MUD Workshop

Design + Planning


116th Street Revitalization




East 116th Street—one of East Harlem’s most vital commercial corridors—faces mounting pressures from aging storefronts, inconsistent public-realm conditions, and rising economic vulnerability among long-standing small businesses. The revitalization strategy strengthens the corridor’s cultural identity while directing targeted investments that support merchants, improve safety, and enhance the everyday experience of residents and visitors.

Project116th Street Revitalization

LocationManhattan, NY

ClientNY Department of State

CollaboratorsHR&A, VHB, Sherpa Construction and Consulting

ServicesVisioning, Outreach and Engagement, Downtown Revitalization



East 116th Street has long served as a commercial and cultural anchor for East Harlem’s predominantly Spanish-speaking community. Yet decades of disinvestment left the corridor with deteriorating façades, obstructed sidewalks, limited pedestrian amenities, and a public realm that no longer reflected the vibrancy of its businesses. Many storefronts were operated by longtime tenants with narrow margins and limited access to capital, making traditional improvement programs financially out of reach.

Proposed Storefront and Stret Improvements
Proposed Storefront and Stret Improvements


As part of the East Harlem Downtown Revitalization Initiative, MUD Workshop developed a storefront improvement strategy for East 116th Street, coordinating closely with Union Settlement, the Merchants Association, and more than 100 businesses and property owners. Recognizing that most merchants were renters without access to upfront capital or ownership rights, MUD Workshop restructured the project’s financial framework by engaging property owners directly and reducing the required project sponsor contribution from 25 to 10 percent.

MUD Workshop conducted a corridor-wide inventory of building conditions, street furniture, tree pits, and bike parking, which informed coordination with City agencies. Through this process, the Department of Transportation committed to installing new bike racks, while the Horticultural Society of New York received $650,000 to implement greening improvements. An additional $1.1 million was allocated for façade upgrades. MUD Workshop also developed designs for modular parklets that support outdoor dining under the City’s Open Restaurants program.

The project was ultimately awarded $1.65M for implementation by NYS DOS and leveraged an additional 10% in capital investments from private businesses.


Revitalising Storefronts Along 116th Street Corridor



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Revitalising Storefronts Along 116th Street Corridor
116th Street Business Mapping
Proposed Storefront and Stret Improvements
Proposed Storefront and Stret Improvements


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