ONLY DOWNTOWN
2023 ANNUAL REPORT
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS I. A Message From the Chair and President p. 3 II. Only Downtown p. 4 III. Arts and Culture p. 8 IV. Food and Drink p. 16 V. Recreation p. 20 VI. Shopping p. 24 VII. Tourism p. 28 VIII. Transit p. 36 IX. What the Downtown Alliance Can Do for You p. 38 X. Financials p. 49 | 1
2 |
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR AND PRESIDENT After several years of pandemic upheaval, Lower Manhattan has settled into a “new normal,” requiring us to navigate the myriad ways in which the city, country and world have changed since 2019. As always, Lower Manhattan is finding ways to rise to the occasion. Lower Manhattan has long been one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. From its origins as the seat of New Amsterdam, to its backdrop in the American Revolution, to its 1900s turn as the seat of global finance, Lower Manhattan has demonstrated its historic significance for centuries. In the modern era, the neighborhood has undergone a major transformation, cementing itself as a cultural hub and bona fide foodie destination. No longer merely a nineto-five spot for the finance set, downtown New York is now a dynamic, round-theclock place for people to live, work, play and visit. A walk through the neighborhood on any given day serves as a testament to its liveliness. Throngs of visitors gather at landmarks like the Oculus and the New York Stock Exchange, jockeying for selfies with the “Charging Bull” and “Fearless Girl.” Workers lunch at tasty cafes and in public art-dotted outdoor plazas. In the evenings, residents and visitors alike flock to our world-class restaurants, sleek cocktail bars and local dives. As always, Lower Manhattan continues to reinvent itself. In the last few years, we’ve seen an explosion of new businesses drawing people to the neighborhood. Recent additions, like Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s expansive Tin Building at the Seaport, have generated a lot of excitement downtown. This year, standbys like Century 21 and
Delmonico’s reopened after lengthy closures, marrying Lower Manhattan’s old-world elegance with its modern vivaciousness. And this fall, we finally saw the much-anticipated debut of PAC NYC, a 90,000-square-foot performing arts center on the World Trade Center campus that is set to have a profound impact on the neighborhood and the entire city. With their inaugural season already underway, we’re thrilled to welcome such a transformative institution to Lower Manhattan. As Lower Manhattan stewards, the Downtown Alliance strives to provide the services, support and marketing the neighborhood needs to thrive — with live programming, sanitation and public safety services, food events and more. In addition to our commitment to keeping Lower Manhattan clean and safe, we’ve done our part to feed the neighborhood’s effusive energy with public art installations, lunchtime concerts, captivating film series, unique walking tours and the much-loved annual Dine Around Downtown festival. Just to name a few. We hope to continue these efforts in the year to come, with the kind of programming, arts and culture, and food events the neighborhood has come to know and love over the course of nearly three decades. Only downtown. In Lower Manhattan, you’ll find an adventure of your own choosing. From historic landmarks to cultural touchstones to world-class dining, downtown has everything you need to live, work and play. Here’s just a slice of the magic you’ll find here; we can’t wait for you to experience it all Jessica Lappin President
Ric Clark Chair
| 3
ONLY DOWNT 4 |
Only Downtown. In one square mile, you’ll find New York City’s beating heart, a kinetic neighborhood that draws workers, residents and visitors alike to experience all it has to offer. Lower Manhattan has a deep and rich history; once Manhattan’s Colonial start, downtown has held roles as the nation’s capital, the city’s main harbor, a theater district, a media stronghold and a global financial center. More recently, Lower Manhattan has become home to a diverse range of industries, including media, technology, advertising, fashion and publishing. And downtown’s workforce has been joined by more and more full-time residents who are drawn to the neighborhood’s signature dynamism. Indeed, downtown you’ll find an eclectic mix of restaurants, museums, live music, art and retail. We have coffee bars that transform into nighttime cocktail joints, high-end shopping malls and long-standing mom-and-pop shops. There are Michelin-starred restaurants and greasy spoon diners, luxury boutique hotels and budget-friendly stays, lush parks and public art-filled plazas; Revolutionary-era landmarks and gleaming 21st-century skyscrapers.
OWN
All this, and more. Only Downtown. Come on a journey with us — we promise you’ll like what you see.
| 5
6 |
| 7
ARTS AND CULTURE
8 |
New York is the global center of culture, and Lower Manhattan is no exception. Downtown is rich with public art, world-class museums, live music and, now, a major performing arts center that is set to transform the neighborhood into a cultural dynamo.
PAC NYC The Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) has arrived. The long-awaited cultural addition to the World Trade Center site debuted with a packed ribbon-cutting ceremony in September, a celebratory start to a pivotal moment in Lower Manhattan’s cultural legacy. The 129,000-square-foot cube-shaped behemoth, designed by architect Joshua Ramos along with David Rockwell, is a one-of-a-kind multidisciplinary space, with the latest theatrical design, technology and boundary-pushing work. Outfitted with three fully customizable theaters, PAC NYC will be able to host a wide range of live productions; the inaugural lineup alone includes a five-night global music series centered on the theme of refuge, acclaimed actor Laurence Fishburne’s one-man show and a reimaging of the musical “Cats.” PAC NYC will also pay homage to the native people on whose land we now live — foundational alliance partner the Lenape Center will offer a free exhibition at PAC NYC covering the history of the Lenape people, starting this fall.
the new venture, called Metropolis, “draws inspiration from the diversity of the five boroughs defined by generations of immigrants and honors the convergence of cultures throughout the great city of New York.” PAC NYC is available for rental for conferences and events. Memberships and a full lineup can be found at pacnyc.org.
Pier 17 Fans of live music flock to Pier 17, where you can catch your favorite tunes with a side of spectacular panoramic views. Once part of the Seaport’s storied shipping history, over the last few years, Pier 17 has been transformed into a 365,000-square-foot retail, dining and entertainment complex. There, you’ll find restaurants like Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s The Fulton and Andrew Carmellini’s Carne Mare, as well as some dynamic office space, with ESPN and Nike as current tenants. One of the biggest highlights is The Rooftop at Pier 17, an impressive outdoor concert venue
PAC NYC’s onsite bar and restaurant will be run by famed chef Marcus Samuelsson of Harlem’s Red Rooster;
| 9
ARTS & CULTURE
in partnership with Live Nation. Recent shows have included Carly Rae Jepsen, Modest Mouse and Ween, to name a few. The lineup is always great, and, as we cannot stress enough, the views are unmatched. Film buffs will also enjoy Pier 17’s free rooftop summer movie series, with last summer’s offerings including “Jaws,” “Step Up” and “Pitch Perfect.” The roof also houses The Greens, a rooftop dining retreat that changes its theme seasonally.
Movie Theaters In 2021, Alamo Drafthouse, the Austin-based cinema chain that lets you dine while you watch, opened its first Manhattan outpost at 28 Liberty. The venue lives up to the Alamo hype, housing 14 screens in addition to the Press Room, which serves multiple functions as a bar, museum, letterpress print shop and private event space. There’s also an important New York City landmark in the basement: the cult collection from Kim’s Video, the independent rental store that operated from 1986 through 2014 in a few locations across Manhattan. Of course, Alamo’s not the only theater downtown. In 2016, IPIC opened its first New York location at the Seaport, featuring eight screens and the Tuck Room, a cocktail bar that pays homage to New York’s rich cocktail history. Filmgoers can enjoy oversized leather reclining chairs, as well as unlimited popcorn, pillows and blankets, plus there are food and cocktail menus so you can enjoy a drink and a meal with your movie. And for fans of the regular multiplex, the beloved all-stadium seating Regal Battery Park shows new releases across 16 screens.
10 |
Hall des Lumières Hall des Lumières, a permanent immersive art center at 49 Chambers, opened in September 2022. Co-created by leading global management firms Culturespaces and IMG, the center shows off the intersection of art and technology, and its inaugural exhibit, “Gustav Klimt: Gold in Motion,” offered full-scale immersive renditions of some of the Austrian Symbolist painter’s most recognizable work. Hall des Lumières followed up its first explosive offering with a trip to the stars in April: “Destination Cosmos: the Immersive Space Experience” used NASA-provided imagery to create 13 sequences of an interstellar voyage, which took viewers everywhere from the heart of Jupiter, to the rings of Saturn, to Martian canyons and supernovae. And in August, the interactive art center celebrated hip-hop’s golden jubilee with the installation “Hip Hop Til Infinity: An Immersive Trip Across 50 Years.” Hall des Lumières is located inside a piece of art itself: its Beaux-Arts building was once the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank, and Culturespaces renovated a 28,000-square-foot space to highlight its marble, classic brass and stained-glass features.
Museums in Lower Manhattan Downtown, you’ll find rich art history and a lengthy list of museums and institutions. These include the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, the China Institute, Fraunces Tavern Museum, the Museum of Jewish Heritage — A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, Federal Hall, Poets House, Skyscraper Museum, South Street Seaport Museum and the Statue of Liberty–Ellis Island Foundation. The neighborhood is also home to a number of art galleries, including Calderon Gallery, Melville Gallery and Front Art Space. Additionally, Pace University has a robust and broad arts program and is the home of the legendary Actor’s Studio. Also in Lower Manhattan is the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), part of the Smithsonian Institution and housed at the historic former U.S. Custom House at Bowling Green. NMAI is the first national museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to Native Americans, and presents all of its exhibitions from a Native viewpoint.
| 11
LMCC LMCC was founded in 1973 as the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. For 50 years, they have produced events and made space for artists and communities in Lower Manhattan and elsewhere. Their Artist Residency programs provide studio space, professional development, and networking opportunities to enable artists to develop their work; their grants programs support hundreds of local and neighborhood arts projects; and their public programs (River To River Festival, Open Studios) bring performances and artistic experiences to hundreds of thousands of audience members annually. In 2019, LMCC opened the newly renovated and expanded Arts Center at Governors Island, a 40,000-square-foot arts space.
Arts Brookfield/Silver Art Projects Lower Manhattan’s most prominent real estate firms offer more than just state-of-the-art office and commercial space. Arts Brookfield supports artists, dancers, musicians and performers through free exhibitions and programming at their properties. And Silverstein offers artist residency studios at 4 World Trade Center as part of their Silver Art Projects program, which annually supports a cohort of several dozen artists spanning different disciplines and backgrounds.
“Geo” and “Art Is All Around” The Downtown Alliance has a long tradition of championing the arts downtown, and this year was no exception. In February, we unveiled “Geo,” an immersive public art in-
12 |
stallation created by design studio Hou de Sousa. When it was on view at the plaza at 140 Broadway, “Geo” comprised a 30-by-10-foot dome filled with brightly colored corridors made of rope intended to echo the towering urban landscape. Lower Manhattanites were invited to walk through the installation to experience its winding, playful avenues at their leisure. Though the exhibition initially planned to conclude in mid-April, “Geo” was such a hit that we extended its run through May 2023, giving downtown denizens a little more time to experience its eclectic dose of color. Last spring, we brought back our “Art Is All Around” campaign, installing two new interactive art pieces — “Optik,” by Urban Conga in collaboration with Serge Maheu, and “Roseaux,” by 1ToMn in collaboration with UDO Design and Serge Maheu — at Cortlandt Way and 200 Water St., respectively. The installations were paired with a weekly lunchtime concert series programmed by New York-based
musician and producer Svetlana Shmulyian, with interactive music and dance performances provided by a mix of some of the city’s most exciting jazz and blues bands. The concerts were a big hit — and literally had people dancing on the sidewalks! This upcoming holiday season, the Alliance will partner once again with Art on the Ave for “Art Above the Mantel,” a visual art installation in storefronts along the Nassau Street corridor. Running for six weeks from Small Business Saturday through the end of December, underutilized storefronts located along the corridor will each feature a unique mantelpiece designed by an artist, with additional art available for purchase. Some holiday storefronts will be transformed into interactive galleries or workshops; the Alliance and Art on the Ave NYC will pair the installations with a series of events offering creative activities and opportunities for holiday cheer in unexpected places.
| 13
14 |
| 15
FOOD AND DRINK
Lower Manhattan is one of the city’s preeminent destinations for food. From Michelin-starred restaurants to cheap eats, the neighborhood caters to all tastes and palates. Standbys like Pearl’s Diner and the Paris Cafe mesh with newcomers like SAGA and Havana Social, with everything in between. Plus, downtown has plenty of drinking holes, whether you’re looking for a high-end spot, a great post-work happy hour hang or a down-and-dirty dive. Come for the Dead Rabbit, one of the city’s most celebrated cocktail joints, stay for Split Eights, the coffee shop that transforms into a cocktail bar by night.
The Tin Building
In 2022, Jean-Georges Vongerichten debuted his much-anticipated sprawling culinary destination, the 53,000-square-foot remodeled Tin Building at the Seaport. Comprising six full-service eateries, six quick-service counters, four bars and tons of retail and private dining options, the historic space at 96 South St. has been transformed 16 |
into a dazzling foodie experience sure to sate casual lunch-goers in search of a tasty sandwich just as much as the high-end diners settling in for a luxurious meal. (It’s also easy on the eyes!) Eateries include French bistro T. Brasserie, seafood dining counter Fulton Fish Co., sushi and sake restaurant Shikku, plant-based newcomer abcV, French/Italian fusion spot Frenchman’s Dough, and House of the Red Pearl, a fine-dining restaurant serving Chinese-inspired dishes.
Delmonico’s
In September, Delmonico’s (56 Beaver St.) reopened to great acclaim after a years-long hiatus since the height of the pandemic. Dubbed America’s first “restaurant,” the 187-year-old eatery underwent an elegant redesign, as well as a new menu courtesy of chef Edward J. Hong. Items include all the extravagant à la carte selections as well as signature throwback dishes such as several prime cuts of steak, baked Alaska, lobster Newburg and sea urchin. Among many historic figures, Delmonico’s was frequented by Mark Twain and Charles Dickens, and also served as the location of pivotal meetings between individuals like Charles Darwin and philosopher Herbert Spencer.
Whole Foods
There are grocery stores, and then there’s Whole Foods. In January, the long-awaited Lower Manhattan Whole Foods opened at 1 Wall St., offering an assortment of more than 1,000 local items from New York City, along with Whole Foods brand items, produce from more than 20 local farms, a meat counter, a stocked bakery, a specialty cheese and pasta department, and a full-service seafood counter with offerings from West Robins Oyster Company and Acme Smoked Fish, to name a few. Also available: an extensive selection of craft brews from the likes of Threes Brewing and Grimm Artisanal Ales, a Whole Body section with wellness products from more than 100 local vendors, and, more importantly, a prepared foods section with a dining area and full-service coffee bar.
Dine Around Downtown Community Food Festival
In June, the Downtown Alliance hosted the 20th iteration of our famed open-air food festival, held at Fosun Plaza (28 Liberty St.), its home since 2014. This year’s Dine Around had everything, with available cuisines running the gamut from Brazilian to Korean to Uzbek. With dishes priced at an inflation-friendly $5 to $9, you could take your tastebuds on an international trip for well below the cost of airfare. Thousands of office workers and local residents poured out of their respective cubicles and homes to enjoy dishes from 42 local restaurants, with host Rocco DiSpirito once again putting his emcee skills to work, and the Kelly Green Trio providing smooth sounds to pair with Wagyu meatballs, tacos, sliders of all sorts, samosas, lamb chops, gelato, strudel — truly, the selections were endless. The event’s ongoing zero-waste commitment with partner Common Ground Compost was also a success, with attendees helping us significantly reduce our landfill waste. We can’t wait to do it again next year — along with Lunch Box, our annual pop-up food fair that takes place in the fall. | 17
18 |
| 19
RECREATION There’s so much to do in Lower Manhattan that sometimes you need a little R and R (and maybe a workout or two). Here’s where to look.
Parks and Green Space Lower Manhattan is full of lush green spaces for you to soak up some urban nature on a lunch break, downtown visit or leisurely Saturday. Bowling Green, Mannahatta Plaza, Elizabeth H. Berger Plaza and the Water Street Elevated Acre are just a few of the inviting parks available downtown. Battery Park offers even more natural beauty, with an abundance of native trees, grass, waterfront views and even an active beehive. Then, there’s Governors Island, considered Lower Manhattan’s unofficial backyard. Located less than ten minutes away by ferry, the 172-acre island is an urban oasis filled with old military buildings, art centers, playgrounds, hammocks and the tallest slide in New York City, as well as the luxury QC NY Spa. Ferry service is now available year-round. The island will eventually be home to a new Center for Climate Solutions, which will become the global leader for fighting climate change.
Racquet Clubs and Gyms If it’s time for you to pick up a paddle and get in on pickleball, i.e., America’s fastest-growing sport, there’s no more convenient place to do so than at Court 16 (28 Liberty St.). The racquet sports club, which recently opened its doors in the neighborhood, has multiple pickleball and tennis courts for rental, plus a luxe lounge for when you need to take an inevitable breather. And it’s the only training facility of its kind downtown. In fact, you’ll find no other spot like it beneath 14th Street — great news for all your friends who brag about never traveling north of Union Square. For squash fans, nonprofit squash organization Open Squash opened an eight-court facility at 100 Pearl St. this fall; in addition to bookable courts, they offer programming, classes and events for junior players and adults. Downtown also has plenty of fitness centers for your workout needs, including a new Life Time luxury health club at 1 Wall St., as well as boxing clubs, Pilates studios, HIIT centers and more. 20 |
| 21
22 |
| 23
SHOPPING
Downtown is a shopper’s paradise. In addition to several large-scale retail hubs (and one very famous discount department store), the neighborhood offers up everything from high-end boutiques and popular chains to mom-and-pop storefronts and funky vintage shops.
24 |
Century 21 After a brief closure, legendary retailer Century 21 reopened its flagship store at 22 Cortlandt St. in April, bringing its celebrated discount designer wares back to Lower Manhattan. The new iteration spans 100,000 square feet over four floors — a somewhat smaller footprint than its pre-pandemic form, but still packed with the bargain hunter-friendly goods that have characterized Century 21 for more than 60 years. We’re delighted to have this heavy hitter back in the neighborhood, and not just because we love to browse affordable Gucci sunglasses on our lunch breaks.
The Oculus One of the most recognizable structures on the World Trade Center campus, this massive transportation hub was designed by famed Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and completed in 2016. The structure is architecturally stunning, comprising a white metal-clad riblike pair of wings reaching up to the sky, like a bird in flight. Inside the Oculus, you’ll find access to 12 subway lines and the PATH train to New Jersey, as well as the bustling Shops at the Oculus, with retail stores that include the Apple Store, Boss, Sam Edelman and Eataly NYC Downtown. Commuters can also find a tunnel that takes them directly to Brookfield Place, facilitating easy access to more retail and office space in inclement weather.
The Seaport The South Street Seaport Historic District is the site of the former bustling port of New York City, comprising three piers and 11 blocks of 18th-century buildings from New York’s golden age of shipping, as well as some newer structures. In addition to housing the South Street Seaport Museum, the Tin Building and the massive Pier 17 complex, the Seaport is home to an eclectic collection of shops like Funny Face Bakery and an outpost of McNally Jackson Books.
Brookfield Place This massive Battery Park office and shopping complex offers up a mix of designer brands, men’s and women’s apparel, beauty, health and wellness retailers and more. You’ll also find fine dining, fast-casual fare at the Hudson Eats dining terrace and an outdoor patio with stellar views of the Hudson River.
| 25
26 |
| 27
TOURISM Lower Manhattan is a prime spot for visitors, thanks to its central public transit, abundance of hotels and major attractions like One World Trade Center, Federal Hall and the New York Stock Exchange. Come for the day, base your New York stay here or, heck, stay with us forever — after a few days exploring all that downtown has to offer, you’ll certainly want to.
Photo: Beekman Hotel
28 |
HOTELS
Photo: Wall Street Hotel
From family-friendly budget stays to luxurious and indulgent historic hotels, downtown New York has something for every traveler and budget. Highlights of note include the Beekman, the Conrad Downtown New York, newcomer the Wall Street Hotel and Mint House, an apartment-style hotel intended for longer stays. Soon to debut in the area: Warren Street Hotel, a luxury property operated by the team behind the Crosby Street Hotel in Soho and the Whitby Hotel in Midtown. The hotel is expected to open on Greenwich Street and West Broadway sometime next year.
| 29
ATTRACTIONS
One World Observatory At the World Trade Center site, you’ll find the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and the reflecting pools. Set aside two hours for a visit inside the museum, an emotional, moving tribute commemorating the September 11 attacks. Outside, the memorial includes the largest manmade waterfall pools in North America, at an acre each in size, surrounded by bronze parapets with the names of the victims. Just north of the Memorial plaza, you will find the tallest building in the western hemisphere and the symbol of a revitalized district. Take in the city — and New Jersey! — with views up to 45 miles in all directions. You can also enjoy a meal with a view at ONE Dine, located on the 101st floor.
9/11 Memorial A haunting homage to the victims of the September 11 attacks, the 9/11 memorial comprises two massive fountains sitting in the footprints of the Twin Towers and etched with the names of those who died. The memorial and accompanying park serve as quiet spots for thoughtful contemplation and mourning.
Photo: One World Observatory
30 |
NYSE The New York Stock Exchange (11 Wall St.) is the beating heart of the world’s financial markets, housed in a grand neoclassical building at the corner of Wall and Broad streets. Wall Street has been home to stock brokers since 1791, when they started meeting under a buttonwood tree along the sidewalk. The building that stands on Wall Street today was built between 1901 and 1903 to replace an earlier headquarters that the NYSE had occupied.
Trinity Church/Hamilton’s Grave Designed by architect Richard Upjohn in the Gothic Revival style, Trinity Church at 75 Broadway was the tallest building in Lower Manhattan — and, briefly, in the entire world — when it was completed in 1846, its iconic spire serving as a welcoming beacon for ships coming into New York Harbor. Though it’s now dwarfed by skyscrapers, the church is still an architectural gem and was designated a National Historical Landmark in 1976. Inside, the church has three sets of bronze doors. Two doors have panels depicting Bible scenes, with the third boasting panels that depict the history of New York City. Trinity Church’s graveyard is another iconic NYC landmark, where you’ll find the grave of famed Founding Father/former Secretary of State/hit musical honoree Alexander Hamilton.
| 31
Photo: African Burial Grounds
African Burial Ground One of New York City’s major Colonial-era sites, the African Burial Ground was active until 1784, with as many as 15,000 free or enslaved Africans interred below ground. Though the institution of slavery was officially abolished in New York on July 4, 1827, enslaved persons were still held in New York beyond that date. The burial ground makes up nearly six acres, and dates back to the mid-17th century. Archaeologists discovered the burials in the early 1990s while digging in advance of a new federal office building’s construction. After a series of protests by Black communities and others against the mistreatment of both the buried and the larger site — and the resulting Congressional hearings — the site was designated officially as a city, state and national landmark. The proposed federal building was still constructed, but its footprint was modified to preserve the burial ground. Selected via a national competition, architect Rodney Léon’s proposal for a monument to the burial ground was completed in 2007. The burial ground is the largest known excavated African cemetery in North America.
Walking Tour Incubator This summer, in a pathbreaking program, the Downtown Alliance helped develop five new walking tours through its Walking Tour Incubator Grant Program. The walking tours — which include a tour of LGBTQ+ history, a survey of how religious freedom has shaped New York and a progressive dinner tour, along with two others — were chosen as winners following an application process that encouraged submissions of compelling and original tour concepts that went beyond the typical downtown highlights. The five entrepreneurs leading the tours have undergone a rigorous two-month incubator, led by the Downtown Alliance, which included one-on-one coaching from tourism industry leaders and a cutting-edge educational curriculum designed for tour businesses. Each winner has also received a grant of up to $12,500 to help develop, launch and scale their walking tour. 32 |
Photo: Walking Tour
| 33
34 |
| 35
TRANSIT
Downtown Manhattan has 13 subway lines, six local and 24 express bus routes, multiple ferry routes, PATH train service to/from New Jersey and a free Downtown Connection bus service that’s run by the Downtown Alliance. Not to mention the ample Citi Bike stations, bike parking and bike lanes.
36 |
Fulton Center Located at the intersection of Fulton Street and Broadway, this well-trafficked subway hub/retail complex offers access to the 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J and Z trains; moreover, the Dey Street passageway connects to the World Trade Center, the Oculus and the World Trade Center PATH station with further connections to Chambers Street-WTC/Park Place/Cortlandt 2, 3, A, C, E, N, R, W and WTC Cortlandt 1. The center, which received LEED Silver certification in 2016, features bright, wide passageways, seamless transferring and easy navigation, in addition to retail and food options. A standout, and oft-overlooked, feature of the hub is its skylight, a 53-foot diameter glass oculus dubbed the Sky Reflector-Net. The skylight’s design intends to marry the urban infrastructure with the natural world, drawing commuters’ eyes upward and connecting them with the ever-changing sky.
Downtown Connection Did you know that you can ride around Lower Manhattan for free? Serving the Lower Manhattan and Battery Park City communities, the Downtown Connection is New York City’s only free circulator bus service. The Downtown Alliance-run bus system features five buses offering free service across Lower Manhattan and Battery Park City, each with seating for 22 passengers. All buses are easily identifiable by their red color and Downtown Connection branding. The Downtown Connection makes 36 stops around the perimeter of Lower Manhattan, including a Warren/Murray Street loop, and has also made accommodations for Covid safety protocols, such as updated air-filtration systems and forward-facing seating for additional passenger protection. With easy access to subway lines, bus routes and ferries, the Downtown Connection is the most convenient way to explore Lower Manhattan’s businesses, shops, restaurants and attractions.
| 37
WHAT THE D ALLIANCE CAN
38 |
DOWNTOWN N DO FOR YOU
| 39
OPERATIONS
The Alliance’s Operations team keeps Lower Manhattan clean and safe for the neighborhood’s residents, tourists and workers. Our Sanitation team, which comprises more than 50 employees, is responsible for street sweeping, power washing, snow and ice removal, graffiti removal, street furniture maintenance and sanitization, recycling collection and horticultural services, in addition to other maintenance duties in the neighborhood. Our Public Safety team addresses quality-of-life issues in the neighborhood: they canvass the district for homeless locations daily and coordinate with BRC homeless outreach, the Department of Homeless Services and the New York Police Department to provide services to those in need. They also work with the NYPD to report instances of crime in the neighborhood, as well as monitor illegal vendors and vendors in violation of NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and NYC Department of Health vendor regulation laws. In addition to Sanitation and Public Safety services, our Horticulture team is in charge of the plantings that beautify the neighborhood, and our visitor information kiosks provide maps, guidance and information to help you get around Lower Manhattan — this year, we saw a 45.5 percent increase in the number of visitors, from 65,185 in Fiscal Year (FY) 22 to 94,853 in FY23.
40 |
Indeed, FY23 was a big one for the department: in June, we successfully concluded the Downtown Public Compost Pilot Program, an 18-month collaboration with the city’s Department of Sanitation, along with some funding from Con Edison. In December 2021, Operations partnered with DSNY to launch NYC’s first smartphone app-enabled public compost pilot program, installing 10 compost bins throughout the district that were accessible to the public 24/7. The program was incredibly popular in the neighborhood, and as a result, we kept 55 tons of organic waste out of landfills, an effort we hope will be continued as DSNY rolls out composting citywide. The Sanitation team also collected 1,080 tons of trash and 306 tons of recycling, in addition to removing 1,918 instances of graffiti and stickers. We partnered with DSNY on their Clean Curbs Container Pilot Program and placed CitiBin containers at five locations throughout the district to containerize Business Improvement District (BID) trash and keep it off the sidewalks. Our Public Safety officers identified 1,841 vendor violations within the district, which were referred to the appropriate agencies, including the NYC Department of Sanitation peddler enforcement unit and NYC Department of Health, for correction. Our officers worked with BRC, along with Trinity Church Wall Street, to help move 111 homeless individuals off our streets and into transitional housing, a milestone that represents a significant increase in engagement for the homeless outreach services provided by the Alliance. Over the last five years, placements have averaged 72 over an entire calendar year. We also engaged with DHS, NYPD and DSNY to aid our efforts to clean up chronic homeless locations. Operations also worked hard to maintain and improve the neighborhood’s streetscape. Our Horticulture team began implementation of an updated and more cohesive landscaping plan across all of our planted areas and continued to work with the community by hosting volunteer events to help clean up Bowling Green. We have also been working to clean up the clutter and upgrade all of our assets along Broadway, including updating our bike bollards and proposing the replacement of nonstandard sign poles with Alliance-style poles. The Operations team also runs the Downtown Connection bus, a free bus service that makes 36 stops around the neighborhood. This year, the department worked with the Department of Transportation to implement a route change to eliminate the U-turn on West Street by consolidating stops and adding a new one, making our service more efficient. We also worked with a consultant to add a real-time feed for the Downtown Connection bus service on trip-planning apps like Google Maps, making planning your trip around downtown a breeze. | 41 |
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The Alliance’s Economic Development (EcoDev) team tracks the neighborhood’s economic health, collecting data on leasing, new development, private sector employment and tourism trends. This has been particularly important to the neighborhood as we assess its place in a post-pandemic world and help our businesses navigate the “new normal.” In addition to providing quarterly reports for business owners assessing downtown’s real estate, retail, residential and tourism landscape, last summer, the department completed our first in-depth survey of small retailers in the district, gaining valuable insight into challenges the sector continues to face. The department intends to continue this surveying activity. This year, the department continued to provide significant outreach to small businesses. EcoDev expanded its successful Get Social small business assistance program, which pairs Lower Manhattan small businesses with independent social media practitioners to provide in-depth one-on-one training on a variety of social media platforms. We completed two rounds of funding, serving 20 Lower Manhattan small retailers. The program also provides participating businesses with a small ($1,500) stipend to support social media advertising. Advocacy was important this year in light of a changing commercial real estate landscape. The team worked collaboratively with REBNY and other partners to secure a five-year renewal of Lower Manhattan’s leasing incentives. EcoDev provided detailed data and analysis to support the coalition’s lobbying efforts in Albany. And the department continued its commitment to bringing art and music to Lower Manhattan. Last fall, EcoDev launched a multi-week fall concert series spread over three public spaces in the heart of the district. The six-concert series featured a variety of different local artists and was attended by an estimated 2,600 people. This past spring, the Placemaking team activated two public spaces with interactive art installations. Working with programming partner Creos, the team installed two pieces of art — “Optik,” by Urban Conga in collaboration with Serge Maheu, and “Roseaux,” by 1ToMn in collaboration with UDO Design and Serge Maheu — at Cortlandt Way and 200 Water St. We also sponsored a six week lunchtime concert series at the two locations activated with artwork, which was well attended and brought much joy to the neighborhood.
42 |
| 43
COMMUNICATIONS The Downtown Alliance’s Communications team operates as a key resource for the neighborhood, sharing with residents and visitors information about everything from ongoing events to art installations to the best outdoor dining spots. The team manages the Alliance’s social media platforms, blog, newsletters and other means of communication.
The Alliance’s blog has continued its run as an essential and excellent resource for neighborhood news, restaurant and event roundups. A few highlights include our March Madness: Downtown Sports Bar bracket, which was picked up by NBC News. We continued to get creative with graphics, developing a venn diagram of donut and bagel shops in Lower Manhattan, a downtown Happy Hour Heatmap and a word cloud of all downtown's Irish pub fare. In April, we posted our list of the top 100 restaurants in Lower Manhattan, our response to the New York Times’s own top 100 restaurant list. And in May, we celebrated the warm weather with a content blitz on patio season. The Communications team continuously shared our accomplishments with the media, garnering coverage in both local and national media outlets. We served as a valuable resource for publications seeking comments on a variety of issues, such as return to work and residential conversions, and had
44 |
interviews with the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and the Associated Press; our president, Jessica Lappin, conducted broadcast interviews on CBS New York and NY1 Spectrum News. In addition, we published an opinion piece in am New York about the success of our composting program, as well as an op-ed in City & State on the perils of climate change. The New York Times even linked back to our ticker-tape parades web page after we participated in an interview with a historian for an opinion piece on the Canyon of Heroes. Our social media platforms grew steadily throughout the year, increasing to more than 139,000 followers across platforms, a marked 15 percent growth year over year. Notably, our TikTok account grew by 450 percent year over year, and two of our Reels officially went “viral,” racking up more than 1 million views each. These included our Reel about the Barbie pop-up at the Seaport and a Reel from our visit to Gitano on Governors Island. And we launched a number of marketing campaigns, including the “Art Is All Around” BigBelly campaign and a campaign recognizing the Alliance’s Public Safety officers. Moreover, 2023 saw another successful update of the “Shop Dine Guide,” our free printed guide on all of the shops, amenities and restaurants in Lower Manhattan. With tourism roaring back after several years of pandemic-induced disruption, the Communications team continued to offer networking and educational opportunities for the tourism and hospitality industry. These include several concierge events that gave downtown concierges the opportunity to mingle with attractions and shops based in Lower Manhattan, so they are better able to recommend all the things downtown has to offer to their guests. The tourism leadership team also attends large-scale tourism conferences, both in NYC and internationally, as a way to promote Lower Manhattan as a destination as well as to connect tour operators and Destination Management Companies (DMCs) to our stakeholders downtown. | 45
In March, we opened applications for our Walking Tour Incubator Grant Program, an innovative new program that encouraged submissions of compelling and original tour concepts that went beyond the typical downtown highlights. There were more than 50 entries for the incubator and the Downtown Alliance chose five winners, which have since been developed into new walking tours. The Walking Tour Incubator Grant Program was written up by top travel outlet Skift, as well as in local outlets like Time Out New York and am New York.
Even More Dining Around Downtown — In-Person and Online The “Dine Around Downtown: Cooking at Home Edition” virtual cook-along series launched in June 2020 at the height of the pandemic. Hosted by James Beard Award-winning chef and author Rocco DiSpirito, the program connects audiences directly with Lower Manhattan chefs to support local restaurants and food-security charities of their choice. So far, the series has engaged 5,400+ registrants over 22 episodes and benefitted 15 charities chosen by the featured restaurants. With the return of our in-person food events, the series is now produced seasonally with special episodes in the winter, summer and end-of-year holiday season. In addition to the Dine Around community food festival, which took place with much delight in June, in fall 2022, the Dine Around Downtown team launched the inaugural iteration of Lunch Box, a pop-up food fair featuring a tasty variety of curated lunch boxes for only $10 each. The fair gave newer restaurants an opportunity to showcase their fare for locals; it was a big success, and returned again in 2023 to similar acclaim, cementing it as an annual event for the Alliance.
Live Events With LM Live After LMHQ closed in March 2022, we transitioned our events to LM Live, a project of the Downtown Alliance that features conversations with individuals and organizations in Lower Manhattan on topics that include entrepreneurship, current events, the future of work and career advancement. In FY23, LM Live hosted 15 virtual and in-person events, bringing in more than 750 attendees. These included a new event series called New York on Film, which features screenings of films that highlight the history, culture and controversy that have defined the city over the years. Our most popular screening was the documentary “Man on Wire,” which follows Philippe Petit’s breathtaking wire walk between the Twin Towers; the event was followed by a conversation with Petit himself. To continue to engage with the virtual community, LM Live established its “Ask the Expert” series, which hosted Q&A sessions via Zoom with Lower Manhattan experts such as Sarah LaFleur of M.M.LaFleur and Deanna Tang of Resy. In addition, we hosted four Women's Breakfasts, focusing on timely topics such as abortion rights, salary transparency, DEI and the subversive feminism of romance novels. And to cap off the year's programming, LM Live convened a panel of innovative architects to discuss the architecture of art and performance. Speakers included Joshua Ramus of REX, Jaime Krone of the Guggenheim Foundation, David Rockwell of the Rockwell Group, Gregg Pasquarelli of SHoP Architects and critic Paul Goldberger. 46 |
| 47
48 |
Alliance for Downtown New York Financial Statements (Dollars in thousands)
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION June 30, 2023 (a)
June 30, 2022 (a)
$
$
Assets Cash and Cash Equivalents Treasury Bills
4,366
10,026
17,800
9,965
Contract and Grants Receivable
385
519
Prepaid Expenses
189
183
Property and Equipment, Net
382
1,162
Security Deposits and Other Assets
122
122
Right-of-use Asset – Operating Leases
3,274
-
Total Assets
26,518
21,977
1,489
1,624
510
510
Deferred Rent Expense
-
492
Security Deposit Payable
92
92
3,636 5,727
2,718
20,791
19,176
Liabilities Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses Deferred Revenue
Operating Lease Liability (current and long-term) Total Liabilities Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions With Donor Restrictions Total Net Assets
-
83
20,791
19,259
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
$
26,518
$
21,977
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
Year End June 30, 2023 (a)
Year End June 30, 2022 (a)
$
$
Support and Revenue Assessment
20,400
20,400
Programs, Contracts and Other
3,535
2,460
Total Support and Revenue
23,935
22,860
Sanitation
4,567
4,536
Public Safety
3,690
3,537
Bus Service
1,900
1,660
Other Services
2,436 (b)
2,371 (b)
12,593
12,104
Communications, Marketing and Promotion
4,786
4,690
Economic Development and Research
1,527
1,609
868
1,354
19,774
19,757
2,140
1,746
21,914
21,503
Expenses Program Services Neighborhood Supplemental Services
Total Neighborhood Supplemental Services
Facilitation (LMHQ) Total Program Services Supporting Activities Management and General Total Expenses Non-operating Activity Write-off of the net book value of unamortized leasehold improvements – lease surrender Increase in Net Assets
(489) $
1,532
$
1,357
(a) Amounts were summarized from financial statements as of and for the years ended June 30, 2023 and June 30, 2022 audited by Condon O’Meara McGinty & Donnelly LLP, CPAs, dated September 22, 2023 and September 29, 2022, respectively. (b) Other Neighborhood Supplemental Services include homeless outreach, horticulture, infrastructure and streetscape maintenance.
| 49
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ric Clark, Chair
Nicholas Martin
WTC Performing Arts Center
Rudin Management
Tammy Meltzer Honorable Eric Adams* Mayor of the City of New York
Rev. Michael A. Bird Trinity Church Wall Street
Geoffrey Boulter Morgan Stanley
Betty Cohen Century 21 Department Stores
Tom Costanzo Fosun Hive Holding
K. Thomas Elghanayan TF Cornerstone Inc.
David V. Fowler The Bank of New York Mellon
Brett S. Greenberg Jack Resnick & Sons
Francis J. Greenburger Time Equities, Inc.
Daniel Haimovic Eastbridge Group
Callie Haines Brookfield Properties
Thomas M. Hughes Residential Representative
Jonathan Iger Sage Realty
Marvin Krislov Pace University
Sarah Miyazawa LaFleur M.M.LaFleur
Honorable Brad Lander* Comptroller, City of New York
Anita Laremont
Manhattan Community Board 1
Jeremy Moss Silverstein Properties
Dr. Anthony Munroe Borough of Manhattan Community College
Dan Palino New Water Street Corp.
Edward V. Piccinich SL Green Realty Corp.
Peter A. Poulakakos Ahead Realty/HPH
Cynthia C. Rojas Sejas S&P Global
Joel Rosen GFI Development
Todd Schwartz Cushman & Wakefield
Frank J. Sciame F.J. Sciame Construction Co., Inc.
Ed Spade HarperCollins Publishers
Allan G. Sperling Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, LLP
Brian R. Steinwurtzel GFP Real Estate
Kent M. Swig Swig Equities, LLC
Matthew Van Buren CBRE Group, Inc.
John Wheeler Jones Lang LaSalle
Jolene Yeats The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
Fried Frank
Honorable Mark Levine*
Jessica Lappin
Manhattan Borough President
President
Honorable Christopher Marte* Council Member, City of New York
*
50 |
designees of elected are directors
STAFF Communications & Marketing Andrew Breslau Jessica Drucker Teresa Figario Rebecca Fishbein Kristin Heise Christopher Nelson Bathsheba Parker Craig Raia Elissa Verrilli Abigail Wu Finance & Administration Nancy Cascella Theresa Hottel Rebecca Jimenez Jihan Johashen Michael Ketring J Ladi Ojomu-Kayoes Taina Prado
Mark Quinn KellyAnne Tang Maria Tirado-Quinones Justin Volz-Dizon Operations Benjamin Ackert Paul Albano John Betters Renee Braunstein Michael Cook John Coyle Edward Drivick Daniel Giacomazza Hans Guillaume Dave Harvin Sean Hayes Carl Homward Jamel Homward Dwayne Jacobs Joe Maggio Pedro Molina
Brandie Murtha Brian Nelsen Christian Ramos Jason Rivera Anthony Rivetti Richard Serrano Kerwin Singh Ron Wolfgang Jane Wolterding Research & Economic Development Natalie Armstrong Ariana Branchini Lauren Jefferson Sam McBride Joshua Nachowitz Technology Patrick Liang Zoe Lin Jeremy Schneider
PHOTO CREDITS IMAGE CREDITS: Stuart Ramson (AP Photography) – 2 Ferran Traité Soler/Getty Images – 4 Ann-Sophie Fjello (AP Photography) – 20-21, 36-37, 38-39, 43, 47 Andy Kropa (AP Photography) – 34 Downtown Alliance Staff – 12, 16, 20-21, 25, 32, 41 Josh Katz (@joshkatz) – 8, 30-31 Sara Kerens pgs. 33, 40, 44-45, 47, 48 Mark Weinberg – 28 istockphoto.com – 26, 35 Ivane Katamashvili (www.ivanekatamashvili.com) – 22 Getty Images – 14, 18, 19 Hall des Lumières (www.halldeslumieres.com) – 10 Seaport District Fulton Street cobblestones provided by Wagstaff Media – 24
WRITING + EDITING: Andrew Breslau + Rebecca Fishbein – Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc.
ART DIRECTION + DESIGN: Bathsheba Parker – Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc. + Wunderman Thompson
| 51
| 51
Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc. 120 Broadway, Suite 3340 New York, New York 10271 The mission of the Alliance for Downtown New York is to provide service, advocacy, research and information to advance Lower Manhattan as a global model of a 21st century central business district for businesses, residents and visitors.
downtownny.com