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Cuomo Seeks State Control of Penn Station Neighborhood Cuomo Seeks State Control of Penn Station Neighborhood
(4 months later)
ALBANY — A proposal being floated by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo during the 11th hour of budget negotiations would create a large, state-controlled development area around Pennsylvania Station, giving the governor greater sway over one of Manhattan’s name-brand landmarks and a powerful talking point against his intraparty rival, Mayor Bill de Blasio. ALBANY — A proposal being floated by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo during the 11th hour of budget negotiations would create a large, state-controlled development area around Pennsylvania Station, giving the governor greater sway over one of Manhattan’s name-brand landmarks and a powerful talking point against his intraparty rival, Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The state would have its primary development agency, the Empire State Development Corp., work with another agency controlled by the governor, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to control and redevelop a multiblock area around the station.The state would have its primary development agency, the Empire State Development Corp., work with another agency controlled by the governor, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to control and redevelop a multiblock area around the station.
The governor’s initial proposal — outlined in a two-page document dated Tuesday, less than a week before the state’s deadline to adopt its budget — freed the new joint entity from a raft of zoning, environmental, and land-use laws. But those ideas were abandoned as news of the proposal broke and brought about a serious and immediate blowback, from Democratic lawmakers in both legislative houses in Albany, and from city leaders, including the City Council speaker Corey Johnson and City Hall officials.The governor’s initial proposal — outlined in a two-page document dated Tuesday, less than a week before the state’s deadline to adopt its budget — freed the new joint entity from a raft of zoning, environmental, and land-use laws. But those ideas were abandoned as news of the proposal broke and brought about a serious and immediate blowback, from Democratic lawmakers in both legislative houses in Albany, and from city leaders, including the City Council speaker Corey Johnson and City Hall officials.
“It completely erases any role for the city, local officials or the surrounding community,” said Alicia Glen, deputy mayor of housing and economic development, citing concerns about environmental review and potential loss of tax revenue from new buildings. “It’s beyond the pale.”“It completely erases any role for the city, local officials or the surrounding community,” said Alicia Glen, deputy mayor of housing and economic development, citing concerns about environmental review and potential loss of tax revenue from new buildings. “It’s beyond the pale.”
By late Wednesday, the governor’s office was assuring lawmakers that the proposal, which was obtained by The New York Times, was merely a draft, and an early bid in what was expected to be heated negotiations over any redevelopment plan.By late Wednesday, the governor’s office was assuring lawmakers that the proposal, which was obtained by The New York Times, was merely a draft, and an early bid in what was expected to be heated negotiations over any redevelopment plan.
“Penn Station is currently untenable. It is congested, chaotic and poses a serious threat to public safety in this time of heightened terrorist threats,” said Dani Lever, press secretary for Mr. Cuomo, noting that the state was already investing in a new train station across the street from the current station. She added that the proposal was lawful and would include “consultation with community leaders and elected officials, environmental reviews and local government reviews.”“Penn Station is currently untenable. It is congested, chaotic and poses a serious threat to public safety in this time of heightened terrorist threats,” said Dani Lever, press secretary for Mr. Cuomo, noting that the state was already investing in a new train station across the street from the current station. She added that the proposal was lawful and would include “consultation with community leaders and elected officials, environmental reviews and local government reviews.”
But early reaction to the initial proposal, which was reported by Politico New York Wednesday afternoon, included concern that such a impactful, long-ranging plan could be adopted so quickly for the neighborhood.But early reaction to the initial proposal, which was reported by Politico New York Wednesday afternoon, included concern that such a impactful, long-ranging plan could be adopted so quickly for the neighborhood.
State Senator Brad Hoylman, a Democrat who represents the area surrounding Penn Station, described the local community boards as “preserving the character of their neighborhood.”State Senator Brad Hoylman, a Democrat who represents the area surrounding Penn Station, described the local community boards as “preserving the character of their neighborhood.”
Wiley Norvell, a communications adviser in City Hall, said the city has been in talks for months with the state, the M.T.A. and Vornado, a major property owner in the Penn Station vicinity, over possible development plans for the area. But Mr. Norvell said that there had been no discussion of the sort of proposal that the Cuomo administration is now floating. He said the city first saw the proposal on Wednesday and did not get the text of the proposal from the governor’s office.Wiley Norvell, a communications adviser in City Hall, said the city has been in talks for months with the state, the M.T.A. and Vornado, a major property owner in the Penn Station vicinity, over possible development plans for the area. But Mr. Norvell said that there had been no discussion of the sort of proposal that the Cuomo administration is now floating. He said the city first saw the proposal on Wednesday and did not get the text of the proposal from the governor’s office.
There were some supporters for the governor’s approach, as well. Kathryn Wylde, the president of Partnership for New York City, sent a statement late Wednesday saying that Penn Station “requires substantial investment of funds that the M.T.A. currently does not have.”There were some supporters for the governor’s approach, as well. Kathryn Wylde, the president of Partnership for New York City, sent a statement late Wednesday saying that Penn Station “requires substantial investment of funds that the M.T.A. currently does not have.”
“The governor’s commitment to make this a state priority is a positive step forward on a project that will not happen without extraordinary intervention by the state,” Ms. Wylde said.“The governor’s commitment to make this a state priority is a positive step forward on a project that will not happen without extraordinary intervention by the state,” Ms. Wylde said.
The governor has sought to impress his powers on Mr. de Blasio on a variety of occasions, from putting state police troopers in the city to criticizing how the city handled the Ebola scare. But on Wednesday, Cuomo administration officials stressed that the proposal was still in discussions — even the exact borders of such a project were in flux.The governor has sought to impress his powers on Mr. de Blasio on a variety of occasions, from putting state police troopers in the city to criticizing how the city handled the Ebola scare. But on Wednesday, Cuomo administration officials stressed that the proposal was still in discussions — even the exact borders of such a project were in flux.
But the overall goal remained to turn Penn Station, long derided as a dark and dismal rail hub, into a modern facility, while also incorporating commercial, residential and mixed-use development surrounding it. In addition, such a project would provide jobs, increase the tax base and “enhance the recognition of the city and state as a worldwide center of commerce,” according to the draft proposal.But the overall goal remained to turn Penn Station, long derided as a dark and dismal rail hub, into a modern facility, while also incorporating commercial, residential and mixed-use development surrounding it. In addition, such a project would provide jobs, increase the tax base and “enhance the recognition of the city and state as a worldwide center of commerce,” according to the draft proposal.
Whether any such proposal could gain legislative approval, particularly with the budget ticking down, is questionable. Richard Gottfried, a veteran member of the Assembly who represents the Penn Station area, said he only heard about the proposal on Monday, and thus far did not like the idea.Whether any such proposal could gain legislative approval, particularly with the budget ticking down, is questionable. Richard Gottfried, a veteran member of the Assembly who represents the Penn Station area, said he only heard about the proposal on Monday, and thus far did not like the idea.
“The area around Penn Station is not some undeveloped, poverty area needing government investment in order to prosper,” said Mr. Gottfried, a Democrat. “If anything, it is attracting more investment from the real estate community than it can handle.”“The area around Penn Station is not some undeveloped, poverty area needing government investment in order to prosper,” said Mr. Gottfried, a Democrat. “If anything, it is attracting more investment from the real estate community than it can handle.”