin that spring. The Hudson River Park Act was passed by the New York State Legislature in June 1998, and signed by Governor George Pataki in September 1998. Under the terms of the act, the rebuilt Smith Park
6327-440: The demolition of the southern section of Thomas F. Smith Park. Because of this, in June 1995/1996 the federal government and NYSDOT agreed to expand the park as part of the project. The new park would be extended north to 24th Street, with the stretch of 23rd Street running through the new park converted into a pedestrian zone. This plan deviated from the Hudson River Park Trust's original plans for Chelsea Waterside Park. In addition,
6438-603: The different portions of 23rd Street: the Muhlenberg branch on West 23rd Street and Seventh Avenue, and the Epiphany branch on East 23rd Street west of Second Avenue. The Epiphany branch, which is located in Gramercy/Kips Bay, opened in 1887 and moved to its current location, a Carnegie library on 23rd Street, in 1907. It was renovated from 1982 to 1984. The Muhlenberg branch, also a Carnegie library, opened in Chelsea in 1906 and
6549-414: The early 1930s split the park into two adjacent sections. Chelsea Waterside Park was designed in the late 1980s by architect Thomas Balsley . Half of the proposed park would be an expansion of the existing Smith Park, and the other half would be developed on the waterfront atop Piers 62, 63 and 64, with the two halves connected by a footbridge. The inland portion of Chelsea Waterside Park was constructed in
6660-440: The first 10 years, the jail held 1,120 prisoners. In 1854, the prison moved to Randall's Island in the East River . A collection of four-story houses called London Terrace was built on the block bounded by 23rd Street, 24th Streets, Ninth Avenue, and Tenth Avenue in 1845. London Terrace was rebuilt in 1930, with the houses being replaced with 14 apartment buildings that each had sixteen to eighteen floors. The new complex had
6771-509: The flaming cellar, while two more firefighters were killed by the blast of flame and heat on the first floor. The site is now the location of Madison Green , a 31-story apartment building. On September 17, 2016, several bombs detonated in New York and New Jersey . One of these was a pressure cooker bomb that exploded on West 23rd Street between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue , injuring 31 people. A New Jersey resident, Ahmed Khan Rahimi,
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#17328594750466882-412: The foot of Smith Park at 23rd Street in late 1930. In 1932, construction began on an extension of the highway between 22nd Street and 38th Street. This section of the highway opened on January 5, 1933. The highway formed an "S"-curve at 23rd Street, where the right-of-way shifted west from 11th Avenue onto 12th Avenue. Because of this, Thomas F. Smith Park was split diagonally into two triangular sections by
6993-481: The full block to Ninth Avenue between 23rd and 24th Streets. The Hotel Chelsea, New York City's first co-op apartment complex, was built at 222 West 23rd Street in 1883. The Emunah Israel synagogue, built in the 1860s as a Presbyterian church , is located a few doors to the west at 236 West 23rd. The block of 23rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues is part of the Ladies' Mile Historic District . Designated
7104-425: The gaming tables and the few benches, the park featured no recreational facilities or seating areas. The block north of the park, meanwhile, was occupied by a one-story building used by trucking companies, and an exotic car repair shop. Under the 1992 plan for the West Side Highway, the S-curve of the highway at 23rd Street would be straightened. The reconfiguration of the West Side Highway at 23rd Street would require
7215-484: The highway trestle. The space underneath the elevated highway, meanwhile, was used for parking and storage. During the construction of the highway, the Twenty-third Street Association petitioned Manhattan Borough President Samuel Levy to build a replacement for Thomas F. Smith Park. On October 15, 1931, Levy promised that a new West Side park would be created to replace Smith Park. Thomas F. Smith Park
7326-399: The increased number of bribes he would receive for police protection of both legitimate and illegitimate businesses there – especially the many brothels – Williams said, "I've been having chuck steak ever since I've been on the force, and now I'm going to have a bit of tenderloin ." There were several Broadway and Off-Broadway theaters being built along West 23rd Street beginning in
7437-441: The intersection of 23rd Street and Fourth (now Park) Avenue . The building was designed by Peter Bonnett Wight in a style evocative of Doge's Palace in Venice . However, by the beginning of the 20th century, it had been demolished and replaced with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower . In 1878, the Stern Brothers department store opened between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. The building, designed by Henry Fernbach ,
7548-400: The largest hotel in the world at that time. The hotel served as the headquarters of the Republican Party and was used by Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Chester A. Arthur . When the Prince of Wales , Edward VII , visited the hotel in 1860, the commercial appeal of the adjacent neighborhood was greatly increased. The area bounded by 14th and 23rd Streets between Sixth Avenue and Broadway
7659-417: The late 19th century and early 20th century its western end was the site of the Pavonia Ferry at Pier 63, just north of the current Chelsea Piers . In 1907, a small lot of land on the north side of 23rd Street, between Twelfth and Eleventh Avenues , was acquired by the Commissioner of Docks and Ferries . The land was transferred to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation in 1915, becoming
7770-479: The late 19th century. By the turn of the century, the street contained a "Theater Row", which was a prominent fixture in American theater . 23rd Street remained New York's main theater strip until the Empire Theatre opened on Broadway some twenty blocks uptown, ushering in a new era of theater. In 1868, Pike's Opera House (later the Grand Opera House) was built at Eighth Avenue and 23rd Street for several million dollars. The film company RKO Pictures converted
7881-603: The middle of the 19th century, there was a railroad, the Hudson (later West Side) Line , running from the current Hudson Yards area between 30th and 32nd Streets south to Chambers Street . At the time, the city prohibited steam locomotives from operating below 30th Street because of the risk of the train's steam boiler exploding, so passengers from points north were forced to switch to horse-drawn trains . The horse-drawn line's stops were located at 23rd, 14th , Christopher and Chambers Streets. The West Side Line caused so many accidents between freight trains and other traffic that
7992-450: The new playground were overseen by Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects, who had helped prepare the original Hudson River Park master plan in 1997. On November 10, 2016, at a meeting of Community Board 4, the Hudson River Park Trust presented finalized designs for the new play area as part of Phase I of the redevelopment of Chelsea Waterside Park. This design was created by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates . The new design would incorporate
8103-531: The nickname " Death Avenue " was given to Tenth and Eleventh Avenues. In 1929 the city, the state, and New York Central agreed on the West Side Improvement Project, a 13-mile (21 km) project that eliminated 105 street-level railroad crossings and cost more than US$ 150 million (about US$ 2,661,628,000 today). A viaduct, the High Line , replaced the street-level tracks and was dedicated on June 29, 1934. The growth of interstate trucking during
8214-415: The north end of the playground is a small splash pad called the "water maze", featuring several sprinklers. A toddler water play area is situated at the southeast corner of the play area. At the southwest corner is the "Mussel Houses", a sandbox featuring mussel or oyster -shaped sculptures. At the northwest corner of the playground is a "Donor Recognition Wall", featuring the names of major benefactors to
8325-608: The northeast corner of the park is its playground, called the Chelsea Waterside Play Area. The playground is 17,000 square feet (1,600 m) in size. From October 2017 to August 2018, the play area underwent an 11-month $ 3.4 million renovation, designed by the Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates and MONSTRUM firms. The Michael Van Valkenburgh firm also redesigned the nearby Piers 62, 63, and 64, as well as Brooklyn Bridge Park . In its current iteration,
8436-515: The original Thomas F. Smith Park is a 7-foot (2.1 m) granite monument to Smith, located on 23rd Street at the eastern entrance to the park. It's inscription reads "In Memory Of Hon. Thomas F. Smith, Born 1863−Died 1923, Erected by the Seymour Club of Chelsea Neighborhood". The Horatio Seymour Democratic Club, also called the Seymour Tammany Club, was a Tammany Hall political club headquartered in Chelsea. Similar monuments also erected by
8547-441: The park more welcoming to parkgoers instead of just acting as a route to the rest of Hudson River Park. The turf athletic field would be resurfaced for a second time, the dog run would be expanded, and a comfort station would be constructed, a longstanding issue with the park. The underused overlook at the northwest corner of the park would be eliminated, with the space integrated into the athletic field. A groundbreaking ceremony for
8658-532: The park project through the capital campaign. The play area was reopened August 14, 2018, having cost $ 3.4 million. The final cost had increased from initial estimates in order to finance the Pipefish Tower. The alternative design for the feature would have been an eel surrounding a fire hydrant. In November 2019, the Abel Bainnson Butz (ABB) architectural firm presented preliminary designs for Phase II of
8769-589: The park renovations to Manhattan Community Board 4, and received feedback for the plan from the community. The firm had previously designed Piers 45, 46, and 51 within Hudson River Park. The central promenade would be redesigned with new "meandering" paths and the lawn and picnic area, to replace the existing "dominant and oversized pedestrian thoroughfare". The original granite walls of the park would also be removed, based on community input. The changes were intended to increase greenspace and reduce paved areas, making
8880-582: The park would be anchored by a reconstructed Thomas F. Smith Park, which would be converted into a recreation hub known as Chelsea Waterside Park based on Thomas Balsley and the Chelsea Waterside Association's design. The 8-acre (3.2 ha) park would stretch between 22nd and 24th Streets, and extend west to the river occupying Piers 62, 63, and 64. The western or waterfront section of Chelsea Waterside Park would facilitate primarily passive recreation with grassy areas, trees, and seating, along with
8991-442: The park would come from New York City, earmarked by now-Mayor David Dinkins. An additional $ 65 million would be provided by federal highway funds for the construction of the shoreline walkway and bikeway, and the conversion of Smith Park into Chelsea Waterside Park. The combined costs of the Hudson River Park project and the reconstruction of the West Side Highway was expected to reach $ 1.2 billion. In August 1990, Thomas F. Smith Park
9102-523: The park's renovation. The Phase II renovations to the park added a stroller parking area at the south end of the playground. Located in the play area integrated with its sprinklers are two limestone sculptures of cattle heads. The sculptures were originally architectural features of the New York Butchers' Dressed Meat Company building, a Neo-Renaissance -style slaughterhouse in Hell's Kitchen . The building
9213-516: The park, which reopened in early 1974. At this time, the park was primarily used by workers in the industrial areas along the Chelsea waterfront. On December 15, 1973, a section of the West Side Elevated Highway at Gansevoort Street south of 14th Street collapsed under the weight of a dump truck , which was carrying asphalt for repairs to the highway. At the time, much of the highway was in disrepair and considered unsafe; in particular,
9324-487: The playground's central feature is the "Pipefish Tower" created by MONSTRUM. It consists of a multi-colored 64-foot (20 m) long pipefish -shaped climbing feature, surrounding a large slide rising 22 feet (6.7 m) high. The pipefish is one of the aquatic species native to the Hudson River. The pipefish sculpture is constructed of Robinia wood, and consists of a seahorse 's head and a serpent's body. The slide's towers, meanwhile, are designed to resemble tree trunks. At
9435-450: The portions of the park west of the highway were no longer part of the Chelsea Waterside plans. At this time, Pier 62 was occupied by roller rinks and an inline skating course operated by the Chelsea Piers sports complex, intended only for an "interim" period of time. Meanwhile, Pier 63's warehouse was used as a restaurant, roller rink, and for sports courts, also intended to be temporary. The first construction for Hudson River Park, on
9546-518: The preserved sculptures from the New York Butchers' Dressed Meat Company slaughterhouse, the West Side Highway Art Deco reliefs, and granite stones from the Pier 54 arch. Ground was broken on the new playground on October 3, 2017. In attendance were Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and New York State Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried . By the end of 2017, $ 2.5 million had been raised for
9657-513: The project was held on December 3, 2021, with groundbreaking for the comfort station held on December 6. During the project, nearly the entire park was closed except for the play area and basketball court. The park reopened on June 15, 2023. The total cost of the Phase II renovations was $ 15.2 million, with $ 9 million spent by the Hudson River Park trust, and additional funding from the City Council and
9768-487: The proposal was a plan to straighten the curve of the road at 23rd Street. This would require the demolition of a portion of Thomas F. Smith Park, while a replacement park would be constructed. On May 25, 1988, a memorandum between then-Governor Cuomo and then-Mayor Ed Koch established the West Side Waterfront Panel, which was tasked to create plans for the development of the West Side Highway right-of-way and
9879-404: The renovations designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates , and Phase II designed by the Abel Bainnson Butz (ABB) and CDR Studio Architects firms. As designed by Balsley, Chelsea Waterside Park contains walls and benches constructed of granite in order to resemble 19th-century coastal bulkheads , a reference to the area's historical use as a marine port. The pedestrian plaza along 23rd Street
9990-472: The site of Thomas F. Smith Park at 23rd Street. The 1977 plan would create this new park atop the landfill on the Hudson River shore, 5.63 acres (2.28 ha) in size, while the existing structures at Chelsea Piers would be demolished. The elevated highway trestle would be removed from the existing Smith Park to restore it as one continuous site. The Westway project was abandoned in 1985 due to political opposition and environmental issues, including concerns over
10101-461: The south side of East 23rd between First Avenue and Avenue C, Peter Cooper Village was one of MetLife's experiments in middle-income community building until it was bought by Tishman Speyer . Peter Cooper Village was a sister project to MetLife's Stuyvesant Town , which was built across 20th Street to the south. 23rd Street was designated in the Commissioners' Plan of 1811, which established
10212-441: The sports field, dog run, and the splash pad portion of the playground. Construction of the main playground within the park, however, did not commence due to lack of funding. Thomas Balsley's design for the water playground received criticism for its ornamental sprinklers, which some local residents felt resembled " phallic " objects or sex toys . The design had been intended to resemble chess pieces. According to Balsley, his design
10323-478: The street, the sixty-story, 618-foot-tall (188 m) One Madison , was built in 2013. Media mogul Rupert Murdoch bought One Madison's top four floors for $ 57 million. The Woman's Press Club of New York City was located at 126 East 23rd Street. It existed from 1889 to 1980 as an organization for female journalists and authors. A large hospital run by the Veterans Health Administration ,
10434-595: The theater was converted to an RKO cinema, and 30 years later, it was destroyed in a fire. During the late 19th century, Bryant's Minstrels also performed a minstrel show in Proctor's Theatre. Modern theaters include the Chelsea Bow Tie Cinemas, on the south side of West 23rd between Seventh and Eighth Avenues; the SVA Theatre, operated by the School of Visual Arts on the north side of West 23rd one block west; and
10545-525: The two separate halves of the park. Only a portion of the proposed upgrades were implemented. From 1951 until 1975, the southern section of the park was used by the United States Bureau of Customs for a large customs scale. Between 1970 and August 1973, the park was closed and used as storage space for the construction of the West Side interceptor sewer. Afterwards, the sewer construction firm renovated
10656-862: The west. 23rd Street was created under the Commissioners' Plan of 1811 . The street hosts several famous hotels, including the Fifth Avenue Hotel and Hotel Chelsea , as well as many theaters. Several skyscrapers are located on 23rd Street, including the Flatiron Building , the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower , and One Madison . As with other numbered streets in Manhattan , Fifth Avenue separates West and East 23rd Street. This intersection occurs in Madison Square, near Madison Square Park , both of which are part of
10767-632: Was consolidated into the Metropolitan Street Railway on December 12, 1893. The Metropolitan Street Railway was leased by the Interurban Street Railway on April 1, 1902, and the latter went bankrupt six years later. The Metropolitan Street Railway separated on July 31, 1908, becoming the 23rd Street crosstown bus route. Originally called the M18-15 and then the M26, the route was renamed
10878-558: Was demolished in 1991, after which the sculptures were preserved by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission . The two cow sculptures along with two sculptures of ram 's heads, were purchased by the Hudson River Park Trust at auction in 2012. The cattle sculptures were added to the park during the 2018 renovations (the ram sculptures were given to DeWitt Clinton Park in Hell's Kitchen). In addition to
10989-456: Was described as "a trapezoidal open space". Its features included London Plane trees, benches, a fountain, gaming tables , and the monument to Smith. The southern and western section of the park featured a parking lot, and an adjacent bus loop used by M23 crosstown buses. The larger northern and eastern section measured 0.42 acres (0.17 ha) in size, while the smaller southern and western section occupied 0.69 acres (0.28 ha). Outside of
11100-505: Was expected to cost $ 500 million, with the reconstruction of Smith Park and the cost of the bicycle and pedestrian paths estimated to cost $ 65 million. At the time, the project had $ 265 million in committed funding. $ 100 million would be provided by the state through the 21st Century Environmental Quality Bond Act, which was proposed by Governor Cuomo. This act would spend $ 1.9 billion on the development and preservation of parkland, and on closing landfills and promoting recycling. $ 100 million for
11211-646: Was inspired by a park in Osaka, Japan , while a less provocative design resembling eggs had been rejected. The three mounds that characterize the dog run were also criticized, with dog owners claiming the mounds were too large. In 2004, Chelsea Waterside Park received the American Society of Landscape Architects Merit Award. In May 2005, the park's main playground was opened. The play area was designed as an "interactive" and "access for all" playground, with "Galaxy Class" equipment produced by Danish firm Kompen. The playground
11322-449: Was intended to accommodate children of all ages, and those with disabilities. On October 28, 2009, the Hudson River Park Trust announced that the park received a $ 500,000 grant earmarked by New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn , in order to resurface its turf playing field and add fencing around the field. The waterfront parkland and piers originally planned as part of Chelsea Waterside would be developed for Hudson River Park under
11433-514: Was later detained in connection with the bombings. 23rd Street was historically one of the city's fashion hubs, and the street still contains many clothing stores. There are also several major retailers with stores located on the street, such as Best Buy and The Home Depot . Restaurants, cafes, fast-food outlets and other eating establishments on 23rd Street are mostly oriented toward office workers, and many of these establishments provide catering services. These restaurants offer cuisine from
11544-517: Was massive by contemporary standards, standing seven stories high and measuring 200 feet (61 m) wide. It became one of the largest cast-iron structures in New York City. A second notable hotel on the street, the Hotel Chelsea , was built between 1883 and 1885, with the first portions opening in 1884. It was New York's tallest building until 1902. Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen lived in
11655-452: Was officially dedicated and opened on June 26, 1936. At the time, the value of the property was assessed at $ 1,000,000. In December 1936, the Parks Department proposed renovations to the park, which would add recreational facilities. These new facilities would include benches, water fountains, swings, horseshoe pits , handball courts, and shuffleboard courts, along with new landscaping work. An underpass would be constructed in order to connect
11766-515: Was one of Manhattan's first skyscrapers. For four years, until the construction of the Woolworth Building in 1913, it was the tallest building in the world. It also owned a building across the street, which was the location of the 23rd Street Fire that killed 12 firemen. A new apartment building, the current Madison Green , was announced for the site in the 1970s, but the building itself was not constructed until 1982. Another skyscraper on
11877-437: Was originally constructed as a straight-path promenade between 11th and 12th Avenues, intended as a gateway to the main Hudson River Park along the river. The Phase II renovations by ABB reimagined the promenade as the "central area", replacing the straight path with two curved paths surrounding a central lawn. Within the lawn is a picnic area with " festive lights " hanging above for nighttime use. In Balsley's original park plans,
11988-539: Was renovated in 2000. On October 17, 1966, the street was the location of New York's deadliest fire until the September 11 attacks , in terms of firefighters killed. The " 23rd Street Fire ", as it came to be called, began in a cellar at 7 East 22nd Street and soon spread to the basement of 6 East 23rd Street, a five-story commercial building that housed a drugstore at street level. Twelve firefighters were killed; two chiefs, two lieutenants, and six firefighters plunged into
12099-568: Was soon dubbed Ladies' Mile . In 1908, the hotel was demolished and replaced by the Toy Center . By about 1860, Irish immigrants had displaced African-Americans living in Five Points , the latter of whom later resettled all over Manhattan. A thousand African-Americans eventually settled in an area bordered by 23rd Street on the south, 40th Street on the north, and Sixth Avenue on the east. The National Academy of Design building opened in 1863 at
12210-542: Was the predecessor to Thomas F. Smith Park. The park was used as a common plaza for all the ferry terminals in the area as well as Chelsea Piers. The park was acquired by the New York City Department of Docks in 1907. By 1911, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation maintained the park, which remained under the Department of Docks' jurisdiction. The site was transferred from the Department of Docks to
12321-476: Was to have been only half of the 8-acre (3.2 ha) Chelsea Waterside Park. The other half, located on the river shore on the west side of the highway, would have included Piers 62, 63 (to be demolished), and 64. The inland portion of Chelsea Waterside Park was opened on October 12, 2000, at the cost of $ 8.5 million. Upon opening, the park was proclaimed as "Chelsea's grand portal to its waterfront" by New York State officials. The park's features at its opening were
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