Amtrak’s selection of a Master Developer, Penn Transformation partners(PTP), and the official release of their renderings is a key milestone toward the steady and credible progress of the Penn Station project. The plans include a column-like facade and the removal of the 8th Avenue theater portion of Madison Sqaure Garden to create a grand entrance.
Now the public part of the process can start with details and community input. We hope Andy Byford will open the public input far and wide and resist Amtrak’s love for opacity .
A”FEW” open items the public should watch for:
Block 780– Andy Byford has confirmed that there is no plan to raze block 780 in order to create more capacity. in Fact PTP has never included Block 780 in their renderings or designs. However the Federal Government is poised to adopt a measure allowing Amtrak to capture PILOTS (payments in lieu of taxes) for any up zoning around any new / renovated station in the country. This is not a new idea: the set up was included in the semi-defunct State General Project Plan. With such mechanism a developer like Vornado could select to develop any property and generate PILOTS for the station.
Thru-running – and the expansion of platforms : a federal study is still under way to evaluate demand and capacity required. Andy Byford has been bullish on thru-running as it is the method use in England for the key stations in London. We all need to watch for the release of the survey results and ensure that the most ambitious thru running option is included in this phase of the project.
Public Realm – This is the weakest part of the project. Amtrak is pushing its designated funding onto the City DOT although the State had earmarked $ 50 million to fund it. There is an urgent need to discuss the integration of the public realm with the station and how to include it in the project.
Funding – This is a mystery. It is completely unclear who will pay for the $ 8+ billion project. The Trump administration had shown some interest in providing the lion’s share. The Vornado’s pilots will provide a piece. The State has proclaimed its intention to fund none of it.
Read the interview of PTP’s principals by Daniel Jonas Roche