City designates 40 square feet of midtown for ‘contemplative respite’, lines form at 7am
The Quietest Loud Place in Manhattan
NEW YORK — The Department of City Planning unveiled a designated Calm Zone in Times Square this week, a 40-square-foot cordoned area between 44th and 45th Street where visitors are invited to stand quietly, breathe, and experience a moment of peace in a location surrounded by seventeen billboards, a person in an Elmo costume, and a woman selling Naked Cowboy merchandise.
Planning Commissioner Hattie Stillwater called it “a pilot for urban tranquility.” She delivered the remark through a megaphone to be heard over a tour bus.
The First Day
By 9 a.m. on opening day, 340 people had queued for the Calm Zone. The queue itself was louder than the surrounding area, as visitors argued about line position, photographed the queue, and in three documented cases, FaceTimed relatives to show them they were waiting for calm. A busker set up adjacent to the queue, determining correctly that 340 stationary people are an excellent audience.
“I felt calm for about four seconds,” said tourist Brenda Hollis of Ohio. “Then someone behind me sneezed very aggressively and I lost it.” She said she planned to try again tomorrow and had already booked a slot via the city’s new Calm Zone reservation app, which crashed on launch due to overwhelming demand.
What Happens Next
The Department confirmed a second Calm Zone will open in Herald Square, a location analysts describe as “optimistic.” A third is planned for Penn Station, which the Department of City Planning acknowledged is “aspirational” but insisted demonstrates “commitment to the concept.” The Elmo adjacent to Zone One said he supported the initiative and charged $10 for a photo with his support.
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com