A huge transformation of Manhattan’s West Side has begun as ground breaking at the 26-acre rail yards, owned by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, and leased to developers for 99 years for over $1billion got underway on Tuesday. Years of deal making finally led to agreements between the MTA and developers, who plan on creating Hudson Yards, a 15-building, city-within-a-city project valued at about $15 billion.
Plans for the waterfront development included apartments soaring 75 stories high; a futuristic observation deck in the shape of a rocket ship about to launch orbiting over Manhattan at an altitude above the Empire State Building; a landscaped 5-acre plaza.
“Developing Manhattan’s final frontier is the next major step in our city’s ongoing economic revival,” Mayor Bloomberg said. “The Hudson Yards project — whose construction will create at least 23,000 jobs and whose existence will support thousands more — is a testament to our city’s economic strength.”
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| The Vision for Hudson Yards |
