NEW YORK | Penn Station Expansion/Improvements

I would love to see the original Penn Station get rebuilt (though with modern tech, like AC and highly efficient materials). We have the original blueprints still. though I have no idea how feasible that would be.
But even if the original doesn’t get rebuilt, and they go for a different newer design, please for all that is holy get rid of Madison Square Garden!

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New article

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Re: Likely yes, projects of this scale are far bigger than a single governor. Let’s just hope whatever replaces the current Penn has the smallest ounce of taste, because the current one really doesn’t.

I want to see the empire station supertalls built as well. It would finally close a major gap in the skyline.

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Isn’t there a deadline with MSG’s operating permit coming up? As I recall, the Governor had the ability to act unilaterally to help the Dolan’s. Hopefully, Hochul will let it expire.

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That would be the best news for any of this. Every plan up to this point is simply trying to reverse the damage done in the 60s without actually removing MSG.

As for all the supertalls and “Empire Complex” I’m not sold yet. I’m no NYMBY, just want to see how exactly they’re going to pay for real, effective redevelopment in a post-covid world.

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Does it matter whether he wants to or not? Once the lease is up can’t they force it off?

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Seriously, it’s not up to him. But it shows a large amount of hubris not to be exploring any contingency plans (assuming that’s the case).

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Wish this meant MSG was evicted, but not likely haha

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I like how now multiple governing regimes for NY have treated Penn Station like this really complicated problem that needs to be solved when MOVING MSG would solve most of the problems.

I’m not suggesting that’s an easy accomplishment but like, you’re going to spend billions and take years to achieve a shitty alternative anyway. Are the Dolans really that hard to stand up to?

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Seriously. Just move MSG, rebuild it. You get a new, improved, vastly better MSG and we get a new, improved, vastly better Penn Station. Ofc the Dolans know the strategic importance of the site they’re on, but after their lease is up they shouldn’t be able to do anything about the city forcing them off.

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It seems that when their operating permit ends, they can be heavily taxed. The city should end it.

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Is there any chance of getting rebuild everything in the area?
Why spending more millions on renovating it and no something super ambitious that matches the city future?

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Anything that is done here would be a renovation of sorts, it just depends how radical it is. What is going on right now is a lazy option that is mostly aesthetics over substance, but any real reimagining of this site would always be limited by the necessity for continuous operation of Penn stations rail services themselves, existing office building leases, and the fact that a new MSG would have to be built before the current one could even begin to be closed down. The financial obstacles are just too high to be realistic, especially when looking at recent infrastructure such as east side access or second ave subway and how expensive they are.

I see this wave of development buying another 20 years of mediocrity for Penn district, hopefully there will be a chance down the line for something more ambitious.

I see a more plausible middle option rather than relocating MSG is rebuilding/radically renovating it and removing the Hulu theater to add space for Penn station. MSG brings a lot of people to Manhattan and I think the powers that be prefer that to putting it in an more far flung area

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The area would look so much better with a new facade for the arena which I think is the cheapest option and the least MSG can do if they’re not going to leave.

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100%. Maybe find a way to square it off too and ditch that weird roundness with empty sidewalk in the corners

Perhaps It could take example of the Bernabeu Stadium redevelopment in Madrid, which is a world class structure renovating an ugly brutalist old stadium.
Msg could be something awesome if they tried

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/03/nyregion/penn-station-nyc-hochul.html