Yes, this makes perfect sense. Build upon the existing Penn improvements. Build upon Moynihan and the LIRR concourse improvements and the existing MTA single level plans. Instead we’ll get a hall for Liberace, built by Trump’s buddies, and a taxpayer bill for the next 50 years.
5 Likes
Moynihan is quite nice, and a unified complex with the same aesthetics would make for a more pleasurable Penn Station experience (and is also a single level).
Through running is good, but Grand Penn is a sorry excuse for “classical architecture”. If you have actually seen their design proposal, they’re just affixing replicas of literal pieces of the Original Penn to 2 Penn Plaza like malignant tumors and keeping Penn in a basement. If they were to remove MSG and, instead of an empty field, rebuild a portion of the original Penn Station, it’d actually be more worthwhile, as they are improving things substantially with an actual headhouse instead of whatever half-baked proposal they have now.
Plus, we never even saw Penn Forward NOW’s potential design concept, so it’s too early to say “good news” if they presented nothing for us to criticize.
7 Likes
I’m also confused by posts that believe that the Grand Penn plan would somehow bring about a new wave of development around the area, what difference would that plan make that any other plan wouldn’t?
The Empire Station Complex was already attemped and was essentially “cancelled” because of the federal take over to rebuild Penn Station. ESC would’ve used the same PILOT framework as was used at Hudson Yards and would’ve given developer’s massive tax breaks to assist in funding transit improvements to Penn Station.
The feds have said they don’t want to spend much and the project isn’t going to be paid for through the original model so how is the Grand Penn proposal any different than the other 2?
This, it would make the current renovation and addition to PENN 2 extremely claustrophobic and is an actual waste of money to the improvements that were already made.
5 Likes
Well there is no through running yet.
If anyone can make it happen it’s the feds and The Train Daddy. They have the power of eminent domain and the power of the purse. I am not sure why this is so hard to understand.
2 Likes
Understanding and agreeing are two different things.
1 Like
3 Likes
Nope.
1 Like
Yep. .
If he selects the ASTM Proposal he can name it after himself.
1 Like
1 Like
which hotel?
Roosevelt Hotel, it seems
If you’re gonna link to an article, at least copy/paste a relevant quote!
2 Likes
I didn’t notice in which thread I posted it and when I came to edit it, didn’t find it 
The full thing was then posted to the correct thread.
1 Like
Relevant information:
-
The selection of the AECOM-led joint venture with LiRo-Hill to provide project management services.
-
NJ TRANSIT has become a key partner in the transformation.
-
Amtrak has met with each prospective Master Developer to discuss their design proposals.
-
Early work has started to progress on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) activities and the Service Optimization Study with the Federal Railroad Administration.
8 Likes
3 Likes
5 Likes
A delegation of politically connected Trump supporters floated the plan during a closed-door Oval Office meeting in September that has not been previously reported. If approved, their proposal would transform Midtown by moving the Garden from its location atop Penn Station, which serves 600,000 daily riders.
…
The group represented the Grand Penn Community Alliance, a nonprofit financed by wealthy conservative donor Thomas Klingenstein. The attendees told the president their proposal would restore the station to its former glory, before it was torn down in the 1960s to make way for the Garden, the sources said.
If that’s what is going to replace MSG, it can stay put. That proposal is arguably the worst and the most tacky.
8 Likes
I’m sorry if I’m misunderstanding but whats the point of the park? Sure we need more parks in Manhattan but wouldn’t that still keep the station underground with no natural lights in parts of it? If we’re gonna move MSG I would rather have a replica of the old Penn Station. Be free to correct me
4 Likes
Maybe a contrasting opinion, but I wouldn’t be against restoring the original Penn Station. I don’t see it as the worst at all. Very good looking, historic, and would bring a nice openness to the complex. The other options are just covering the entire complex with a massive samey glass tower as far as I can tell. I’m in agreement with @Whathewhy in terms of if we are moving the garden, let’s make something of the station and bring it out of the ground.
Edit: Too bad this isn’t real lol. I would support this idea if it was a real proposal, but unfortunately it’s not 