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Full Itinerary

October 1 - 4

Day 1

4:00 PM

Arrival at JFK

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Queens, NY, USA

Alaska Airlines Flight 34 is expected to land at JFK around 4:00 PM. The delegates on this flight will gather their baggage and be escorted to a charter bus that will then transport them to the Dream Downtown.

5:00 PM

Hotel check in + free time

Dream Downtown, by Hyatt, West 16th Street, New York, NY, USA

Delegates are anticipated to arrive at the Dream Downtown between 5:00 - 6:00 pm. They have free time for the next few hours to get settled before the welcoming social.

8:00 PM

Welcome social

Dream Downtown, West 16th Street, New York, NY, USA

The Study Tour kicks off with a welcome social at the Biergarten nestled under the the High Line. BDA leadership will welcome the group and cover what to expect in the coming days. Delegates are encouraged to use this time to get acquainted with their peers and itinerary.

Day 2

10:00 AM

High Line history of how it happened

High Line Plinth, West 30th Street, New York, NY, USA

The arear under the High Line SPUR / plinth is the rendezvous point for the High Line overview. This is location change due to the SPUR being closed. See image for landmark details.

10:30 AM

High Line tour

High Line, New York, NY, USA

The delegation will break into three groups for a guided tour of the High Line. The start of each tour will be staggered with 5-minute delays to ensure space for each group.

12:00 PM

Lunch at Whitney powered by PSE

Whitney Museum of American Art

Delegates will be guided from the High Line the studio bar located on the 8th floor of the Whitney where they'll enjoy lunch menu by Frenchette, a contemporary French bistro.

1:00 PM

Meatpacking District Story [Walking Tour]

High Line Plinth, West 30th Street, New York, NY, USA

Explore the
Meatpacking District mix of public spaces, reuse of historical buildings, new projects, and placemaking installations.

2:30 PM

How NYC neighborhoods are managed and activated

Chelsea Market, 9th Avenue, New York, NY, USA

Hear from a pair of local experts dive into how NYC has leveraged business improvement districts (BID) as a means to develop, manage, and activate neighborhoods.

3:30 PM

Chelsea Market Story + Tour [Walking Tour]

Chelsea Market, 9th Avenue, New York, NY, USA

Learn about the Chelsea Market's transformation from a cookie factory to a popular marketplace that attract over 6 million national and international visitors annually. Delegates will be divided into two tour groups.

4:30 PM

Reception supported by Amazon

The Tippler, West 15th Street, NYC, NY, USA

The tour will end at the Tippler, a classic New York cocktail destination nestled in the cellar space below the Chelsea Market.

Day 3

10:00 AM

The significance of a Bryant Park

Bryant Park, New York, NY, USA

Hear from founder of the Bryant Park Corporation on what it took to renovate the park in the 1980s and operate its spaces today.

11:30 AM

A look at how the tech industry is reshaping urban spaces

Amazon JFK27 - Hank, West 39th Street, New York, NY, USA

Visit Amazon Hank, a reuse project of the Lord & Taylor building to hear a panel conversation about urban qualities the tech workforce values.

12:30 PM

Lunch in Amazon Hank

Amazon JFK27 - Hank, West 39th Street, New York, NY, USA

Break for lunch and rest up before the actictives.

1:15 PM

Evolution of Times Square

Amazon JFK27 - Hank, West 39th Street, New York, NY, USA

Learn about the ongoing transformation of Times Square into a people-oriented place and what it took turn Broadway into public space.

2:00 PM

A Times Square Tour of Placemaking in Action

Experience a guided tour of the different activation projects in Times Square, including a visit to the pilot project for helping people most in need known as the Recharge Station.

3:00 PM

Reception supported by Port of Seattle + Remarks from NYC Council Member

Backstage Tavern, West 46th Street, New York, NY, USA

The day caps off with a reception on the rooftop of the Backstage Tavern. After the group is settled, special guest Council Member Bottcher will share details about NYC governance and goals for his district.

7:30 PM

Group dinner at Buddakan

Buddakan, 9th Avenue, New York, NY, USA

After two long days of urban exploring, the delegates will gather for a group dining experience in the Buddakan "Library" to enjoy Asian cuisine and good company.

Day 4

9:00 AM

Little Island Story + Tour

Explore Little Island with its leadership team to learn about how this ambitious project became a reality and what it takes to manage a park on the Hudson River.

10:00 AM

Pier 57 Revitalization Story + Tour

Learn about the vision and capital investment it took to revitalize Pier 57 in into a multifunctional community place.

10:45 AM

Study Tour takeaways

The Study Tour concludes with a takeaways session in a Pier 57 classroom. Delegates will be prompted to share their insights and experiences that are valuable to bring back home.

11:30 AM

Free time

Delegates are free to catch up on their NYC sightseeing before heading home.

5:00 PM

JFK Departure

Alaska Flight 17 from JFK to SEA departs at 4:59 pm. Delegates traveling on that flight are encouraged to arrive at JFK no later than 3:30pm to get through security and settle in.

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