Rendering of new entrance on 8th Avenue to Penn Station via Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to build an interconnected public transportation hub and revitalize Penn Station took a major step forward this week. The Empire State Development’s Board of Directors on Thursday adopted the General Project Plan (GPP) and certified the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Empire Station Complex project, which would link an upgraded Penn Station, the newly opened Moynihan Train Hall, and a tentative new terminal one block south of Penn Station. The board also set a public hearing on the project for March 23, followed by a 30-day public comment period.

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All renderings courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday unveiled an ambitious plan to transform over 100 acres of Midtown West as part of a new “transit-oriented” development. The $51 billion proposal adds a new train hall south of Penn Station, replaces the Port Authority Bus Terminal, extends the High Line, and adds up to 1,400 units of new affordable housing. The project is one part of the governor’s proposed $306 billion infrastructure plan, introduced on Thursday during his fourth 2021 State of the State address.

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Courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Office

The High Line will be extended from its current 10th Avenue terminus to the entrance of the newly opened Moynihan Train Hall, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to announce during his 2021 State of the State address on Monday. As the New York Times first reported, a new L-shaped elevated walkway will link the existing public park at 30th Street to a pedestrian plaza at Manhattan West, a six-building mixed-use development from Brookfield Property Group that stretches from 9th and 10th Avenues and 31st to 33rd Streets.

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Photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

Tony Award-winning actress Carole Shelley, who is best known for her roles as Gwendolyn Pigeon in The Odd Couple and Madame Morrible in the original Broadway cast of Wicked, passed away in 2018 at the age of 79, leaving behind her NYC pied-à-terre at 340 West 57th Street. The Midtown West condo is located in the elegant, pre-war Parc Vendome, which is just a few blocks from Central Park South. The spacious one-bedroom home is listed for $1,350,000.

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Artwork titled “Now & Forever” by Tristan Eaton created exclusively for Montefiore and Alto New York’s 2020 “Heroes” campaign

Los Angeles-based painter and designer Tristan Eaton is well known for his street murals, which he’s brought to NYC through a collaboration with Montefiore Hospitals. The towering artwork, which sought to capture the heroism of our healthcare workers, is located on 34th Street and 8th Avenue and is part of a larger appreciation campaign for National Nurses Week sponsored by Montefiore and its creative company of record, Alto NY. They wanted to create a “digital” ticker-tape parade and “extend the Canyon of Heroes to the doors of every hospital in New York.” Using Eaton’s mural as a template, New Yorkers can create their own hero image by uploading a photo on the website or through Instagram. In addition, Montefiore has created a moving video thanking all the brave nurses.

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Streetview of 11 Penn Plaza, Map data © 2020 Google

After the Post first reported speculations of the deal in January, they now report that Apple will lease four floors of space at 11 Penn Plaza. Sources told the Post that the tech giant became interested in the 1.15-million-square-foot building that stretches along Seventh Avenue between West 31st and 32nd streets across from Madison Square Garden after losing out to Facebook on a spot in the Farley Building. However, those with knowledge of the deal say that Apple has only signed a five-year deal, which may suggest that they are still keen on finding a larger, more permanent home in NYC.

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Photograph by Maria Baranova-Suzuki courtesy of Times Square Arts.

With the new ban on single-use plastic bags hitting New York on March 1, a conversation has been started–and in some cases, continued–about the effects of our consumption on future generations. As important and complex as the topic may be, award-winning Brooklyn-based artist, puppet designer, and director Robin Frohardt has found a way to shine a creative light on consumption, conveniences, and the impact of single-use plastics. Located in Times Square, “The Plastic Bag Store” is an immersive, site-specific public art installation and three-act puppet show, on view from March 18 to April 12 at 20 Times Square.

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Photo via The Pennsy

The retail landscape around Penn Station is set for some changes. The Pennsy Food Hall right above the station will be closing its doors for good on March 31, Commercial Observer reports. The 8,000-square-foot food hall opened at Vornado Realty Trust’s 2 Penn Plaza four years ago with a mix of vendors and late-night hours to draw in delayed commuters as well as pre-concert and post-game crowds. The closure is hitting vegan eatery Cinnamon Snail especially hard—the company has confirmed it will be shutting down all operations after The Pennsy shutters. The news came on the same day that the Kmart across the street announced it would close after 24 years at One Penn Plaza.

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Rendering courtesy of FXCollaborative 

Macy’s, which recently announced plans to close 125 department stores over the next several years, is still hoping to cash in on the thriving office market by building an office tower above its Herald Square flagship store in Midtown. The retail icon revealed that it has proposed the construction of 1.5 million square feet of office space, a sky lobby, and public improvements to the surrounding area, the Wall Street Journal reports. The proposed tower would rise between 700 and 950 feet with, according to renderings revealed by YIMBY, a glass façade, setbacks, and a crown. The department store below could confer it with supertall status (984 feet or taller).

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Photos by Laura Fontaine

A new Urbanspace food hall opened up in Midtown on Wednesday with 15 vendors and plenty of options for the lunch crowd and beyond. It’s the fourth permanent location for the company that’s also behind many of New York City’s seasonal markets and food halls. Located in the space formerly occupied by Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain at 152 West 52nd Street, the list of vendors offers a mix of new and established names “aimed to cater to New Yorkers and visitors alike,” most notably classic Flatiron sandwich shop Eisenberg’s first offshoot.

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