City Unveils Design Concepts for Reimagined Chatham Square With More Pedestrian Space, Simplified Intersection
Design Proposal Transforms Chatham Square To Be Safer, More Pedestrian-Friendly, and More Welcoming to Both Residents and Visitors
Renderings Are Part of Chinatown Connections Plan To Add New Public Space and Improve Traffic Safety in Chinatown
Rendering for the proposed redesign of Chatham Square, images pending review and approval from the Public Design Commission.
NEW YORK – New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO Andrew Kimball released new renderings for the proposed redesign of Chatham Square, the latest milestone in the implementation of Chinatown Connections, a multifaceted, public space improvement project that will celebrate the cultural heritage of Chinatown, improve multimodal circulation in the area, and support local economic development. The redesign would dramatically expand pedestrian space while simplifying a complex intersection, improve circulation with shortened pedestrian crossings, and provide more direct routes for drivers. The project will also include opportunities to plant trees and greenery to beautify and expand available public space, including in Kimlau Square, the small park in the center of Chatham Square. As part of the Chinatown Connections plan, the redesign of the square was informed by a thorough traffic study and an ongoing, robust community engagement process.
Rendering for the proposed redesign of Chatham Square, images pending review and approval from the Public Design Commission.
“Today marks an exciting step forward in reimagining Chatham Square as a more vibrant, accessible, and welcoming gateway to Chinatown,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “This redesign is not just about improving traffic flow — it’s about honoring the cultural legacy of this neighborhood, creating more green and public space for residents and visitors, and strengthening the economic vitality of the community. This project builds on our legacy of investing in infrastructure and public redesign works to improve quality of life, safety, and accessibility for all New Yorkers. I am proud to lay this foundation that will establish the future for Chatham Square that reflects the values and vision of those who call Chinatown home.”
“The new public space designs reflect our deep commitment to celebrating Chinatown’s cultural heritage while creating a more welcoming, accessible, and vibrant space for all,” said Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu. “By working closely with the community, we’re transforming a busy, congested and chaotic intersection into quality public space that benefit residents and businesses alike.”
“New Yorkers deserve to live in communities with vibrant public spaces where crossing the street doesn’t have to be a complicated, dangerous process. This ambitious redesign of Chatham Square will dramatically improve the pedestrian experience while helping drivers get where they need to go more directly,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “By shortening crossing distances, simplifying complex intersections, and adding more trees and greenery—we can foster equitable streets and create welcoming public spaces for a thriving Chinatown.”
“The proposed redesign of Chatham Square marks a major milestone in the progress of the Chinatown Connection project,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “The ambitious overhaul of the Chatham Square will reimagine the area to not only improve the flow of traffic and make crossings safer for pedestrians, but also to deliver significant public realm improvements — beautifying and the expanding the public space to ensure Chinatown remains an accessible, welcoming, and vibrant destination for local residents, businesses, and visitors alike to thrive for generations to come.”
“NYC Parks is proud to play a role in bringing more green space and beauty to this vital corner of Chinatown,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa. “This redesign of Chatham Square isn’t just about safety—it’s about connection. It’s about creating a welcoming, inclusive space that honors the neighborhood’s rich cultural heritage while offering residents, families, and visitors a place to gather and reflect. Projects like this celebrate community, culture, and the shared public spaces that make our city so special.”
The Intersection
Currently, Chatham Square features a complex, five-point intersection resulting in many conflict points that endanger drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Even though pedestrians account for nearly 80 percent of users of the intersection—with nearly 10,000 counted during peak afternoon/evening hours—they often must walk long distances to cross the street, usually at the same time as a high volume of turning vehicles
The existing public space is made less welcoming and less accessible by the exposure to surrounding traffic and accompanying noise and is not large enough to accommodate public events such as Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival.
The complicated intersection requires traffic enforcement agents to direct traffic—with vehicles usually needing to make multiple turns due to the indirect design of the street.
Chatham Square Design
The proposed redesign transforms Chatham Square into a standard four-way intersection that will better serve the high number of pedestrians and will allow drivers continue on their routes with fewer turns.
The proposal shortens pedestrian crossing distances to reduce exposure to vehicles and increase accessibility, especially for seniors and children. The design maintains the location of the Kimlau Memorial Arch, in Kimlau Square, which sits at the heart of the Chatham Square redesign, and connects the arch and public space to adjacent blocks.
This milestone builds on the recent selection of artist Jennifer Wen Ma to design the new Chinatown Welcome Gateway, which promises to highlight the neighborhood’s cultural heritage to fulfill a longstanding community desire for an iconic symbol to demarcate a key entrance to Chinatown.
Outreach and Implementation
Extensive community engagement supported the development of this design. The city began gathering information in May 2025 and further refined the proposal in consultation with Chinatown Connections Working Group and through community tabling, pop-up events, and other forms of focused engagement, gathering nearly 350 comments on a visual survey of the project. Final design and construction are slated for 2027.
About Chinatown Connections
Chinatown Connections is a $55 million capital effort in Chinatown funded by New York City and New York State to support the needs of existing community and the local economy, bolster neighborhood identity and culture, expand pedestrian space, and support connections with surrounding communities by creating safer pedestrian and cyclist connections in the neighborhood.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city’s future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
“I am excited to see these new renderings for the proposed redesign of Chatham Square, a significant undertaking by the city to dramatically improve public space in Chinatown and make the area more welcoming and pedestrian-friendly,” said Senator Brian Kavanagh, who represents Chinatown. “I was proud to support the state’s largest ever Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant for Chinatown, which is helping to fund this important project. I thank DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, EDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball, and all of the community members and stakeholders for their dedication to a community-centered, transparent process.”
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