…Moynihan’s “new Pennsylvania Station” may rise yet…See TRAINS news wire.
For those who don’t have access to the news wire, such as myself, here is an article from the web:
Stringer Promises Progress On Moynihan Station Project
…
Project number one on Stringer’s list of goals for 2007 is getting some movement going on the stalled Moynihan Station Project to expand Penn Station.
“A new Moynihan train station will diminish crowding, improve the look and feel of the area, and help lay the foundation for the comprehensive transportation planning our region desperately needs,” said Stringer.
See full story here
It is high time to get on with the work of bringing about the Moynihan Penn Station. By using the Farley Post Office Building for the new Penn Station, it is a great tribute to the late, great original
Pennsylvania Station as constructed by the Pennsylvania Railroad back in 1910 as well as a tribute to a really great railroad itself. By looking at the building, given its architecture, I would swear it is almost a dead ringer for the original Penn Station. Madison Square Garden seems so plastic.
Thanks for the link DF.
One of the reason the Moynihan Station project has been stalled is part-political, part-another development may affect the project. A redevelopment proposal has sort of been let of the bag but let’s just say that it involves demolishing the Madison Square Garden arena that is currently on the old Pennsylvania Station site and replacing it with a “new” building…
I am confused per ususal. Is this referring to the Plan B version ( essentially a new station that entails the demo of some portion of the Madison Square Garden) or the renovation of the Farley Building? This seesaw has been going back and forth for some time now between preservationists that want the old Post Office Buiding recycled and the developers who stand to make a great deal of money if Plan B is adapted…or is it both now are on the docket?
…It sounded to me, as I quickly went through the article on “rail news” the current Madison Square Garden might be removed {which is on the site of the 1910 RR structure}, and rebuilt around a part of the old post office building or even all new, across the street and into it’s block.
I realize the plans have been even displayed on the internet of building the “new” RR structure into part of the post office building. We understand the underground tracks are under the current MSG building and across the street and under the post office building as well.
So it seems either plan “could” be accomplished given as to where the tracks are located.
Personally, I’d like to see it, “the new Penn Station”, built on site the MSG occupies now and kind of return that site back to it’s original purpose…Passenger RR activity, and a beautiful one the original one was…What a loss.
Of course the above view is of a rail fan. And one who passed through the original beautiful structure before it was demolished. Several times.
Having been a construction rehabilitation manager, I hope the old Farley building is recycled. What I found and that others have, is that buildings that were constructed some time ago, we literally cannot restore as the cost to replicate what was once there for the asking ( at a lesser cost) It is just prohibitively expensive, due to the craftsmanship, wood materials and labor involved. The short version is that arguably, the older buildings were built to last…a long, long time…I suspect the newer Plan B version was chosen…as in New York, the developers reign supreme although the irony is the self same developers smashed Penn Station to put a up an essentially ugly but profitable building…I have seen p
…I appreciate your points. No question about it, we can’t afford to rebuild a structure similar to the demolished one. I was very young when I visited through it several times but even at a young age I was interested in structures and architecture and that was an example one rarely sees.
As I said my wishes are from “the rail fan” point of view but I truly hope this project can be completed. It seemingly would be a great assit to the city with a grand place to enter. I hear so many negative comments of the current facilities that have been used since the grand station’s demise. This would eliminate such an eyesore.
We’ll try to keep an eye out to what is happening…as I’ve been doing for some years now. I remember Moynihan commenting that financing was in place back then…and then 911 happen and of course he passed on too.
The proposed Plan B development would take demolish the western half of the Farley Post Office and build a new Madison Square Garden there. Once that is completed, the existing MSG would be demolished. A new train station (referred to as Moynihan East) would be constructed. On top of the new station would be building of undetermined height containing a mixture of retail, office and possibly residential. From what I can say (and not get in trouble), there will be no more basement like feeling to the existing Penn Station. The eastern half of the Farley Post office will still be built and would be designated Moynihan Station West.
Wow…That sounds interesting. Let’s get it started.
Put Donald Trump on the construction, he seems to get things done. And done well.