https://nylandmarks.org/news/last-chance-to-speak-out-against-destruction-around-penn-station/
Last Chance to Speak Out Against Destruction Around Penn Station
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The National Trust for Historic Preservation has now joined the Conservancy, and other local groups, in opposition to Governor Hochul’s plan to level large blocks around Penn Station, destroy dozens of architecturally significant buildings, and promote the creation of giant towers rivaling Hudson Yards.
In a January 7 letter to Empire State Development (ESD), the Trust agreed with us that the area around the station contains significant historic structures and is not the “substandard and insanitary area” the State describes. It also agreed that the State’s approach “is hauntingly reminiscent of the failed urban renewal strategy of the 1960s.”
The State has acknowledged that the project will require federal review. But the Trust said the State is subverting that review by “segmenting” the project. The State insists ”revitalization” efforts around Penn are one project, and that the reconstruction and expansion of the Station is separate. The Trust rejected that, noting that the federal review process requires looking at a project in its entirety.
The letter also warned that keeping the projects separate, and demolishing historic structures before a complete federal review, may jeopardize obtaining federal permits and funding.
The letter also echoes local criticism that ESD has “fast-tracked” its own review with only limited opportunities for public comment. We encouraged the Trust to become involved and are grateful for their thoughtful and detailed letter.
ESD is holding part two of a prior public hearing this Thursday, January 20. More than 200 persons signed up to testify last month—most of them, like us, in opposition.
So a continuation of the hearing was necessary to hear everyone out. Thursday is the last chance for public comment before the State submits its Environmental Impact Statement for federal review.
Let’s hope the Trust’s letter is a wake-up call for the State. ESD must quit avoiding a public discussion of how, and if, the new buildings would fund Station improvements. It’s time for a response to criticism of the Project and the thoughtful alternatives proposed. It’s time for the federal agencies to hold the State to a comprehensive review.
There is no need to sacrifice the diverse buildings, offices, businesses, apartments, and pubs that give the blocks around the station their unique character. Outside of some government officials and planners, no one is clamoring for another Hudson Yards.
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https://patch.com/new-york/midtown-nyc/no-madison-square-garden-not-moving-hells-kitchen
No, Madison Square Garden Is Not Moving To Hell's Kitchen
A dubious news article said DeWitt Clinton Park would be bulldozed for a sports arena. The governor's office says it's pure fiction.
Nick Garber
Jan 13, 2022
Quote:
Earlier this week, news of a project that would reshape the West Side of Manhattan was published on a little-known website and shared widely in the neighborhood. Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration planned to bulldoze DeWitt Clinton Park, the beloved Hell's Kitchen green space, to make way for a brand-new Madison Square Garden, the article claims.
The hundreds of people who have shared the story were likely unaware of one key fact: the article appears to be entirely fictional.
"It's completely false," said Matthew Gorton, a spokesperson for Empire State Development, the state corporation named in the fake story as one of the plan's key actors. "No truth to it whatsoever."
The story appeared Monday on a website called The Buffalo Chronicle, headlined "Kathy Hochul is preparing to relocate Madison Square Garden." Though its name evokes the title of a stalwart local newspaper, the Chronicle is in fact a known purveyor of fake news, having sown misinformation about the 2020 U.S. Presidential race and conspiracy theories about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
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Quote:
The nearly 900-word article lays out a detailed description of the arena's supposed relocation from its current home atop Penn Station. Hochul intends to hire a "star architect" to design the building, it asserts, adding that the plan has the support of MSG owner James Dolan.
Hochul's office flatly rebutted the claims.
"This is obviously not true and is misinformation," spokesperson Avi Small told Patch.
Still, more than 3,700 people had interacted with the story on Facebook by Thursday evening, drawing more than 2,100 comments, according to the analysis tool CrowdTangle — plus more on Twitter. On a Hell's Kitchen Facebook group, residents bemoaned the apparent loss of their neighborhood park.
"Hells Kitchen better stand up and turn down this offer!!!" one resident wrote. "We def don't need MSG in our children's playground!"
A closer look at the story might have tipped readers off to its unreliability. It says the state would use eminent domain to acquire DeWitt Clinton Park from the city — but eminent domain applies only to the taking of private property.
Other claims in the story verge on the fantastical. To enable commuter access to the new arena, a light-rail system would be built along West 53rd Street, the story says, citing unnamed "sources." Meanwhile, an enormous public square would supposedly be built atop the Garden's current site.
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Case in point....
https://www.change.org/p/new-york-state-...ng-the-location-of-madison-square-garden
Stop New York Governor Kathy Hochul from changing the location of Madison Square Garden.
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Governor Kathy Hochul wants to move the location of the World's Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden, located at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, NY, 10001. As a lifelong New York Rangers and New York Knicks fan, I can't imagine MSG being in another location that isn't on Pennsylvania Plaza. With the original location of MSG being in Madison Square Park, Pennsylvania Plaza has been home to MSG since 1968.
The move to Dewitt Clinton Park would cost New York taxpayers $800 million USD. When MSG is already in perfect condition, and easily accessible from Penn Station, Grand Central, and the subway system. MSG was also recently renovated, during 2011-2013. MSG was granted a 10 year operating permit in 2013. If MSG wanted to continue operating when the permit is up, in 2023, they would have to reapply, or move arenas.
I think moving arenas, and using taxpayer dollars on something that could be avoided by a permit when those taxpayer dollars could be going towards paving the major highways and major bridges in and out of NYC and everywhere else in the state, is an honestly dumb move.
If MSG moves to Dewitt Clinton Park, this will affect all the Long Island Rangers and Knicks fans. They take the Long Island Railroad, also known as LIRR, into Penn Station, which is saving them money. If this move is approved, less fans from Long Island will want to come to games, which will lose money for the arena, and the team they want to come watch.
With all of this being said, if you agree that there should be no move to Dewitt Clinton Park, please sign this so we can prove to Governor Hochul and James Dolan that we want MSG to stay.
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__________________
NEW YORK is Back!
“Office buildings are our factories – whether for tech, creative or traditional industries we must continue to grow our modern factories to create new jobs,” said United States Senator Chuck Schumer.
Last edited by NYguy; Jan 20, 2022 at 4:24 AM.
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