The New Penn (aka Moynihan) Station Development News

Our friends in DC has the scoop on the latest news on the new Penn Station planned at the Farley Post Office Building: DCist says Vornado Realty Trust seems likely development contract, which, would be a good part of the $910 million plan to move NJ Transit and LIRR - and possibly Amtrak - out of the current dingy Penn Station.

Vornado says it "is committed to long-term asset enhancement" at Penn Station. And that seems logical. With the Jets stadium and associated development slated for the nearby Hudson Yards, Vornado has significant vested interests in its current holdings in western Midtown. Trying to keep competitors from gaining a foothold near Penn Station is in Vornado's best interest. And the future returns on Vornado's investment could be enormous. With enhanced transportation connections to New Jersey (through the Access to the Region's Core proposal, transit planners envision the commercial development around the future Moynihan station as a Manhattan hub for increased numbers of New Jersey-based commuters. This of course is a very expensive proposal, so the politics with this are complicated.)

Right now, Gothamist puts the chances of a new Penn Station happening ahead of the West Side Stadium or a Second Avenue subway line. What we're curious about is how the MTA will develop the A/C/E subway entrances to be access from the new location...and will the 1/2/3 get a long, 14th Street-like tunnel that will connect from the new station? At any rate, Gothamist imagines Senator Moynihan is smiling at the news.

The NY Times architecture critic Nicholas Ouroussoff made a case for the new Penn Station during during the Republican National Convention.