With nearly three-quarters of subway retail spaces abandoned, New York City's underground commercial landscape has been likened to a canvas of urban blight - a stark contrast to the vibrant hustle of the city above. Yet, amidst this scene of locked doors and desolate corridors, mayoral candidates have proposed a novel repurpose: transforming these vacant areas into social service hubs. The idea, emphasized during a forum with the Riders Alliance, underscores a pressing need to address homelessness and mental illness within the city's transit system, as reported by Crain's New York.
Concrete details on funding such undertakings remain under wraps, with several candidates merely outlining the potential of these spaces rather than the means to their actualization. For example, Brad Lander, one of the Democratic contenders, has boldly committed to ending street and subway homelessness for the severely mentally ill, with a focus on low-income housing and streamlined access for unhoused individuals. At the aforementioned forum, Lander spoke of expanding Housing First programs, a statement obtained by Crain's New York.
Others, like Jessica Ramos and Zohran Mamdani, echoed sentiments on capitalizing the city's subterranean vacancies. Ramos envisions "social service help desks" reaching across all 472 subway stations, whereas Mamdani looks to replicate Philadelphia's 'Hub for Hope' initiative. Independent Jim Walden also joined in this chorus, suggesting a community center-esque function for these spaces. Yet, such ambitious visions are not backed by financial blueprints, as Crain's New York observes the absence of detailed fiscal strategies.
Concurrently, the sorry state of subway retail underscores the depth of the city’s challenge. As reported by the New York Times, icons like the Columbus Circle’s underground market find solace in merely one survivor of the original 40 shops. The MTA, besieged by a loss of $1 billion in projected annual revenue and an influx of empty leases, attempts to salvage the situation with reduced rents and a shift in purpose - from art spaces to food vendors. “We are trying to claw our way back,” said David Florio, the authority’s chief real estate transactions and operations officer, in a statement obtained by the New York Times.
Despite the landscape's prevailing disquiet, there remains a flicker of resilience. Doughnuttery, a testament to endurance, is the lone stalwart in Columbus Circle's market. Its owner, Evan Feldman, told the New York Times, "We are not going strong, but we still are making a go at it.” Cognizant of the pragmatic rhythms of the city's transit patrons, the MTA and mayoral hopefuls grasp at promise within these subterranean voids, eager to pen a chapter of revitalization within the city's storied depths.
