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Critical Juncture for Hudson Yards Plan
Building Congress Provides Vocal Support; UrgesMembers to Get Involved The following weeks and months are likely to determine the fate of the City and State’s comprehensive and ambitious proposal to redevelop the far West Side of Manhattan. A series of public hearings and crucial votes are on the docket in both New York City and in Albany during the months of December and January. If all goes well, New York City will find itself poised for a new era of economic development and in a position to make a compelling case to host the 2012 Olympic Games. Problems at any stage in the process, however, could result in considerable delay or even the demise of a vital project at the hands of a relatively small pocket of opposition. Moving forward on the entire proposal for Hudson Yards, a 59-block area that extends from West 30th Street on the south, Seventh and Eighth Avenues on the east, West 43rd Street on the north, and the Hudson River on the west, requires a massive rezoning of the district, which is now primarily restricted to manufacturing uses.
As of the deadline for NYBC Update, the City Planning Commission had approved of the zoning plan, with minor modifications. The Plan now moves on to the City Council where the rezoning will be the subject of a series of public hearings, followed by a full vote, probably prior to the end of January 2005. “The building community must demonstrate its vocal support for the Hudson Yards in anticipation of the City Council’s vote on the rezoning application,” said Building Congress Chairman Frank J. Sciame. “It is particularly important that this industry support the density and variety of uses envisioned in the proposal.” Added Building Congress President Richard T. Anderson, “The need for all 40 million square feet of commercial and residential development cannot be overstated.
In addition to the rezoning application, the fate of the proposed New York Sports and Convention Center (NYSCC), the construction of which would be paid for by the New York Jets, may be decided in Albany. Two agencies must authorize a shared investment between the City and State of $600 million to construct a deck over the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s rail yards between 30th and 33rd Streets from 11th to 12th Avenue as well as a retractable roof, which will permit the facility to be used year-round. In addition to paying for the construction of the facility, the Jets have agreed to cover any cost overruns for the platform and pay for additional public infrastructure in the area. In addition to having a retractable roof, the NYSCC will have modular seating and a removable field, which will enable the building to function as a stadium or as an exposition hall. In its location adjacent and connected to the expanded Javits Center, the NYSCC will offer 180,000 square feet of exhibit space as well as 30,000 square feet of meeting rooms. It could also serve as a plenary hall seating up to 40,000 people. The NYSCC will serve not only as the home for the New York Jets, but also as an ideal venue for major national events such as the Super Bowl and the Final Four. If New York is selected to host the 2012 Olympic Games, it will be the home of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and the track and field competition. The next step in the process is approval of the project by the Empire State Development Corp (ESDC). It is expected that the ESDC will hold a public hearing on the proposal in December, “We urge members of the building community to make their voices heard on this exciting proposal,” added Sciame. “Now is the time to contact your elected officials in City Hall and in Albany.” The Building Congress plans to continuously inform members of developments in the process and suggest ways to get involved through its (e)Update email newsletter. To receive these emails, please contact the New York Building Congress at (212) 481-9230. Industry members can also obtain updates at www.hudsonyardscoalition.com.
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The rezoning would allow for the transformation of large stretches of underused areas by allowing for the development of approximately 28 million square feet of commercial development and 12 million square feet of residential development, an extension of the number 7 subway line from Times Square to 11th Avenue and 34th Street, as well as the creation of new streets and public parks.
In addition to achieving a critical mass from an urban planning perspective, development of this scale will ensure that enough tax revenues are generated to pay for much needed government services.”
