Construction is well underway at Flatiron Pedestrian Plaza in preparation for the NBA All-Star Weekend Concert. With a planned live performance by rap star Kanye West and NBA All-Star Kevin Durant, it is estimated that the concert will draw upwards of 10,000 attendees to our neighborhood.

Construction in the Plaza area will continue through Thursday, February 12th and is expected to cause significant street closures around the Madison Square Park area in the later half of the week.

The Manhattan Community Board Five, which represents our neighborhood, has voiced concerns of many in the area, objecting to the city’s approval of an event permit without the opportunity for public review. The commercial size of the All-Star Weekend event is causing controversy on the grounds that the Pedestrian Plazas are intended for recreational use, not commercial events.

We’ve listed the appropriate points of contact in case you wish to share your concerns, thoughts and objections to the construction. We encourage you to make your voice heard.

The Mayor’s Office:
Dial 311, or use the 311 app from your smartphone.
File individual complaints with 311 and take down your complaint number. 

Councilmember Rosie Mendez:
(212) 677-1077
Councilmember Mendez has oversight over the pedestrian plaza in question.

DOT: Attn: Margaret Forgione
(212) 839-6210
DOT is the city agency responsible for the pedestrian plazas.

CECM (Citywide Event Coordination and Management):
(212) 788-7567
CECM is the city office which approves event permits for the pedestrian plazas.

You can also raise your voice on Twitter:

You can tweet @nycgov, @nyc311, @nyc_dot, @nycmayorsoffice, and/or @RosieMendez.

Please let Community Board Five know of any actions you take by emailing office@cb5.org.