Massive, Expensive Redevelopment of Midtown Manhattan Proposed

"Gov. Andrew Cuomo talked up big-ticket projects for Manhattan’s West Side in the final of four State of the State speeches that on Thursday focused on infrastructure," report Carl Campanile, Bernadette Hogan, and David Meyer.

The project would overhaul more than 140 acres of midtown Manhattan with projects that include "the continuing makeover of Penn Station, building a new Port Authority Bus terminal and expanding the Jacob Javits Convention Center," in addition to a previously announced plan to connect the High Line to the newly opened Moynihan Train Hall.

"[Gov. Cuomo] said 14 building sites around Penn Station will be redeveloped and provide 20 million square feet of retail, commercial and residential development. A portion of the site will be used to create 1,400 units of affordable housing," according to the article.

Gov. Cuomo announced the plan in his fourth and final State of the State address this week. Previous speeches addressed the pandemic, the new Biden administration, economic development, and renewable energy, among other subjects.

Gov. Cuomo is referring to the complete package of projects as the Empire Station Complex, according to USA Today reporter Joseph Spector via Twitter.

"Moving forward with vital infrastructure projects such as Gateway, Penn Station, the Port Authority Bus Terminal and the MTA Capital plan will greatly benefit our region, the entire Northeast corridor, and the nation’s economy as a whole. Today’s announcement, coupled with what the incoming Biden Administration looks to achieve, offers a great deal of promise and potential for the tri-state metropolitan region," said Tom Wright, president and CEO of Regional Plan Association, in a statement responding to the speech.