Hudson Yards

January 10, 2020

Will Hudson Yards developer swap promised public green space for walled off private park?

Related Companies is gearing up for the second phase of Hudson Yards—the Western Yard—but there's uncertainty about what exactly the developer has planned. To balance the addition of another batch of towering skyscrapers, the Western Yard promised to open itself up to the public with a new school and accessible, High Line-adjacent green space. Now Related appears to be considering walling that part of the development off with a 700-foot-long structure "that would overshadow the High Line, accommodate a parking garage and help make the site more like a quasi-gated community," as the New York Times reports.
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January 7, 2020

In Hudson Yards, Bjarke Ingels’ The Spiral is more than 50% leased as construction progresses

As The Spiral continues to rise in Hudson Yards—it’s currently the eighth-tallest skyscraper under construction in NYC—its future offices are getting scooped up at a fast pace. Despite being two-and-a-half years away from completion, the Bjarke Ingels Group-designed tower at 66 Hudson Boulevard is now 54 percent pre-leased after adding law firm Debevoise & Plimpton to its roster of tenants. That list also includes pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, who will relocate its global headquarters to the building, and investment management firm AllianceBernstein. Once complete, the 66-story tower will reach 1,032 feet and feature signature cascading terraces and hanging gardens wrapped around the facade in a spiral-like arrangement.
Here's the latest update
December 23, 2019

In agreement with Manhattan U.S. Attorney, Hudson Yards’ Vessel will majorly increase accessibility

In an agreement with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney, Hudson Yards developer Related Companies has agreed to significantly increase the accessibility of its Vessel public art piece. The 150-foot-tall climbable sculpture is comprised of 154 interconnecting flights of stairs, nearly 2,500 individual steps, and 80 platform landings. But as it's currently engineered, only three of these platforms, all on the same side of the structure, are accessible via the elevator. According to an announcement from the Department of Justice, Related will now install a "platform lift mechanism that will allow individuals with disabilities to traverse the stairways and platforms at the top levels of the Vessel so as to enjoy 360-degree views."
More details here
December 9, 2019

Amazon leases office space in Hudson Yards

Less than a year after Amazon dropped plans to build its second headquarters in Long Island City, the tech giant has officially signed a lease for office space in Hudson Yards, as the Wall Street Journal first reported. The Seattle-based company will expand its presence in Manhattan with 335,000 square feet of office space at 410 Tenth Avenue. There are currently about 3,500 employees in the company's existing NYC offices and this latest expansion will bring 1,500 new jobs to the city—all without any incentives.
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November 14, 2019

Facebook snags 1.5 million square feet across three buildings at Hudson Yards

Facebook this week has signed a lease for 1.5 million square feet of office space across three buildings at Hudson Yards. Starting next year, the tech company will expand to 30 Hudson Yards, 55 Hudson Yards, and 50 Hudson Yards, the latter which will not be open until 2022 and will consist of the bulk of the lease at 1.2 million square feet.
Get more details here
November 7, 2019

Is Essex Crossing the ‘anti-Hudson Yards’?

The New York Times recently suggested that the boxy, ordinary-looking Essex Crossing, with its Trader Joe's, Target, movieplex, historic Essex Street Market and subsidized affordable housing was the "anti-Hudson Yards," a convincing foil to the buzzy midtown tourist magnet. The obvious contrast between the glittering far-west-side megaproject that in the right light resembles Dubai on the Hudson and the six-acre $1.9 billion development abutting the Williamsburg Bridge speaks to each one's intended audience, of course. But a diversity of options for both locals and visitors and a broad offering of affordable housing could make Essex Crossing more than just Liverpool on the Lower East Side.
Read on
October 24, 2019

Tickets on sale today for Edge, Hudson Yards’ 1,100-foot-high observation deck

6sqft reported back in March that Hudson Yards had opened a reservation list to experience Edge, the observation platform perched at a record-setting 1,100 feet in the sky. Now you can officially buy tickets to the Western Hemisphere's highest outdoor sky deck. Visitors can gaze out on a 360-degree view of New York City's iconic skyline from the champagne bar, or peer down through a glass floor. The platform-in-the-clouds will open on March 11, 2020; you'll be able to sip cocktails or get a light bite at the 100th-floor bar or dine at Peak, the 101st-floor restaurant, café and event space.
Tickets and more this way
October 1, 2019

New virtual art exhibition at High Line Nine highlights multiple artists at once

A new art exhibit that opened last week at the High Line Nine in Chelsea appears to be an empty room of blank walls. But the exhibition, titled "Art Has No Limits," actually features art hidden in plain sight. Through the augmented reality art app Aery, visitors have access to multiple shows by different artists in the same space, at the same time. The new exhibit, which opened at the gallery between West 27th and West 28th Streets on Sunday, shows off work by photographer Shuli Sadé and neo-conceptual artist Richard Humann.
Details here
September 25, 2019

The making of Hudson Yards’ Spanish market: Meet the team behind Mercado Little Spain

When New York Times food critic Pete Wells visited José Andrés' Mercado Little Spain, he declared that it had "more great food and drinks per square foot than anywhere else in New York." From Ibérico hams and Peking duck to the seemingly simple yet ever-pleasing pan con tomate, the food at Hudson Yards' Spanish market has certainly made its mark on the gastronomy scene. But what sets Andrés apart from other chefs and restauranteurs is his entire vision. Mercado Little Spain is designed as a series of "streets," with the various kiosks leading guests on a curated experience. Most of the design elements and materials were sourced from Spain, and the artists commissioned represent different regions of the country. To bring his vision to life, Andrés assembled a stellar team, including Michael Doneff, the Chief Marketing Officer at his ThinkFoodGroup; Juli Capella, co-founder of Spanish architecture and design firm Capella Garcia Architecture; and NYC-based design studio (and NYC food hall experts) ICRAVE. Ahead, take a behind-the-scenes tour of Mercado Little Spain and hear from all these amazing and talented collaborators on what it was like working on the project.
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September 4, 2019

Fashion brands reportedly boycott The Shed over Stephen Ross ties

After news broke last month about the Hamptons fundraiser Related Companies CEO Stephen Ross hosted for President Donald Trump, there were calls to boycott organizations owned by his company. While Equinox, SoulCycle, and David Chang's Momofuku Restaurant Group separated themselves from Ross to clear the air, some fashion brands have more recently blacklisted Ross-linked entities, including the arts center The Shed at Hudson Yards, which was developed by Related. The New York Post reported this week that Michael Kors, Vera Wang, and the Academy of Art have canceled shows at the venue following the fundraiser fallout in August.
Is The Shed so last year?
August 13, 2019

Exclusive supper club for the ultra-wealthy will open at 35 Hudson Yards this fall

One of the city's most elite supper clubs is set to open this October at 35 Hudson Yards—and early reports say it's so exclusive that even residents of the luxury building (where apartments start at $5.1 million) won't be able to afford a membership. “It’s not for residents,” a source familiar with the project told the New York Post. “It’s for the developer’s super-rich buddies and CEO friends.” Details about the luxe club, which will be called WS New York,  are being kept on the down-low but its website boasts "unparalleled access to the finest wine and spirits, world-class dining, and one-of-a-kind cultural events" offering guests an "insider perspective on rarified worlds."
More info
August 9, 2019

Second phase of Related’s Hudson Yards development stalled by LIRR

As Related Companies CEO Stephen Ross continues to face backlash for throwing a fundraiser on Friday for President Donald Trump, his company is dealing with some drama of its own. Plans submitted a year ago to the Long Island Rail Road for the second phase of the Hudson Yards development have still not been approved by the agency, the New York Post reported.
More here
August 8, 2019

Facebook in talks to lease up to 1.8 million square feet at Hudson Yards

In June, reports surfaced that Facebook was considering a lease for one million square feet of office space at 50 Hudson Yards, but the latest news from sources close to the deal indicate that the social media company will scoop up an even bigger footprint. As Crain's most recently reported, Facebook is negotiating a lease for 1.5 million square feet across several Hudson Yards properties, with some sources saying that number could expand up to 1.8 million square feet.
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July 16, 2019

Tribeca stays on top and Hudson Yards emerges as #2 on the city’s priciest neighborhood list

According to Property Shark's just-released ranking of New York City's most expensive neighborhoods, Tribeca once again takes the top spot in residential sales with a median price of $4.34 million. The bigger news is Hudson Yards, on the list for the first time as the city's second-costliest neighborhood in Q2 of 2019 at $3.86 million. Also notable was Little Italy, the city's third most expensive neighborhood, which saw median home prices increase by 153 percent over last year's numbers.
More of the list, this way
June 27, 2019

Equinox opens its largest new fitness club at Hudson Yards

Equinox has officially opened the doors to its 100th fitness club at 35 Hudson Yards, just ahead of the very first Equinox Hotel opening next month. The 60,000-square-foot location— Equinox’s largest new built yet—stretches over two floors and includes a 15,000-square-foot pool and sundeck set against the backdrop of Hudson Yards’ signature landmark, the Vessel.
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June 25, 2019

Facebook is close to securing new office space at 50 Hudson Yards

The technology sector at Hudson Yards may soon see a big boost. According to reports by Crain’s, Facebook is negotiating on a one million+ square foot space at 50 Hudson Yards, the 1,000-foot-tall office tower co-developed by Related and Oxford Properties Group that became the city’s most expensive office building at $4 billion. The arrival of Facebook would solidify the Midtown neighborhood as a major tech hub in the city. Amazon—who already occupies offices at 5 Manhattan West—is rumored to be looking at additional space in neighboring 2 Manhattan West. 
More info
June 13, 2019

Eliot Spitzer and Related’s joint Hudson Yards project includes 126 units of senior housing

A joint project from Related Companies and Eliot Spitzer would bring over 100 units of senior housing near Hudson Yards, the Real Deal reported on Wednesday. According to permits filed with the city last week, the 44-story mixed-use tower at 451 10th Avenue will include 126 "long-term care facility dwelling units."
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May 17, 2019

Equinox will open a co-working space at Hudson Yards

In addition to supplying members with Kiehl's products and trendy classes, Equinox fitness clubs will now offer co-working spaces. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, Equinox is partnering with co-working company Industrious to open furnished office spaces near their gym locations. Equinox is owned by Related, the mega-developer behind Hudson Yards, and therefore the first outpost will open later this year at 35 Hudson Yards. The luxury fitness chain is also opening at the 72-story tower its first hotel (where rooms start at a whopping $700/night) and its largest fitness center in the world, complete with a rooftop pool overlooking the Vessel.
Find out more
May 9, 2019

A mini-Smorgasburg is coming to Hudson Yards

At least this means there will be more affordable bites at the far west side mega-development. As first reported by Eater, open-air food market Smorgasburg will be setting up shop at Hudson Yards every Tuesday and Wednesday this spring/summer, starting next week. In addition to offering less-expensive options (say than, $17.50 fava beans and $14 sides of fries), the market will also bring some local flavor to the corporate complex, from Queens-based Destination Dumplings to the Red Hook Lobster Pound.
Check out the list of vendors
May 3, 2019

Arts center near Hudson Yards faces demolition from city to make way for new park

To make room for New York City's most expensive park project ever, a handful of properties near the Hudson Yards site face demolition. One of those buildings is Affirmation Arts, a gallery on West 37th run by William Hillman. According to THE CITY, Hillman said he is willing to give his building to the city for free, on the condition it remains a cultural center. "I would like to give this building to the people of New York City to share with the world," Hillman said during a hearing Tuesday.
More here
April 8, 2019

Roppongi Hills: The Tokyo neighborhood that provided inspiration for Hudson Yards

Now that Hudson Yards has finally moved from construction site to New York City’s newest neighborhood, it may appear to be a made-in-New York City development. In actual fact, Hudson Yards took its blueprint from a similar neighborhood in Tokyo known as Roppongi Hills, which broke ground in the 1990s and officially opened in 2003. While there are a few notable differences—you won’t find any rice paddies on the roofs of Hudson Yards’ new buildings, for one—the similarities are striking. But in many respects, this is no surprise—New York- and London-based architectural firm, KPF, played a hand in the design of both developments.
Comparing Roppongi Hills and Hudson Yards
April 5, 2019

See inside Hudson Yards arts center The Shed

A new cultural institution in New York City is finally open after more than a decade in the making. The Shed, which straddles the recently opened Hudson Yards neighborhood and the High Line on 30th Street, will commission and present original artwork across a variety of disciplines. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Rockwell Group, the building features a 120-foot movable shell, allowing it to physically change on demand and adapt to different performances. Kicking things off today, April 5 is a five-night concert series, "Soundtrack of America," which was directed by Steve McQueen, Quincy Jones, and Maureen Mahon, and explores the impact of African American music on modern culture.
See more here
March 29, 2019

The first Equinox Hotel launches reservations at 35 Hudson Yards, starting at $700/night

Luxury gym Equinox is now accepting reservations for its Hudson Yards hotel, the company's first foray into lodging. When it opens in June, the hotel will take up floors 24 through 38 of 35 Hudson Yards, a 1,000-foot-tall tower designed by David Childs and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill for the recently opened neighborhood. The hotel's 212 rooms are designed to promote better sleep, featuring soundproofed walls, blackout shades, and a thermostat set to 66 degrees. According to the Equinox Hotel website, rooms can be booked starting July 15, with rates starting at more than $700 per night.
Learn more
March 26, 2019

You can rename Hudson Yards’ climbable ‘Vessel’

Officially open to the public for nearly two weeks, the centerpiece of New York City's newest neighborhood needs a name. Known best as "Vessel," the bronzed steel and concrete sculpture designed by Thomas Heatherwick was never given an official title. Earlier this year, developer Related Companies told 6sqft that "Vessel" was just a placeholder until the public experienced the installation. And with hundreds of selfies taken at the site since its opening on March 15, Related is now asking the public to rename the 150-foot honeycomb-like structure.
Have any ideas?
March 21, 2019

Sales at Zaha Hadid’s High Line condo lag despite high hopes and hype

Developer Related Companies' high-profile condominium at 520 West 28th Street, designed by the late Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid, launched sales in 2015 to a flurry of hype and hubris. The highly-anticipated West Side residence was Hadid's first ground-up structure in New York City, offering homes that ranged from $4,950,000 to a $50 million penthouse. Crains reports that since that glittering launch, though, only 16 of the building's 39 units have sold, calling the offering "a rare bust." The sales figures reflect about a 40 percent sell-through that looks even lower when square footage is considered: The building's biggest units remain unclaimed, including its three penthouses. Of the 16 apartments that have sold, 14 were bought in 2017. Only two units sold in 2018, and none so far this year.
Will Hudson Yards bring more buyers?
March 18, 2019

Dining guide: Where to eat and drink at Hudson Yards

The food offerings at Hudson Yards are among the biggest draws of the new neighborhood, bringing restaurants from acclaimed chefs like Thomas Keller, David Chang, Estiatorio Milos, and more, alongside Chef José Andrés’ Mercado Little Spain, a 35,000-square-foot Spanish food hall. The restaurants at the development were carefully co-curated by Chef Thomas Keller and Kenneth Himmel and will feature every type of dining experience you could want, from coffee to cocktails, to grab-and-go salads and lavish dinners. Below, check out a guide to everything that's already opened and more soon to come.
Hope you're hungry
March 18, 2019

Photos you take of the Vessel at Hudson Yards do not belong to you

Update 3/19/19: Related Companies will revise the language of its terms and conditions after facing backlash for its peculiar photo policy regarding the Vessel, Bloomberg reported Monday. "The intent of the policy is to allow Hudson Yards to amplify and reshare photos already shared on individual social channels through our website and social channels," a spokesperson told Bloomberg. New York City's latest landmark is fit for Instagram, its bronzed steel and concrete perfectly popping in photographs against its glassy super tall neighbors. But to take photos of the free and public centerpiece of Hudson Yards, known as the "Vessel," isn't actually so free. According to the terms and conditions for the sculpture, written by Hudson Yards developer Related Companies and found online, photos and video footage taken of the Vessel belong to the company, not the photographer.
More here