Barrier Removal at Trump Tower Signals End of Presidency

AFP – The barriers have been removed around the Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue and the armed guards have left, finishing a symbol of Donald Trump’s presidency in New York.

It’s a welcome change for the retailers surrounding the hotel.

“The police barrier, gunmen from the NYPD with assault rifles at the entrance to Trump Tower feels like a war zone,” said Steven Soutendijk, managing director of Cushman and Wakefield Plc. “It’s not really suitable for a nice urban landscape or a shopping experience.”

Since leaving the White House, Trump has moved into his private club in Palm Beach, Florida.

Retailers on Fifth Avenue took a major hit in recent years as rents plummeted and vacant space increased. The problem was exacerbated for retailers near Trump Tower, where additional security was added after the 2016 election.

That includes luxury stores Oxxford Clothes and Armani, which had to contend with a drop in foot traffic, physical roadblocks and a street closure.

On Thursday morning, a few police cars were seen around the building and almost all the metal guards had been removed. Cinder blocks still surrounded the property, but vehicles were finally able to circulate freely on East 56th Street.