57th Street

57th Street
Name	57th Street
Location	Manhattan, New York City

57th Street

57th Street is a major east–west thoroughfare in Manhattan, New York City, linking Midtown Manhattan with the Upper West Side and the Upper East Side. The street traverses neighborhoods associated with Central Park, The Plaza Hotel, Carnegie Hall, and corporate addresses for Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, and media firms, forming a corridor for cultural institutions, residential towers, performing arts venues, and commercial headquarters. Over time it has been shaped by architects, developers, cultural institutions, and transit planners linked to Robert Moses, New York City Department of Transportation, and private developers such as Hines Interests Limited Partnership.

History

57th Street originated as part of the Commissioners' Plan of 1811 grid for Manhattan, later evolving with influences from figures like Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux through its proximity to Central Park. By the late 19th century institutions such as Carnegie Hall and hotels like The Plaza Hotel and companies including RCA and AT&T established presences nearby, while patrons like Andrew Carnegie and philanthropies including the Carnegie Corporation of New York shaped cultural growth. The 20th century introduced skyscrapers designed by firms such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and architects like I. M. Pei and Philip Johnson, with corporate relocations involving AT&T, JPMorgan Chase, and Citigroup altering the street’s profile. Late 20th- and early 21st-century rezoning, investment by developers including Extell Development Company and landmark designations from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission further influenced preservation and redevelopment.

Route and geography

57th Street runs roughly east–west from the West Side Highway and the Hudson River across Manhattan, skirting the southern edge of Central Park near Columbus Circle, traversing Midtown near Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas), and approaching the East River neighborhoods to the east. The street intersects major avenues such as Broadway, Seventh Avenue, Fifth Avenue, and Park Avenue South, connecting with arterial routes used by traffic planners including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Topographically it is on the island’s Manhattan bedrock where landmark foundations were built by engineers affiliated with firms like Arup Group and contractors including Turner Construction Company.

Landmarks and notable buildings

Notable cultural landmarks along and near the corridor include Carnegie Hall, the Museum of Modern Art, and the nearby Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts complex involving institutions like the New York Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera. Prominent hotels and residential towers include The Plaza Hotel, the St. Regis New York, and towers developed by Tishman Speyer and The Related Companies. Skyscrapers and office addresses house corporations such as Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, and media companies like Condé Nast and The New York Times Company in buildings designed by Edward Durell Stone and Emery Roth & Sons. Luxury retail flagships belonging to brands including Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bergdorf Goodman cluster near Fifth Avenue intersections, while galleries associated with Gagosian Gallery and Pace Gallery populate upper blocks. Nearby educational or cultural institutions like The Juilliard School and museums under the Smithsonian Institution model influence programming and visitation patterns.

Transportation

Public transportation serving the corridor involves subway stations on lines operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority including services of the IND Eighth Avenue Line and the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line, with bus routes run by MTA Regional Bus Operations and commuter access via Pennsylvania Station and Grand Central Terminal connections. Taxi services operated by medallion owners and app-based companies such as Uber and Lyft supplement transit, while bike lanes and bike-share systems managed by Citi Bike intersect multimodal planning coordinated with the New York City Department of Transportation and regional partners like the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Cultural references and in popular culture

The corridor and proximate venues have appeared in works by artists, filmmakers, and writers associated with Andy Warhol, Truman Capote, Edith Wharton, and filmmakers such as Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese. Performances at Carnegie Hall and film premieres at adjacent theaters tie the street to festivals like the Tribeca Film Festival and award ceremonies including the Tony Awards. Novels and songs referencing nearby locales include works by F. Scott Fitzgerald, recordings by Frank Sinatra, and scenes from films starring Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, and Al Pacino. Photojournalists for outlets like The New Yorker and Life have documented social life on the street.

Economic and development impact

Real estate values along the corridor have been driven by investment from firms such as Blackstone Group, Brookfield Properties, and international buyers connected to sovereign wealth funds. Commercial leases to financial firms such as Morgan Stanley and luxury retailers influence tax revenue for the New York City Department of Finance, and construction projects have involved lenders like J.P. Morgan and contractors such as Skanska. Zoning changes and air-rights transactions mediated by law firms and planning consultants, including transactions referencing the Zoning Resolution of New York City, have enabled high-rise residential developments and mixed-use towers, affecting local markets tracked by indices from CoStar Group and reports by The Real Deal.

Incidents and notable events

High-profile events and incidents near the corridor have included premieres and performances at venues like Carnegie Hall, security responses coordinated with the NYPD, and emergency medical operations involving NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Mount Sinai Health System. Notable public demonstrations and parades have intersected marches organized by groups such as Occupy Wall Street protesters and cultural commemorations tied to institutions including the American Ballet Theatre. Construction milestones and archaeological finds during excavations were overseen by agencies like the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Category:Streets in Manhattan