Monday, July 19, 2010

Hotel Pennsylvania not long for this world

From the NY Post:

Zone it and they will come.

At least that's what the developer of a proposed behemoth of a tower on the site of the Hotel Pennsylvania is hoping now that city planners yesterday approved zoning changes needed to build a skyscraper taller than the Chrysler Building.

The approvals more than double the size of a building that could go up on Seventh Avenue, between 33rd and 32nd Streets, where developer Vornado wants to build as much as 2.83 million square feet of office space.

Final approval rests with the City Council.

No construction is expected until Vornado signs a major tenant for the project.

Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden praised the proposed tower, citing its location across Seventh Avenue from the key transit hub of Penn Station.

The tower, with 67 floors and up to 1,216 feet, would be the city's third tallest after the Empire State and Bank of America buildings. But completion in 2013 of 1 World Trade Center, formerly known as the Freedom Tower, would bump the Penn Plaza tower down to fourth place.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why does the city allow such a tall building on this site? I doubt there will be a plaza or wide sidewalks in an area so congested and narrow walk areas. The area is dirty, traffic choked etc. Better planning for the entire area would be a better bet.

Anonymous said...

I am always amazed at people complaining about buildings being too tall.... in midtown Manhattan.


First the MOMA tower, now this one??? Really?

Where *else* would you want to build a skyscraper???

Anonymous said...

Now what the hell are we going to do with all that new space with such a big glut already on line are just about getting finished?

Why are my taxes being channeled into corporate welfare benefitting me and my family when our services suck.

I am paying my taxes for my family, not for a developer.

Anonymous said...

Who cares about you 'Archie'?

This is being built for foreign cosmopolitan types.

All that hot drug money and Far East sweatshop money needs a home.

Anonymous said...

that's quite a windfall for Vornado. Are the taxpayers sharing in the extra profits ? Yeah right !

Anonymous said...

Beware. Without the foreign cosmopolites, NYC would have nothing. N-O-T-H-I-N-G. We manufacture nothing here anymore, and Wall Street could pick up tomorrow and move to Connecticut.

Anonymous said...

Beware. Without the foreign cosmopolites, NYC would have nothing. N-O-T-H-I-N-G. We manufacture nothing here anymore, and Wall Street could pick up tomorrow and move to Connecticut.

Patrick Sweeney said...

I got my shoes shined up
I got my hair slicked down
'Cause baby I wanna hit the town
Call me - Pennsylvania 6-5000

I'm gonna shake you up (all night)
Rock you all night long (all right)
Baby you got something
Goin' on
Call me - Pennsylvania 6-5000

Write it down,in your book
On your wall,oh baby just call
Pennsylvania 6-5000

You got the look I like(oh yeah)
Come on and show it off
Whatever your doin' blow it off
Call me - Pennsylvania 6-5000

You know I just got paid
I got my hot rod wheels
So if you wanna find out how it feels
Call me - Pennsylvania 6-5000

Write it down,in your book
On your wall,oh baby just call
Pennsylvania 6-5000
In your room,in your bed
Keep it in your head,oh baby just call
Pensylvannia 6-5000

Hey oh(hey oh)
Hey oh(hey oh)
Na na na na(na na na na)
Pensylvania 6-5-0-0-0
Write it down,in your book
On your wall,oh baby just call
Pensylvania 6-5000
In your room,in your bed
Keep it in your head,oh baby just call
Pennsylvania 6-5000
Pennsylvania 6-5-0-0-0
---

In the 70's I worked across the street in One Penn Plaza, it was our misfortune to be assigned 736-3000. PEnnsylvania 6-5000

Anonymous said...

I am always amazed at people complaining about buildings being too tall.... in midtown Manhattan.

Dude, watch this developer build on the entire footprint of this current property. If a plaza and wide sidewalk is part of the amenity then build as high as planned. But I can show you several almost completed business skyscrapers near Port Authority on 8 th Ave that have no major tenant lined up. There is a high vacancy rate and the world trade center buildings are not leased yet. Progess in the garment district is welcomed, God knows it's dirty, seedy and uncomfortable but do it justice for the long term. The developer will not give up .5 million in place of a plaza - I just don't see it.

Anonymous said...

Pat

Loved the Lyrics.

The other thing about the proposed building as tall as the Chryler Building is that it will interfere with the view from the top of the Empire State Building which is only two blocks away.