The MTA has called a special board meeting to approve a takeover of the Hudson Yards development project in Manhattan by developer The Related Companies and investment bank Goldman Sachs. The quick switch follows an abrupt departure by real estate development firm Tishman Speyer, that won approval after a tortuously long selection process. An MTA press release quotes Mayor Bloomberg:
"Today's announcement that the MTA will award Related Companies, in partnership with Goldman Sachs, the development rights for the West Side Rail Yards is great news for the City. Despite the setbacks of the last few weeks, we are certain that Related and Goldman will realize this tremendous opportunity to develop what is really the only large parcel of undeveloped space left in Manhattan. The attractiveness of this area for developers stems in part because the City is funding an extension of the #7 line, making this vital new mixed use community of residential, commercial and office space a truly transit oriented development. We will continue to work with the State and MTA and with the developer to help make the Hudson Yards development a reality."It must have been a busy weekend, because everyone is on board--Mayor Bloomberg, Gov. Paterson, MTA Chairman Dale Hemmerdinger, and the heads of The Related Companies and Goldman Sachs. Just last week, Mayor Bloomberg was clinging to the thin string of hope that the Tishman-Speyer bid could be salvaged.
Continue reading "Related, Goldman Sachs Step into Hudson Yards Breach"



