Mayor Michael Bloomberg is a polarizing leader, but his statement last week announcing the completion of the second phase of Water Tunnel No. 3 served as a reminder of his substantial accomplishments in the infrastructure of New York City.

He is a city-planning titan, and Water Tunnel No. 3 is proof of that. The tunnel, one of the city’s largest infrastructure projects ever, has been under construction since 1970, and the newly opened section will supplant Manhattan’s existing water line.

As Bloomberg nears the end of his third and final term, analysts and commentators are beginning to predict how history will judge his tenure. They can’t fairly do so without considering his successes in urban development.

Bloomberg has placed much emphasis on making New York City a more pleasant place to live, aggressively pursuing projects benefitting pedestrians and parks. In his 13 years in office, Bloomberg’s team has helped create more than 300 miles of bicycle lanes. And with the recent implementation of CitiBike in May, he’s transformed a segment of the city’s transportation landscape. From the construction of the stunning High Line and 85-acre Brooklyn Bridge Park to the makeover of the area surrounding Ground Zero and Times Square, Bloomberg’s influence is discernible everywhere.

Unfortunately for his legacy, these feelings don’t exist where it matters: in the pockets of average New Yorkers.

The Mayor’s efforts at beautifying the city have been effective, but like most of his Manhattan-centric policies, they have only benefited a small portion — a wealthy portion — of New Yorkers. In the past decade, housing has become less affordable and homelessness has risen over 60 percent, rendering circumstances too difficult for many to appreciate the changes Bloomberg has made. More progress on social service infrastructure, while not glamorous, would have served the people well.

Although Bloomberg’s policies have catered to well-heeled New Yorkers, his aesthetic mark on the city is visible to all. The past 13 years have seen New York City become a more beautiful place to live, bolstering the region’s cultural importance. The expanding park network serves as a much needed escape from the high-speed insanity of urban life, and the renewed focus on the needs of pedestrians makes life easier for the majority of New Yorkers who don’t drive.

Whether Bloomberg’s successor will maintain the momentum and keep building — literally — is anyone’s guess. But whoever does succeed him in January will have to find a balance, one that has eluded the incumbent for too long, between gentrifying the city and bettering the welfare of its average citizens. While polls are conflicted over his success as mayor, Bloomberg’s urban planning prowess provides cause for a favorable conclusion.

A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, Oct. 24 print edition. Omar Etman is a contributing columnist. Email him at [email protected].