I loved the earlier design for the hall as well, but aside from enclosing the MSG passage this might be pretty close to that configuration.
Itâs better than nothing. Sadly, it seems that all politicians are terrified of the Dolans, and, therefore, we wonât get any serious improvement.
If they can get the financing to work for this and involve improvements to 7th Ave entries/connections compared to their current plans (based on what we can telll), I think this might be the best option right now.
I assume that the state will just issue bonds to finance it.
Iâll be curious to see how Vornado responds. They went from being in the driverâs seat, with a deal in hand to pump loads of value into a troubled assemblage, to potentially missing out on building anything worthwhile here.
I think their best bet at making money on the Hotel Penn site is a casino â and I think theyâd massively help their chances of winning the license is by offering to partner with Dolan on a relocated MSG.
I agree
From the article it sounds like ASTM Group would finance the project for the rights to operate the station:
âThe firm said the project would cost less than the Vornado plan and would be funded upfront by the company and its equity partners, who would then manage and operate the station for 50 years.â
If it wonât cost the city or state anything, then that obviously improves this projectâs prospects.
In terms of layout, I donât think many people understand that when the addition was built on the 8th Ave side of the building that the theater was flipped around. The stage used to be towards the center of the building and it is now located within the addition. The bowling alley was removed and that space was given to the theater for increased seating and a pre-function/lobby area.
Removing the theater all together will amount to a ceiling height of about 50-60â as is shown in the render facing 8th Ave. The theater itself takes up an extremely large portion of the buildingâs lower half of volume and the space should feel about the same as the Moynihan train hall (in terms of size), though will feel more enclosed since there are no skylights. The render exaggerates the ability of natural light to penetrate that deep and excessive into the space since that side faces NW, so I imagine that the need to light the area artificially to the extent where it doesnât feel like a cavern will be large.
If there are still opponents/nimbyâs to the idea or those who want to still rebuild the old Penn Station, they need to literally stop because theyâre passing up on a rare opportunity to build something that is feasible and viable. Nobody should be opposed to this idea. As otherâs have mentioned MSG is not moving anytime soon, and this IS a good proposal/solution as an answer to that.
I like the breathing space on the 8th Ave side of Penn. Building to the street wall would make for a crowded sidewalk with the taxi stand and subway grating.
Recall though that on the 33rd St side at least, the plan is to close that street and make it pedestrianized.
I think that this looks better than the current drek, but we still have an arena above the station, which is lousy.
Just thought this was funny
Well only a small portion of 33rd St will be completely closed off north of 2 PENN, the rest of 33rd along MSG will be a shared street, so there will still be vehicular access, just not as much as there normally is. The same goes for the Farley building.
But Stache still has a point, his concern about 8th Ave congestion is valid and the closing of 33rd St doesnt really do anything to for the 8th Ave side.
I really hope that the city only gives a 5 year extension and makes it contingent on moving this eyesore. Itâs not just that the Garden is trash, the problem is that it stifles the grand Penn Station that NY deserves.
This is appalling.
Building on the left is the substation built for the old Penn.
I know. Itâs supposedly the only leftover of the original.
I wish it was landmarked. 
I think that the Roosevelt and Hotel Penn are bigger losses than this would be. I canât stand the LPC.
NYC needs new towersâŚ
I donât care about the LPC.