The Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership Business Improvement District today announced the completion of a wireless corridor along 23rd Street from Sixth Avenue to Park Avenue South; along Fifth Avenue from 25th Street to 21st Street; along Broadway from 24th Street to 21st Street; and 21st Street between Fifth Avenue and Broadway.
The wireless corridor substantially expands the Flatiron Partnership’s existing WiFi network in its two Public Plazas at Broadway, Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street. The Flatiron Partnership has offered free WiFi in the Flatiron Plazas since 2011.
The Flatiron Partnership has partnered with area property owners and commercial businesses to launch the WiFi corridor, including ABS Partners Real Estate, Adams & Co., Alan Tanksley, Inc., Argo Tea, Flatiron Green Café, ilili BOX, L&L Holding, Marimekko, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Pentagram, SL Green, Two Trees Management Co., and Walter & Samuels.
“The wireless corridor is an example of public/private partnership at its best, and further enhances the appeal of Flatiron as a destination in which to shop, dine and explore,” said Jennifer Brown, Executive Director of the Flatiron Partnership. “This amenity is significant to anyone with a smartphone or tablet who works in, lives in, or visits the neighborhood, and illustrates our reputation as a hub of technology and innovation. We’re grateful to the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the property owners and commercial businesses in Flatiron who have made this possible.”
The Flatiron Partnership will recognize the contributions of participating property owners and commercial businesses by honoring them at its 9th annual meeting on Thursday, June 11th at 5:00 PM. Visit here to RSVP - 2015flatironbidannualmeeting.eventbrite.com
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) earmarked funding for the Flatiron Partnership and four other organizations to launch wireless corridors as part of the City’s Wireless Corridor Challenge to expand free WiFi coverage in commercial corridors throughout the city. The Flatiron Partnership, which received funding from NYCEDC and committed additional resources, worked with Sky Packets to implement the network.
In 2014, while the network was still in development, over 175,000 users logged on to the internet using Flatiron’s free WiFi. Since the beginning of April 2015, over 43,000 users have accessed the network, an average of approximately 3,000 per day. The Partnership anticipates that network usage will continue to rise this summer as more and more people spend time outdoors in the neighborhood.
May 13, 2015