Grand Penn Alliance's $7.5B Penn Station Revamp Proposal

The Grand Penn Community Alliance has proposed an ambitious plan to revamp New York's Penn Station by relocating Madison Square Garden (MSG) to the site of the former Hotel Pennsylvania to create a state-of-the-art train hall and a park similar in size to Bryant Park. This project, led by architect Alexandros Washburn, aims to restore the station's original Beaux Arts style and is estimated to cost $7.5 billion, which is $1 billion less than other proposals by New York State and Amtrak. The plan promises a modern transit hub with increased capacity and a more efficient design for MSG, offering its owner, James Dolan, potential lifetime rights to the new arena site. However, the proposal faces challenges, including skepticism about its feasibility and concerns from stakeholders like Amtrak and the MTA, who emphasize immediate practical transit improvements. Despite these hurdles, the plan is seen as a transformative civic project, potentially marking the biggest urban redevelopment in a century. Critics suggest considering alternative approaches, like extending train tracks to better serve regional transportation needs.