Street Lab at Audubon Ave
Washington Heights, Manhattan
2024 – Present
Open Streets are a unique opportunity to strengthen neighborhoods and support residents in crowded urban areas. During summer 2024, Street Lab came out twice a week to a new Open Street on Audubon Ave to help establish this new public space for the Washington Heights community. During the residency, we were joined by artist Mildor Chevalier and the youth arts organization, Iconos Kids, who offered arts activities for children. We also deployed our IMAGINE program so that community members of all ages could share their ideas for a street mural. The result was a beautiful, whimsical design by Mildor that Street Lab implemented in November, with volunteers including students from Gregorio Luperon High School, George Washington High School, and City College Spitzer School of Architecture. Thank you to Commissioner Ydanis Rodríguez for stopping by to help paint the street! Stay tuned for more in 2025.



NYC DOT Commissioner Rodriguez has supported Audubon Ave and the Washington Heights community for many years, first as a high school teacher who co-founded Luperon High School just around the corner, and then as a New York City Council member for District 10.



How Street Lab supported Audubon Ave
- Consistent activation and programming (15 days to date)
- Partnerships with local organizations
- Community engagement
- Production of a street mural with volunteers


Audubon Ave between 165th St and 166th St




The Open Street enriches how friends, families, and visitors experience the neighborhood. It’s like a rendezvous for the community. The mural celebrates all the community’s inhabitants, creating a sense of belonging to all interests and backgrounds.
Mildor Chevalier, Artist












