By Gus Saltonstall
A 32-foot tall 5G tower might be headed to an Upper West Side street corner near you, and one local elected official is not happy about it.
The Link5G towers, which provide high-speed, free wifi, as well as USB charging, have slowly been rolled out throughout the city since 2022. There have been more than 160 of the towers already installed throughout the five boroughs, with roughly 2,000 more expected in coming years.
West Side Rag recently learned about five proposed sites for the installation of these poles on the Upper West Side.
741 Columbus Avenue: Between West 96th and 97th streets
- In front of a Mattress Firm.
715 Columbus Avenue: Between West 94th and 95th streets
- Closer to West 95th Street, near a Citi Bike rack.
1900 Broadway: Between West 63rd and 64th streets
- Near the space between Bar Boulud and Cafe Fiorello.
1886 Broadway: Between West 62nd and 63rd streets
- Near the corner of West 63rd Street.
1880 Broadway: Between West 61st and 62nd streets
- In the middle of the block, near the IT’SUGAR candy store.
Both of the Columbus Avenue proposed sites have already been approved by the State Historic Preservation Office, according to Council Member Gale Brewer, who wrote a letter to the Preservation Office and the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation, which oversees the installation of the 5G towers.
Brewer articulated her strong opposition to the proposed Upper West Side towers, which she referred to as “ugly” in her weekly newsletter.
“I write to express my strong opposition to the proposed installation of 5G towers on the Upper West Side,” she wrote. “Historic districts such as the Upper West Side are characterized by unique streetscapes that reflect specific periods and styles of architecture. The installation of towering cellular infrastructure within these districts contradicts the fundamental purpose of preserving their historical integrity and beauty.”
The State Historic Preservation Office only has a voice in the conversation about the towers when the proposed poles fall within a Historic District.
When asked for a response to Brewer’s June 18 letter, a spokesperson from the Office of Technology and Innovation kept their answer centered on the important of access to high-speed internet.
“In our modern digital age, it is critical that New Yorkers have access to high-speed internet wherever they live, work, or travel across the five boroughs,” the spokesperson told West Side Rag in an interview. “The Adams administration continues to deliver this essential service for free — through LinkNYC and Big Apple Connect — to more residents than any other city in the nation. The Link5G towers feature one of the sleekest designs on the market – one that has received approval from the Public Design Commission — and are helping to bridge our digital divide.”
Brewer’s letter also mentioned that while the goal of these 5G towers was to address gaps in the city’s 5G network, she didn’t see that as an Upper West Side issue.
“While I certainly support expansion of wireless and cellular services to underserved communities, I have not seen any data to support this need in my district (Upper West Side),” she wrote.
Importantly, the installation of any of these 5G towers has to go through a community-review period, which includes a 60-day public-comment period, meetings with elected officials, and presentations at community board meetings.
The five Upper West Side proposed sites will all soon start this process.
You can learn more about the city’s 5G internet rollout and the towers — HERE.
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