- Beginning in 2022 the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership will bring supplementary sanitation, safety, and other services to a larger footprint that includes 20^th Street, Sixth Avenue, and more of NoMad -

 New York, July 30, 2021 – The New York City Council yesterday voted to approve legislation that will expand the boundaries of the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership Business Improvement District (BID) as of January 1, 2022. The expansion will nearly double the size of the BID, bringing the Partnership’s supplemental sanitation and safety services, homeless outreach, public space management and beautification, marketing, business support, and advocacy to a larger footprint that will include 20^th Street, the Sixth Avenue gateway to the district, and more of NoMad.

Map of the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership BID, with the original
BID boundaries (orange) and the expansion areas for 2022 (blue).

Since its inception in 2006, the Partnership has served Flatiron and the southern part of NoMad. Increasingly, business owners, property owners, and residents just outside of the BID’s original boundaries have expressed a need for BID services on their blocks. As the district and surrounding areas have evolved, the need has grown for broader public realm services and enhancements, districtwide promotions and advocacy, and a more cohesive neighborhood identity.

“For 15 years, the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership has helped cement the reputation of Flatiron and NoMad as two of New York City’s most vital and exiting neighborhoods and now we look forward to having the same impact in an expanded footprint,” said James Mettham, executive director of the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership. “Our new stakeholders can look forward to cleaner streets, more inviting public spaces, and more support for small businesses. We are grateful to Mayor de Blasio and the City Council, in particular Speaker Corey Johnson and Members Carlina Rivera and Keith Powers, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, and Community Boards 4 and 5 for their support of our BID expansion.”

“The work of BIDs across the city is more important than ever as we help businesses and neighborhoods recover from the pandemic and adapt to post-pandemic life,” Mettham added. “We are committed to ensuring that the new areas of our BID – and every block in Flatiron and NoMad – are special places that make people want to live, work, visit, and play here in the heart of Manhattan.” 

The areas joining the BID include 1,384 properties, 344 of which are commercial; more than 20 existing or under-construction hotels; a diverse array of retail and dining; a plethora of cultural destinations and historic sites; a growing residential community; and the dynamic Sixth Avenue mixed-use corridor.

The City Council’s approval of the BID’s expansion follows four years of planning and stakeholder engagement by the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership in close coordination with the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS), and a thorough public review process that was temporarily delayed by the COVID pandemic. The expansion plan has been widely embraced by neighborhood stakeholders.

"Congratulations to the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership on their concerted effort to make this expansion possible. It has been a pleasure working with the Flatiron Partnership and Steering Committee over the last few years to help them realize this expansion. I am very proud of the City Council's vote today to expand the boundaries of the BID, which will ensure important services can be provided to the local businesses and residential community who call Flatiron home," said New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

"I'm so excited to see the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership Business Improvement District officially expand its boundaries with this important City Council vote today. This expansion will bring important services to community members in my District, including additional sanitation services, community outreach, and street activation, and I look forward to continuing to work with the BID on new initiatives in these wonderful neighborhoods," said New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera.

“Since 2006, the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership has helped anchor Flatiron and NoMad as two of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. This expansion will allow more New Yorkers to benefit from their continued support for local businesses, sanitation services, public space maintenance, and more. I’m proud to be supporting the expansion, and I thank the Mayor, Speaker Johnson, Council Member Rivera, Manhattan Borough President Brewer, and Community Boards 4 and 5 for their work,” said New York City Council Member Keith Powers.

“We are grateful for this vote of confidence from our neighborhood stakeholders. We look forward to bringing our expertise to a larger territory in this vibrant part of New York City,” said Michael T. Cohen, President of the Tri-State Region at Colliers International and Chairman of the Board of the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership. 

Throughout the COVID pandemic, the Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership’s staff has been on the streets every day, responding to stakeholders’ evolving needs and helping to ensure that public spaces have remained safe, clean, and beautiful. Since May 2020, the Partnership has managed the City’s Open Streets program in Flatiron and NoMad, opening the roadbed on stretches of Broadway, 20^th Street, 22^nd Street, and 28^th Street to pedestrians and cyclists for greater social distancing. Additionally, the Partnership has worked with local restaurants on outdoor dining on sidewalks and streets through the City’s Open Restaurants program.

This summer, the Partnership collaborated with the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) to create the new Flatiron Slow Street, which has transformed Broadway between 21^st Street and 23^rd Street into a more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly thoroughfare. The project is part of the Partnership’s long-term vision of a pedestrian-focused Broadway corridor through Flatiron and NoMad, which has also included the construction of the Flatiron Public Plazas in 2009 and Manhattan’s first Shared Street, from 24^th to 25^th Street, which was unveiled in 2017.

While the pandemic greatly reduced the number of commuters and tourists coming to Manhattan’s central business districts, momentum toward recovery continues to build. Pedestrian volumes in the Flatiron Public Plazas were up 80% by the end of June 2021, compared with June 2020. Both ground-floor retail leasing and commercial office leasing increased in Q2 2021. More than 60 new businesses have opened – or announced plans to open – in the district since July 2020.

The New York City Department of Small Business Services oversees the city’s BID program. A BID is a nonprofit organization made up of property owners and commercial tenants who are dedicated to promoting economic development and improving an area’s quality of life. There are 76 BIDs operating in New York City that invest over $170.5 million to serve 93,000 businesses in all five boroughs and maintain 152 public spaces.

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Celebrate Independence Day this weekend in the neighborhood with special treats and offerings.

June news highlights include restaurant openings and annoucnements, new office tenants, new hotel construction's making progress.  Stay in the know with the latest Flatiron News.

Restaurants & Bars

• Restaurants Zaytinya and The Bazaar by José Andrés are planned to open on the ground floor of the upcomin Ritz-Carlton New York hotel in NoMad (via Totalfood).
• Planta Queen opened its doors at 15 West 27th Street (via New York Business Journal).
• Hill Country Barbecue Market  is featured in New York City's Essential Barbecue Restaurants (via Eater NY).
• Mark’s Off Madison and Milu are highlighted in The Return of Restaurants (via Grub Street).
• Tortazo restaurant by Rick Bayless is set to open in September at 1123 Broadway (via Restaurant Hospitality).
• A new Korean restaurant Little Mad opened this June at 110 Madison Avenue between 29th and 30th Street (via Eater NY).
• Eleven Madison Park reopened June 10th with its fully vegan menu (via Bloomberg).
• Thyme Bar's The Thyme Bar Experience — Euphoria is featured in These Beloved Restaurants in NYC Are Officially Open Again (via Eat This, Not That).
• Sona released their new brunch menu featuring pastrami naan sandwhiches (via Eater NY).
• Junoon, a fine dining Indian restaurant, reopened at 19 West 24th Street (via Eater NY).
• Bambu, a Vietnamese-inspired beverage chain, opened at 38 East 23rd Street (via QSR).

District Businesses

• Harry Potter NYC flagship Store opened June 3rd at 935 Broadway with two floors of exclusive Harry Potter merchandise, wands, and Butterbeer (via Forbes).
• Harklinikken, a Scandinavian hair-health clinic, is featured in COVID-related hair loss is a real thing — but these treatments can help (via NY Post).
• A photography space for creatives called Swift Studios located on 1239 Broadway on the 13th Floor opened up this month (via Interior Design).
• The Fifth Avenue Hotel adds a 24-story new tower at West 28th Street and Fifth Avenue. Additionally the Ritz-Carlton NoMad located on 1185 Broadway is set to open this fall (via NY Post).
• INNSiDE by Meliá New York NoMad creates a "Day Stay" package for guests to use a guest room as workspaces (via Hotels Magazine).
• CycleBar studio opened this month in the former Flywheel location at 420 Park Ave South (via Club Industry).
• The Cure, a sciences lab space, located at 345 Park Avenue South plans to fully open by end of year (via Commercial Observer).
  
  

Real Estate

• A 12-story 65,000 square foot office building located at 260 Fifth Avenue between 28th and 29th Street was sold for $52.5 million to Brax Realty (via Real Estate Business).
• Owners of the Flatiron Building continue renovations to upgrade the building to modern-day offices (via Commercial Observer).
• Timothy Oulton leased the ground floor and lower level of 901 Broadway for its East Coast flagship store (via New York Times).
• Construction on Madison House, an 805-foot-tall residential skyscraper at 126 Madison Avenue, is almost completed. The 62-story tower is designed by Handel Architects will have 199 condominiums and a 7,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space (via New York YIMBY).
• FlateRate Moving opened its "The Box Store" at 936 Broadway in mid-June (via Commerical Observer).
• Ogilvy, a global advertising firm, consolidates brands at Grey Group Inc.'s office at 200 Fifth Avenue (via Commerical Observer).
• Designed by Rafael Vinoly Architects, the Ritz Carlton's facade at 1185 Broadway is almost complete and set to open late 2021 (via New York YIMBY).
• CetraRuddy Architecture designed the Rose Hill residential skyscraper at 30 East 29th Street, and its facade is almost finished (via New York YIMBY).
• Facade work on an office building on 1245 Broadway designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill is nearing completion (via New York YIMBY).
• Designed by Stantec, the Virgin Hotel's facade on 1225 Broadway is almost completed (via New York YIMBY).
• Two Trees Management leases 50 West 23rd Street 4th Floor to Flexport, a logistics tech firm, for the next three years (via Crain's New York).
  
  

Around the Neighborhood

• Daily foot traffic in the Flatiron District has recovered to 92% of pre-pandemic averages as of May 8th (via Crain's New York)
• The artist and architect Maya Lin's Ghost Forest exibition is on view now in Madison Square Park (via New York Times).
• WATG reimagines tha Flatiron District with renderings of paradise and greenery on the streets and buildings (via Yahoo News!).
• Madison Square Park Conservancy accounced a "Music on the Green" program with free performances curated by Carnegie Hall and inspired by Lin's Ghost Forests (via Broadway World).
• Pride Parade 2021 ran down Fifth Avenue past Madison Square Park, and ending at the West Village Stonewall Inn on June 27th (via Gothamist)

Header Photo Credit: Planta Queen from BizJournal
Thumbnail Photo Credit: Junoon from Eater
Main Page Photo Credit: Tortazo from Resturant Hospitality

Cool down in the neighborhood with Happy Hour drink and food specials at local resturants and bars! 

Where to Grab a Drink:

Almond NYC, 12 East 22nd Street, Menu 
Stop by weekdays 4 pm to 7 pm to enjoy drink and food specials. Grab $10 margs, $9 wine, and $8 beers and treat yourself to some bites like buffalo cauliflower, oysters, and shrimp. 

Bazar Tapas, 31 West 26th Street, Menu 
Enjoy happy hour everyday 11 am to 6 pm. Select cocktails $10, $9 wines, and $5 beers. 

Dos Caminos, 373 Park Avenue South, (212) 294-1000, Menu
Available weekdays 3 pm to 6pm, and  9 pm to close at Dos Caminos Bar and lounge. Grab $8 bites, $5 & $6 beers, $7 glasses of sangria and a $10 tequila tasting flight. 

Hardings, 32 East 21st Street, Menu
Enjoy delicious cocktails in their patio during Happy Hour from 5 pm - 7pm.

Hole in the Wall, 37 West 24th Street, (646) 882-4007, Menu
Hole in the Wall offers weekday Happy Hour from 4 pm to 7 pm. Enjoy $10 cocktails, $7 Wines, and $5 Beers.

John Doe Bar & Kitchen, 253 5th Avenue, (646) 882-4007, Menu
John Doe Bar & Ktichen is perfectly located between the Flatrion and Empire State Building and offers New American plates and sandwiches. Enjoy $5 domestic bottles, $10 featured cocktails, and $1 oysters daily 11 am to 8 pm. 

Il Fiorista, 17 West 26th Street, 646-490-8240, Menu
Enjoy half off wine by the glass, beer, and house cocktails every Tuesday through Saturday from 5 pm to 6:30 pm at Il Fiorista's Bar. 

izakaya NoMad, 13 West 26th Street, (212) 213-6258, Menu
Stop by Tuesday through Thursday from 5 pm to 7 pm for Happy Hour. Enjoy one of their Signature Cocktails and Draft Beers.

Leonelli Restaurant and Bar, 7 East 27th Street, (212) 451-9495 Menu
Sit down at their outdoor patio or indoor lounge Tuesday through Saturday from 5 pm to 7 pm for Happy Hour. Enjoy speciality cocktails for $10, draft beers and wine by the glass, plus bites like arrancini and cacio e pepe fritters. 

Mexicue, 225 5th Avenue, (646) 922-7289, Menu
Mexicue offers a weekday Happy Hour special Monday through Friday 4 pm to 7 pm. Enjoy a Classic Margarita for $7.50, wine by the glass for $7, and $4 Tecate cans. You can also enjoy their weekend Brunch Happy Hour featuring Breakfast Margs, Bloodies, and Mimosas. 

Scampi, 30 West 18th Street, (212) 888-2171, Menu
Enjoy Aperitivo Hour on Thursdays and Fridays from 3 pm to 7 pm at Scampi. 

Tappo Thin Crust Pizza, 94 West 24th Street, (212) 807-9200, Menu
Enjoy Happy Hour Specials daily from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Score a Free large plain pizza with the purchase of any pitcher of beer or bottle of wine! 

The Grey Dog, 55 West 26th Street, (212) 229-2345, Menu
Available every day from 4 pm to 7 pm, enjoy $3 Beer, $4 Rosé, $5 Spiked Palmer, and 50₵ Wings at Grey Dog. 

The Globe NYC, 158 East 23rd Street, (212) 477-6161, Menu
Available every day from 12 pm to 7 pm, enjoy $6 draft Beer, Well Drinks, Wines, and Champagne. You can also take advanatge of their Burger & Beer $12 special. 

The Smith, 55 West 26th Street, (212) 229-2345, Menu
The Smith offers weekday Happy Hour from 3 pm to 6 pm. Enjoy $10 featured cocktails, $8 wine by the glass, $6 draft beer, $2 oysters, and their Burger & A Beer special for $21. 

Tipsy NoMad, 37 East 28th Street, (212) 481-3100, Menu 
Enjoy Happy Hour with $5 pints, $7 shots, $9 wine, and $10 featured cocktails dauly until 7 pm. 

Vin Sur Vingt, 1140 Broadway, (646) 922-7700, Menu
VSV NoMad is an intimate French wine bar offering evening Happy Hour Specials. Enjoy $10 glasses of wine from VSV's rotating selection until 6 pm.

230 Fifth Rooftop, 230 Fifth Avenue, (212) 725-4300, Menu
Visit from 2 pm to 5 pm on weekdays for 230 Fifth Rooftop's Happy Hour. Enjoy $10 frozen maragritas, $7 beers, and $9 well cocktails.

The Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership offices will be closed this Friday, June 18th in observance of Juneteenth. We’ve gathered various resources to celebrate, learn, and honor the emancipation of those who have been enslaved in the United States and to support Black-owned businesses in Flatiron, NoMad, and around NYC.

Business Resources and Support

Neighborhood Businesses
Click here for a list of Black-owned businesses to support in Flatiron & NoMad.

Black-owned Businesses in New York City
The NYC Dept. of Small Business Services (SBS) “Shop Your City” website has extensive lists of Black-owned businesses in New York City.  Scroll to the section titled “Online Lists Encouraging Small Business Support.”

While supporting Black-Owned small businesses, take the “Shop Your City” Challenge and share a photo to participate in the Shop Your City campaign for the chance to win a gift card. Enter here.

The State of Black New York
You can’t improve what you can’t measure. The New York Urban League’s (NYUL) ‘State of Black New York’ report acknowledges the inequities suffered by the Black community in New York City and collects data to measure both the depth of the issues as well as progress. Download the SOBNY report.

Employers: Support Career Initiatives through NYUL
Get involved in Young Leadership Development with opportunities including engaging the Young Professionals Network, participating in the Young Professionals Fellows Program, facilitating Employment and Career Services, and becoming a partner in STEAM fluency through the Summer Academy.

Art, Culture, and Celebrations

FuncSoul presents “Juneteenth: The Black Independence Day Celebration”
Celebrate Juneteenth and support the Black Trans community with a FuncSoul virtual event this Thursday, June 17 at 7:30 pm. This virtual event is a one-hour virtual dance party honoring Black liberation. The curated playlist merges Afrobeats, Black dance classics, and selections by Black LGBTIA+ artists. Info & Registration

ONYX by Adrienne Raquel at Fotografiska
Onyx is anew photography series created by NYC-based photographer and art director Adrienne Raquel. This photographic exploration of the famed Club Onyx in Houston pushes past the polish of Raquel’s commercial work by capturing exotic dancers in a candid and intimate environment. More info and tickets

Attend Fotografiska’s “AFTER DARK: An Evening Show of Artistry, Performance and Self-Expression,” that features pole dancing with eight incredible performers hosted by MC Roz the Diva in recognition of ONYX on Thursday, June 17 at 8:30 pm. Event info here.

Skin Contact by Naima Green, supported by Fotografiska
Enjoy Skin Contact by Naima Green, supported in part by Fotografiska. This online project includes visual imagery, interviews, playlists, and text. Experience Skin Contact here.  

Looking to Hear, Sidney Mishkin Gallery (online exhibition)
Featuring artworks in media as broad as photography, tapestry, painting, and lithography, and including works dating back to 1927 – nearly 100 years ago – this exhibition draws attention to pieces that elaborate on the relationship between seeing a work of art and hearing one. The exhibition was curated by Baruch’s 2020 Contemporary Issues in Curating Class. Experience ‘Looking to Hear’.

Poster House
Poster House is offering free admission in celebration of Juneteenth on Saturday, June 19 from 10 am – 6 pm. Details here.

Essays & Reading

A Life Altering Year
Jonnel Doris, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS), speaks to the shifts in the lives of Black people in America in 2020 that were brought on by a global pandemic, the racial wealth gap, and the continued experience of senseless deaths of unarmed Black people. Read “A Life Altering Year”.

State of Black New York Leadership Essays
Curated by the New York Urban League, read 10 essays from leaders in New York and across the country as they grapple with challenges faced by Black Americans, share valuable perspectives, and look to meaningful action to create much-needed change: SOBNY Leadership Essays

Re-Discover Black History in Flatiron & NoMad

• James Weldon Johnson, Writer and Civil Rights Activist
• Ackerman Institute for the Family and The Audre Lord Project
• Silent Protest Parade of 1917 in Madison Square