NYC Times Square in Need of Facelift - $15K Competition Created

The New York DOT(Department of Transportation) has launched a design competition to spruce up the new temporary pedestrian areas in Times Square, created by closing traffic from Broadway and 7th Avenue between 47th and 42nd streets.

Originally planned as a temporary experiment("Bullsh%t!"), the "newly announced permanent project" is in need of the aesthetic expertise of more artistically inclined individuals(think High Line in the Meatpacking District on the West Side). Because the area was not planned, there has been criticism about the inconsistency of the chairs, tables and gravel being used.

The DOT's, "reNEWable Times Square" project is requesting designers and artists living and working in NYC to design bold ways to use the space for everyday use and major holiday events like the 4th of July and New Years Eve.

The winner receives $15,000(from The Mayor's Fund) and a budget from the existing DOT contract. Deadline to submit proposals is April 16th 2010 - design to be installed by July.

Click this link for details...

Read what the WSJ had to say about the area and it's lack of metropolitan style...