Midtown Manhattan

New York City skyline with construction cranes in foreground

NYC Mayor Adams Proposes Ambitious Housing Agenda in State of the City Address

Housing is one of four “pillars” proposed by Mayor Eric Adams in his “Working People’s Agenda.”

January 30, 2023 - NYC Office of the Mayor

Exterior view of Penn Station, Manhattan

Penn Station Redevelopment Moves Forward

Empire State Redevelopment unanimously voted to support the planned redevelopment of Midtown Manhattan’s much-maligned Penn Station.

July 25, 2022 - The Architect's Newspaper

New York City, New York United States - August 29 2021: Steinway Tower 111 West 57th Street on Billionaires' Row Midtown Manhattan skyscrapers with summer clouds.

World's Skinniest Skyscraper Complete in New York City

111 West 57th Street, a residential supertall tower with multiple global distinctions, completed construction recently in New York City.

April 6, 2022 - Dezeen

COVID-19 Pandemic

Boosters Bring Normalcy Back to Tel Aviv

Life in Tel Aviv is bustling again since COVID-19 vaccine boosters became accessible to anyone over 12 years of age. Traffic is now more of a concern than COVID, Mayor Ron Huldai told Bloomberg CityLab during a visit to 'quiet' Manhattan.

October 18, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

New York City

Manhattan's Economy Depended on Office Workers. Now What?

With 90 percent of its usual commuters still working from home and a full return to the office highly unlikely, what will become of New York City's towering office buildings?

April 6, 2021 - The New York Times

New York Street

Op-Ed: Only Political Cowardice Stands in the Way of Congestion Pricing in New York

It was former London mayor Richard Livingstone who accused leaders of cowardice for not supporting congestion pricing, notes a New York Times op-ed that warns that the New York City mayor and New York State governor may "bungle" the opportunity.

January 10, 2018 - The New York Times - Opinion

White House Smart Cities Initiative Uses Connected Vehicle Technology

Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx unveiled a $42 million transportation program in Manhattan that is part of President Obama's new $160 million Smart Cities Initiative. Funds will go to NYC, Tampa, and Wyoming to reduce congestion and crashes.

September 15, 2015 - The White House

Excavations Unlock New York City’s Dramatic Geologic Foundation

A decade of subterranean excavations on the Third Water Tunnel, the Second Avenue Subway, and the Long Island Rail Road’s East Side Access Project has provided geologists with unprecedented access to New York City’s physical structure.

February 22, 2014 - New York Times

When Are Big Buildings Too Big?

When the 807 ft. MetLife Building in Manhattan's Midtown opened half a century ago, it was viewed as an 'assault' on it's iconic neighbor, Grand Central Terminal. However, it was indicative of what the real estate market wanted in the 1960s.

March 26, 2013 - The New York Times - New York

Bloomberg's Broadway Gamble Gets Standing Ovation

Nicole Gelinas reports on the effects of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s controversial 2009 transportation reforms, which have unexpectedly lightened the traffic and dangers on New York’s streets.

August 1, 2012 - City Journal

Upzoning Midtown

Catering to potential office tenants who would want more modern spaces, New York City officials are toying with rezoning a swath of midtown Manhattan, allowing for even more density and the replacement of aging office buildings.

January 15, 2012 - The Wall Street Journal

How Yorkville Ended Up With So Much Dead Public Space

Martin Pedersen of Metropolis Magazine explains how a city ordinance termed the 'plaza bonus,' lead to the creation of more than five hundred "privately financed, privately owned, but public spaces."

June 26, 2010 - Metropolis

Touring Midtown Megaprojects with Bob Yaro

Bob Yaro of the Regional Plan Association walks around Midtown Manhattan, reflecting on the effect megaprojects like the modern Penn Station and Javits Center have had on the city.

June 25, 2009 - Urban Omnibus

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.