In exchange for the approval to build One Vanderbilt, a 63-story office tower adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, the developer will give the MTA $220 million for upgrades to entrances of the Metro-North Railroad and the terminal's subway entrances.
The City Council gave its approval for the plan on May 27, overcoming what was considered the biggest obstacle to the tower and the transit improvements.
"Plans for the skyscraper have been at the center of long-running negotiations to improve the bustling subway station at Grand Central [second busiest after Times Square], particularly on the overcrowded 4, 5 and 6 trains on the Lexington Avenue subway line," writes Emma G. Fitzsimmons for The New York Times. "Mayor Bill de Blasio has supported the rezoning plan."
As part of the deal, the developer, SL Green Realty, will build new subway entrances as well as a pedestrian plaza at street level, a public hall in the building’s lobby and other upgrades.
The approach has been viewed by some proponents as a model for how the Metropolitan Transportation Authority can pay for some projects as it grapples with a $14 billion shortfall in the agency’s $32 billion proposed capital plan.
The location at the corner of 42nd Street and Vanderbilt Avenue is adjacent to the landmark terminal. The tower is opposed by Andrew S. Penson, "(t)he investor who owns Grand Central, " writes Fitzsimmons. "He has argued that the agreement would be a 'massive giveaway' to a big real estate company."
The 1,501-foot-tall, 1.6 million-square-foot skyscraper building will be the city's third tallest, dwarfing the nearby 1,046 feet-tall, 71-story Chrysler Building. "The tower and the infrastructure upgrades are expected to be finished by 2021, the company said," notes Fitzsimmons.
The Council's approval is a reversal from an earlier upzoning plan, backed by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg for the area known as East Midtown.
"SL Green will also pay for direct connections beneath the tower to the subway, the Metro-North Railroad and eventually the Long Island Rail Road, which will stop in Grand Central after the authority’s East Side Access Project is complete," adds Fitzsimmons.
Transit advocates have also applauded the Grand Central deal, saying it served as a test case for incentive plans in which developers pay for transit improvements in exchange for permission to build.
Similar arrangements have been done at Boston's Back Bay Station and at Atlanta's MARTA stations, though they were for air rights and perhaps not on the same scale as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has worked out for the 63-story office tower known as One Vanderbilt.
Hat tip to Jennifer Scholtes, transportation reporter for POLITICO Morning Transportation.
FULL STORY: Plan to Build Tower at Grand Central in Exchange for Transit Upgrades Is Approved
Grand Central Terminal Owner Files $1.1 Billion Suit Against One Vanderbilt
A $1.1 billion lawsuit challenges the approval of plans for One Vanderbilt, adjacent to Grand Central Terminal, on the grounds that it circumvented the purchase of air rights from the adjacent Grand Central Terminal.
To Remain Competitive, NYC Should Bolster Placemaking, Not Its Skyline
Michael Kimmelman comes out against the plan to rezone a 73-block area around Grand Central Terminal to allow the replacement of "aging commercial buildings with giant new office towers". The city should focus on planning, not zoning, he argues.
New Supertall Planned for Grand Central Station-Adjacent Property
A new supertall skyscraper will rise at 175 Park Avenue, rising next to famous neighbors on a prime block in Manhattan.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie