„ New York state’s development arm, Empire State Development (ESD), controls the site and is “actively engaged” in figuring out how it could be developed, said Joe Restuccia, a long-time member of MCB4 and the executive director of Clinton Housing Development Company. The site was freed up after the Javits Center moved its marshaling yards indoors during a 2021 expansion.
Notably, a developer could construct a new affordable housing project on the 601 W33rd Street lot — with roughly 877 income-restricted apartments — without building a super tall tower, Restuccia said. The height of new construction in Hell’s Kitchen, particularly in the Special Clinton District, has been a sticking point for residents, he added.
“Because these are larger sites you can do that — you can get a lot of housing in the density without having the 80-story, 90-story towers,” Restuccia said on Wednesday.
Before any building can be constructed, ESD will need to create a design plan and seek out proposals from developers — who may face an uphill battle to get a project over the finish line.
The Marshaling Yards, sandwiched between 11th and 12th Avenue, are also home to the end of the High Line — for now. Under a 2021 plan by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, the state plans to extend the elevated park up 12th Avenue, past the Javits Center and over the West Side Highway at W36th Street, all the way to Pier 76.
Any new development will need to create space for the park and include some room for Javits Center parking and deliveries, according to the board.“
