Just in time for the busy holiday tourist season, the Two Bridges Neighborhood Council, the Little Italy Merchants Association and the Chinatown Partnership LDC celebrated the kickoff of the Chinatown & Little Italy Historic District’s “way-finding” campaign this morning.
“Every person who visits New York should come join us for lunch and enjoy the day exploring our cultural treasures, lively shops and great restaurants,” said Councilmember Margaret Chin, who went up in a cherry-picker bucket. “I am honored to join this collaboration by installing the inaugural banner, one of many that go hand-in-hand with the map and celebrate the best that Chinatown & Little Italy have to offer.”
The partnership, which debuted its new signs at the corner of Mott and Canal streets today, is aimed at supporting local restaurants and shops still recovering 9/11, and preserving the historic character of both neighborhoods. The project includes 40 banners to be installed throughout the neighborhoods, which were commissioned by Two Bridges and depict iconic local buildings. In addition, 25,000 newly designed and printed maps will be distributed to tourists in the district and also near the World Trade Center site, from which the groups hope to attract some of the 5 million estimated visitors to the memorial over to Chinatown and Little Italy.
