Madison Square Garden has only been given a five year extension by the full City Council on a special permit it needs to continue to sit atop Penn Station. Photo: Keith J. Kelly Finally and Officially: Full City Council Gives MSG Its Shortest Permit Ever at 5 Years Saying it was starting a countdown to force a deal on improving Penn Station, the City Council voted unanimously to give... News 14 Sep 2023 | 10:26
MTA Chairman Janno Lieber (white shirt) seems to be snapping to attention as he listens to a press conference with (from left) Congressman Gerald Nadler, Assemblyman Tony Simone, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and City Council Member Erik Bottcher on how to reconfigure Penn Station. CB5 board member Layla Law-Gisiko (far right) listens in as well. Photo: Office of the Manhattan Borough President Joint Press Conference By Politicos Turns into Debate over Penn Station Plans You would expect a decision as big as rebuilding Penn Station to drive a big debate. What you wouldn’t expect is for government... News 13 Sep 2023 | 10:10
Renewal of a permit to allow Madison Square Garden to sit atop Penn Station for only five more years–expected to be officially approved by the City Council Sept. 14–will set off a new scramble by all stakeholders to fit a new plan into the compressed time frame. Photo: Keith J. Kelly Loose Ends: When the Full Council Finally OKs 5-yr Permit for MSG, What’s Next? The City Council is resetting the clock on the interlinked futures of Madison Square Garden and Penn Station. But virtually... News 10 Sep 2023 | 05:31
Community activist Layla Law-Gisiko ran and lost in a crowded Dem primary field trying to succeed Dick Gottfried in the New York State Assembly. But she’s had a dramatic impact on the negotiations over Madison Square Garden as a long-time CB5 member and now is the new president of the City Club. Photo: Laylaforny Civic Leader Who Shook Up Madison Square Garden: Part II This is the second in a two part series. For Part I, click here. Layla Law-Gisiko has served on community board 5 for 18 years... News 06 Sep 2023 | 01:17
CB 5 board member Layla Law-Gisiko has embraced her role as a civic activist in her adopted city. Photo: Courtesy Layla Law-Gisiko Parisian and Longtime CB5 Member Reflects on Activism that Shook Up MSG This is the first in a two part series. For Part II, click here. Born in Paris, French television sent her to New York as... News 06 Sep 2023 | 01:15
Under the plan pushed by ASTM, The Theater at Madison Square Garden on the Eighth Ave side of the arena would be purchased from MSG and demolished to make way for a new Grand Entrance to the rail hub that serves 600,000 rail commuters daily. Photo: Keith J. Kelly We Are Now the “Only Plan Left Standing,” Says Italian Developer in Wake of City Council Vote on Madison Square Garden The Italian infrastructure company that wants to rebuild Penn Station says its plan is now the only path forward after the... News 01 Sep 2023 | 02:16
The City Council Vote is a blow to Madison Square Garden Chairman James Dolan, who wanted the special permit extended in perpetuity. Local bars and businesses in the MSG neighborhood and even hip hop artist Run MMC were backing him, all to no avail. Photo: Flipboard via Wikimedia Commons City Council Shortens Leash on MSG, Gives It 5 Years Only on New Special Permit The City Council, caught like a dashing commuter between Madison Square Garden and Penn Station, decided that the conflicts... News 29 Aug 2023 | 12:14
Tracks Raw Bar, which already had to relocate from inside Penn Station when it was being renovated, wants the City Council to grant Madison Square Garden a new special permit that will last forever. Photo: Keith J. Kelly 11th Hr. Appeal: Local Bars, Other Small Business Owners, Urge City Council to Renew MSG’s Special Permit Forever A raft of restaurants, bars and other businesses around Madison Square Garden–saying the Garden’s crowds provided much of... News 28 Aug 2023 | 11:30
Jamie Torres Springer, the MTA’s head of construction and development, says he would use the state’s power of condemnation “if necessary” to force Jim Dolan’s Madison Square Garden to turn over portions of its property that MTA says it needs to renovate Penn Station. Photo: MTA MTA Chief Builder Says He’d Use Condemnation to Grab Jim Dolan’s MSG Property Needed for Penn Station Rebuild The MTA’s chief builder says that “if necessary” he would use the state’s power of condemnation to take property from Madison... News 20 Aug 2023 | 04:26
ASTM senior vice president Peter Cipriani,who is heading up the Penn Station proposal for North American subsidiary of the Italian developer, stands before a model of the proposed $6 billion redevelopment. Photo: Michael Oreskes EXCLUSIVE: Top Exec at ASTM Fires Back at MTA Critic over Penn Station Plans ASTM, is an Italian developer which specialized in partnering with governments to build and run major infrastructure, like... News 14 Aug 2023 | 12:57
Jamie Torres-Springer, President of MTA Construction & Development ( Photo: MTA) MTA’s Pres of Construction Gives Wide Ranging Interview on Penn Station Rebuild Plans It is one of New York City’s most complex public building challenges ever. Improving the dismal Penn Station, with options... News 04 Aug 2023 | 05:00
Travelers walking into the Seventh Avenue entrance to NYC’s Penn Station ( Photo: Danazar via Wiki Commons ) Byford Urges ‘Through Service’ that Would Allow NJ Transit, LIRR and Metro North to Run on One Another’s Tracks The former boss of New York’s subways and buses says the region has a “golden opportunity” to expand commuter rail service... News 28 Jul 2023 | 01:01
New York’s iconic Flatiron Building ( Photo: Paul Sableman) Flatiron Building and Neighborhood Emerge as Symbol of New York’s Post-Pandemic Economic Revival The Flatiron Building is revered as one of the most iconic office buildings in the world. However, amidst New York’s arduous... News 24 Jul 2023 | 09:09
Madison Square Garden, Midtown Manhattan, NYC ( Photo Credit: Ajay Suresh via Wikipedia Commons) More Turmoil as City Council Members Push Back Against a New 10 Year Permit for MSG Madison Square Garden should not be given a new permit to operate its arena above Penn Station unless the Garden’s owners... News 19 Jul 2023 | 01:50
Manhattan borough president Mark Levine addresses Community Board 5’s Land Use Committee standing behind a model of the proposed ASTM remodeling of Penn Station that would cost $6 billion. Levine says Garden should stay where it is, but end MSG tax break and pay Garden for property needed to renovate rail hub below. Photo: YouTube CB5 Boro Pres Says End MSG’s $1B Tax Break But Pay Jim Dolan for Property to Fix Penn Station Madison Square Garden has paid no property taxes on its arena since 1982, a largesse from government easily worth $50 million... News 14 Jul 2023 | 01:52
