Times Square and Broadway

Located in midtown Manhattan on the west side, this area is a major commercial intersection between Broadway and Seventh Avenue, stretching from 42nd to 47th Streets. It is filled with billboards and advertisements. Not so long ago, between the 1960s-1980s, this was one of the seediest and dangerous areas in the city, due to its sex shops, peep shows and go-go bars. By the early 1990s, through the leadership of the city mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins, this was transformed into a commercial area through a long-term development plan. The state of New York took possession of six of nine historic theatres for restoration. Today, this area on Broadway is bustling with numerous shows and musical, as well as hotels and restaurants catering to Broadway goers.