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The Port Authority unveiled renderings yesterday for an ambitious $152 million renovation of the George Washington Bridge bus station in Washington Heights. Built by Italian architect Pier Luigi Nervi, the sprawling three-level station opened in 1963, winning an award that year for its use of concrete in construction. It occupies both sides of Broadway between 178th and 179th Streets, near the entrance to the George Washington Bridge.
An estimated five million people on 300,000 buses passed through the station last year, and there's considerable wear and tear; the Times notes missing ceiling tiles, a lack of building-wide air-conditioning, and "a seedy aura that has never quite lifted" since homeless people congregated there in the '80s. Which makes the place sound like every other bus station in America!
But it's also home to about a dozen tenants, including an optometrist, dentist, barber, Off-Track Betting parlor, a credit union and newsstands. And the owners of these establishments are going to have to move out, because, as the Port Authority's Michael B. Francois puts it: "We’re looking to transform that into more of a Class A retail space, with national anchor tenants that can better serve the needs of the community."
One unidentified business owner tells the Times, "They just want to get rid of us, all the small guys. They never did the right thing for the building. They’ve really taken care of this building as a stepchild." And 78-year-old Altagracia Guzman, a credit union member, says she's angry about it, too: "This is like a family place. It’s not fair. I repeat it in front of the president of the United States: It’s not fair." It's not clear why Guzman thought George Bush was within earshot, but in any case the renovation, to be financed with $102 million from realty group Acadia and about $49.5 million from the Port Authority, is expected to begin within two years and result in a fourfold increase in the amount of retail space.
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I think I can guess which "Drug Store" and "Coffee Shop" will appear there.
Why are there so many white people in the renderings?
so apparently, this community does not need dental care, eye care, or haircuts? heckuva job, Francios
pretty much any time the city unveils plans like this, a few little stores get turfed out, and some of that store's customers announce their strong opposition to the press.
Fact of the matter is, while I feel bad for those bussiness' owners and employees, and hope that the city compensates them fairly, the GWB bus terminal is a total shithole- a visual blight and a huge waste of urban space. in the end the neighborhood will be much better served by having it renovated. there are other places already in that neighborhood that duplicate the services of the businesses that currently occupy the GWB bus terminal space.
#2 I was thinking the same thing. Maybe the Port Authority has plans to kick all the Dominicans out?
I went up there to catch a bus across the bridge at 11 one night. I couldn't figure out where to buy tickets and everyone looked like they didn't even know they were in a bus station. Eventually I walked across the bridge.
By the way, these renderings are pretty lame and unimaginative.
Glad to see PANYNJ embarking on another debacle of a project while already buried by the biggest in history.
Ahh keeping in theme with the updated new College campus quad theme. Mind boggling design here!
And we're going to pay for this with what, my left ass cheek?
This is still a great city, but only because of the amazing urban planning of the 1800's and the amazing public works and infrastructure projects of the 20th century. When will all existing government agencies realize that they can't do this without totally blowing it anymore?
Chung, you can guess it because you're such a trendoid. This $152 million project, if it ever gets off the ground, will cost 5 times that when completed, which will be 10 years behind schedule.
It's going to be really great with Sharper Image and Bennigan's moving in.