Since its construction in 1968, the Fourth Incarnation of Madison Square Garden has endured its fair share of criticism. The Arena was built on top of Penn Station, which the company, Pennsylvania Railroad, sold the air rights to in 1960. The 1910 Station, considered a grand architectural achievement, was demolished and replaced with the modern arena and a smaller station, located underground, which became the focus of criticism and led to the groups that fought to save Grand Central from a similar fate, as well as the construction of Moynihan Station, which was completed in 2021, after years of construction.
Since 1987, there have been attempts to move the building. The ownership group led by Gulf and Western Industries, attempted to build a new venue on the Hudson Rail Yards, but efforts led to the arena being renovated instead.
In the Early 2000s, there were efforts to build a new Madison Square Garden on the Farley Post Office, but those efforts were also thwarted, and the building underwent a $1 Billion renovation instead.
In 2013, New York City granted Madison Square Garden a 10 year extension on its lease with the city, but this year, that lease runs out, and the debate to move the Garden is becoming more and more intense
Before I go any further, I want to say that, tearing down the Old Penn Station, was unequivocally one of the worst decisions ever made by the City. The Foolish thinking of the Urban Planning Boards at the time, created one of the most hot button debate issues in New York City, and its resolution will not erase the scar that was this decision to build an underground nightmare that is the current Penn Station. Now, back to the article.
Madison Square Garden is Equally Iconic to the Original Penn Station
The Fourth Incarnation of Madison Square Garden has taken a life of its own from its predecessors. Earning itself the nickname, The Mecca of Basketball, and The World’s Most Famous Arena, the arena has cemented itself in history as one of the great venues. The Wooden ceiling, the Organ that plays for the Knicks and Rangers, and the Round shaped exterior, the design of the Fourth Madison Square Garden has become just as iconic, more iconic in some ways, than the Original Penn Station. Nevertheless, there is a drive to move it, and it begs the question, Do two wrongs make a right ?
Replicating It Somewhere Else is the Best Strategy Forward
If New York gives the go ahead, then the best strategy is to replicate the Current Garden in another location. The Building’s iconic design can be re-created and harvested in another location, as the City moves to re-create the long lost relic that is, the Old Penn Station
But Where would this re-creation be ? Well, Options have been discussed, from moving it across the street, to building it a few blocks over, but if we rebuild the current arena, there are two locations that can achieve this feet
The Hudson Rail Yards have one piece of open land, in between 32nd and 34th Street as well as 11th and 12th Avenue. It hasn’t been touched, and could easily be zoned to accommodate this arena.
The Morgan Postal Distribution Facility, Located between 28th and 29th Streets and 9th Avenue, the space would need to be torn down in order to do it, but it could be done, with room for a park and perhaps even an expansion of the Hulu Theater.
The Other location in question is the Hudson Rail Yards, which has one piece of open land, in between 32nd and 34th Street as well as 11th and 12th Avenue. It hasn’t been touched, and could easily be zoned to accommodate this arena.
But, right now, there is one problem, THE HUDSON YARDS COMMUNITY BOARD JUST STRUCK IT DOWN. That’s Right, the Hudson Yards Community Board, which oversees the development of the land in that area, just voted against building a new Garden there, preferring affordable housing and other projects that do not make this debate any easier.
Ruling Out The Hudson Yards Was a Mistake
The City may have shot itself in the foot here. The Hudson Yards location was the perfect site for this arena, and now the City is looking to consider options that involve tearing down existing property
The Community Board must know this, but, either in arrogance, or foolishness, chose to pursue its own delusional path. Affordable housing is one of the greatest oxymorons of this century. The construction of these so-called “Low cost housing projects” do not adequately provide people with the necessary relief to alleviate the Housing Crisis, as it does not address the root cause of the problem, Income Inequality. The Hudson Yards Neighborhood was built as a playground for the Ultra-Wealthy. A person could live in one of these low cost apartments, but at the end of the day, they’d still struggle to put food on the table, as the cost of living in one of these glorified neighborhoods, would be so staggeringly high, that it would be impossible for them to remain there without working two, perhaps three jobs a week.
The Morgan Postal Facility Works Too
The Morgan Postal Facility is also an ideal location. The Facility is a block and a half away from the current, and could easily be accessible from Penn Station. The Building that stands would have to be demolished, and New York would need to get a permanent street vacation for that section of 29th Street, but it could work.
Maybe it Should Just Stay Where It Is ?
But the real question is here, would moving the Garden make sense ? Would ripping another iconic building out of this location solve the problem ? Would it bring back the Penn Station of Old ? Why Can’t the Activists just take Moynihan Station and call it a win ?
There really is no need to move the Garden. It’s not an urgent matter of life and death, its not hindering the existing projects in its place.
The State has also proposed tearing down the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden to construct a new entrance to Penn Station, Which I am all for.
Yes, its not the original Penn Station, the vanity of the station would remain in the past, but it would please all sides involved. A new entrance on 33rd Street with the MoynihanTrain Hall would serve as welcome compromise to all parties involved, and allow the people to get a much needed victory, in a long standing battle to address the issue of the Subterranean Penn Station complex that burrows so deeply underground.
This Proposal could also involve an alternate plan for the Theater, build a new one across the street.