Reading the section about the Dolans is infuriating.

I like how the seasoned architect and former Dept of City Planning official who also oversaw the Moynihan development and who has actual common sense (there should be high office density around mass transit, Penn station is a transit station first and foremost, the city probably can’t afford to buy out and tear down an office building that literally just got rebuilt) got booed at a planning event by actual adults just because they didn’t like what he said lol

In a post Covid era with lots of people still working from home, I don't see why building more offices is a good idea

The first part of the article sounds like it was written by a snobby rich person.

God forbid Penn Station have semi-affordable places for regular people like Dunkin Donuts!

Because they’re building it specifically in close proximity to a major regional rail hub which has shockingly little commercial development given the traffic

There are a fuck ton of offices around Penn station, are you kidding? The entire area is a dead, characterless chasm for commutting office workers. We don't need any more office buildings that will sit empty.

Dolan's attorneys are probably sending the New Yorker the dreaded blanket ban email as we speak.

Class A buildings (like what would be built around Penn) are fully leased and near capacity - look at Hudson Yards, 1 Vanderbilt, etc. Yes, a lot of people work from home but the big leaseholders who are willing to pay for primo office space — banks, corporate law firms, consulting firms, tech… ie the tenants of the aforementioned buildings — are back in the office A LOT.

The exodus to those would also free up older office buildings (with operating windows) in less desirable areas for office space (ie, far from transit hubs) that could then be converted into housing per current proposals

I can assure you the average joe will be shopping at rolex when getting off work. Dont need things like dunking donuts or pizzeria

Great article. Like a nano Power Broker with lower stakes and extra snark.

Yeah and in the process they'll get rid of historic buildings and old school neighborhood bars. It would be a net negative to the already soulless neighborhood.

Planning events are pretty much always full of idiots booing any proposed change

Seriously every time I have to go to a meeting in one of the penn plaza buildings its so depressing.