tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44434217431602798412023-11-16T05:52:09.107-05:00Hotel Pennsylvania Preservation Societypirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-26553501712707350712014-09-10T18:25:00.002-04:002014-09-10T18:25:28.730-04:00Rizzoli building to get a "Seven-Star Hotel"Vornado Realty Trust and the LeFrak Organization plan to build a “seven-star hotel” on the site of iconic Rizzoli Bookstore, Vornado CEO Steven Roth said at a panel talk today.The developers filed plans in May to demolish the bookstore at 31 West 57th Street. It was reported at the time that high-rise condominiums would rise on the site, but instead, Roth said, it will be a commercial use. Vornado’s priorities have largely been retail and office development in recent years.After 29 years, the bookstore closed in April, but is set to reopen in NoMad next year, reports said.Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer had rallied for the city Landmarks Preservation Commission to designate the property a landmark, but the commission denied the bid. [WSJ] — Mark Maurerpirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-44833393143386594692014-08-17T19:04:00.001-04:002014-08-17T19:04:21.774-04:00JPMorganMultiple sources are speculating that JPMorgan could be the one that Steve Roth is looking for. As you remember Mr. Roth stated in the company's second quarter conference call, that the plans for 15 Penn Plaza have been erected again, and although he could not say who he has had"..interesting offers" for the site.pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-25796150248352966322014-08-05T12:31:00.000-04:002014-08-05T18:31:58.247-04:00VNO Talks about the future of the Hotel in 2nd quarter earnings conference callVornado posted their 2nd Quarter earnings, and held a conference call to discuss. No word on Steve Roth's retirement, but they did cover the current state of the renovations of the Hotel Pennsylvania (currently on hold). Mr. Roth talks about it at time index 1:13:00. "So we are going down 2 paths. One path is the renovation of the hotel, which will drive more income and improve the neighborhood, and the second is putting our big toe into the marketplace to explore the opportunity to land a major anchor tenant for the site and the Penn Plaza district." Roth stated.
<a href="http://earningscast.com/events/13009c8a1ba15d20dc735886b98a9be4/sawidget.html">http://earningscast.com/events/13009c8a1ba15d20dc735886b98a9be4/sawidget.html</a>pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-83988173457527922632014-04-15T06:31:00.000-04:002014-04-15T06:31:28.217-04:00Call for Landmark Reform@galebrewer @saverizzoli @savenypl @BilldeBlasio<br />
<br />
Demand a call for Landmark law reform. NYC buildings should be protected from developers during the evaluation process. From the application process to the decision.<br />
<br />
What happened to the Rizzoli building can not happen to another building. The time for wait it over, contact the NYC council now, tell them you want landmark reform. Say no to destroying NYC historical buildings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9pI2Jz1bJjPCmbNlpStsJMtXikcBawHb_qq2gjwiL1q3RsH6VLtxObsr3-Oxb1CH-gpTOiUCC3ESaTdA0yDW9fnxWIF9tsK8FLQ7RcVGrHSoxpkFussYBVxBSlnR3MLgBJbU8jnGKoqZ/s1600/LTK5ykoTa.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9pI2Jz1bJjPCmbNlpStsJMtXikcBawHb_qq2gjwiL1q3RsH6VLtxObsr3-Oxb1CH-gpTOiUCC3ESaTdA0yDW9fnxWIF9tsK8FLQ7RcVGrHSoxpkFussYBVxBSlnR3MLgBJbU8jnGKoqZ/s1600/LTK5ykoTa.jpeg" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-56964496286134914822014-04-09T18:56:00.003-04:002014-04-09T18:56:51.454-04:00Lend your support for Rizzoli<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"On Friday, Rizzoli Bookstore will be
forced to close its doors after 29 years in the six-story architectural gem
located at 31 West 57<sup>th</sup> Street." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The Save Rizzoli Committee” wrote these words
this morning. Such words should never have to ever have been written.
The NYC Government's Landmark Preservation Commission, failed to do its
job. Instead of allowing this beautiful piece of history to be saved; they
instead snubbed their collective noses at it. "<i>But why</i>",
you may ask. It's because they dragged their feet for almost <a href="http://gothamist.com/2014/04/04/everybody_has_been_bought_off_-_bre.php"><span style="color: blue;">7 years, while lining their pockets from big developers such
as Vornado, and Bloomberg.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But the
fight is not over! The </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://saverizzoli.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f934312ef97b24c299407f73c&id=922948071f&e=868b05ffc0"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 13.5pt;">Landmarks Preservation Commission is
currently evaluating </span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">whether the interior of Rizzoli Bookstore
warrants interior landmark designation. A process that if successful will sadly
one protect the interior of the building and add it to the most prestigious of all landmark status'. However it would still allow the owners to
virtually demolish the beautiful exterior. (You can read about the interior on
the </span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://saverizzoli.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f934312ef97b24c299407f73c&id=5e418c502f&e=868b05ffc0"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 13.5pt;">Save Rizzoli website</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.)<br />
<br />
We can not continue to stand by and let the developers destroy not only what is
left of NYC's beautiful architectural history, but the individuals who work at
the buildings that are being put out of a job as well. The employees of
the historic Rizzoli Bookstore will all be among the growing NYC unemployment due
to the blatant greed of Vornado and LeFrak.</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: medium;">In
unity with those losing their jobs and in recognition of a city losing an
important piece of our cultural history, Community Board Five is calling for a
rally of support. We would like to encourage everyone to attend.</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
This rally will be held Friday April 11th at 10:00 A.M. in front of </span><a href="http://goo.gl/ir2Tcv" rel="nofollow" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 13.5pt;" target="_blank">Rizzoli Bookstore</a><span style="font-size: medium;">. </span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: medium;">
Let us all show the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the press that we the
people will not let, and can not let the city to continue to allow the demolition
of historic buildings to go unchecked. If you care about NYC history, and care about what goes on in your neighborhood, then we must all band together. Invite your friends and everyone you
know who cares about great architecture, bookstores, and the future of our
city. Get the word out on Facebook and Twitter. Let's show the LPC and media
how much beautiful bookstores matter!</span></div>
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pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-6162132419264263272014-04-05T10:26:00.001-04:002014-04-05T10:26:13.006-04:00DON’T GUT THE 42ND ST. LIBRARY!<header class="entry-header" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 1.714285714rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-size: 1.571428571rem; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
DON’T GUT THE 42ND ST. LIBRARY! DON’T SELL THE MID-MANHATTAN!</h1>
<div class="comments-link" style="border: 0px; color: #757575; font-size: 0.928571429rem; line-height: 1.846153846; margin: 1.714285714rem 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://savehotelpenn.org/dont-gut-the-42nd-st-library-dont-sell-the-mid-manhattan/#respond" style="border: 0px; color: #757575; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Comment on DON’T GUT THE 42ND ST. LIBRARY! DON’T SELL THE MID-MANHATTAN!"><span class="leave-reply" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leave a reply</span></a></div>
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Yet again the city’s shortsightedness will cause another historic building to suffer. The NYPL has plans to gut the beautiful and historic Midtown Public Library on 42nd and 5th. A quote from Mayor de Blasio:</div>
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“I am calling on the City to halt the New York Public Library’s plans at the Central Library, and for a thorough, independent cost audit and review of the proposed project…This review should evaluate the complete financial risks associated with the current plan, and seriously consider alternative ways to use City funds to ensure the preservation of the NYPL’s valuable collection stored at the Central Library and preserve the Mid-Manhattan branch as a functioning library.”<br />– <a href="http://pubadvocate.nyc.gov/libraries" style="border: 0px; color: #9f9f9f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio</a> during his campaign, July 12th, 2013</div>
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As usual when the city and developers don’t want things known to the public they hold private meetings behind closed doors, in this case they created a plan through a closed process with no public advice, or say.</div>
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Lets stop the madness! We urge you to please visit <a href="http://www.savenypl.org/" style="border: 0px; color: #9f9f9f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="SAVE THE 42ND STREET LIBRARY">http://www.savenypl.org/</a></div>
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<img alt="" class="alignnone" height="811" src="http://www.savenypl.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/4-15_protest1_50percent.jpg" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 1px 4px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="1216" /></div>
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pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-25893762279867329732014-04-03T20:44:00.002-04:002014-04-03T20:44:40.796-04:00Rally Outside of Rizzoli Tomorrow! | Help Save Rizzoli<header class="entry-header" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 1.714285714rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="line-height: 1.714285714;"><span style="font-size: large;">For those of you who have not been following the tragedy of the Rizzoli Bookstore, we need to help them as much as possible!!!</span></span></h1>
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RALLY OUTSIDE OF RIZZOLI TOMORROW!</div>
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BREAKING NEWS:</div>
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Borough President Gale Brewer and preservationists to call on City Landmarks Commission to reverse stand on Rizzoli bookstore, reform landmarks process to prevent destruction of significant public buildings</div>
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On Friday April 4, in front of the historic Rizzoli bookstore at 31 West 57th Street, Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer and leading preservationists will call on the Landmarks Preservation Commission to reverse their rejection of landmark status for the Rizzoli Bookstore building and ask for an immediate consideration of landmark status for other notable buildings on W. 57th between Fifth Avenue and Eighth Avenue. All are welcome to attend!</div>
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WHEN:</div>
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Friday, April 4, 2014, 12 Noon–1 PM</div>
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WHERE:</div>
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Outside 31 West 57th Street, rain or shine</div>
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WHO:</div>
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Gale A. Brewer, Manhattan Borough President</div>
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Peg Breen, New York Landmarks Conservancy</div>
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Andrea Goldwyn, New York Landmarks Conservancy</div>
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Simeon Bankoff, Historic Districts Council</div>
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Signers of the Change.org petition</div>
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via <a href="https://saverizzoli.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/rally-outside-of-rizzoli-tomorrow/" style="border: 0px; color: #9f9f9f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rally Outside of Rizzoli Tomorrow! | Save Rizzoli</a>.</div>
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<li style="background-image: none; border: none; display: block; float: left; height: 21px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="sharing-anchor sd-button share-more" href="http://savehotelpenn.org/news-3/#" style="background-image: -webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgb(247, 247, 247) 0%, rgb(239, 239, 239) 100%); border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221) !important; box-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px inset; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: inline-block; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></a></li>
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pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-4103838894603260662014-03-27T11:31:00.001-04:002014-03-27T11:31:19.722-04:00SAVE RIZZOLI<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.714285714rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We ask all of you to please do what you can to help save the iconic Rizzoli Bookstore building and its neighbors from demolition by Vornado. Please visit <a href="https://saverizzoli.wordpress.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #9f9f9f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="SAVE RIZZOLI">https://saverizzoli.wordpress.com/</a></div>
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As we mentioned before this building clearly qualifies as a landmark, yet the LPC denied its request, despite support from the Community board, and the MBPO. And to the amazement of everyone the LPC refuses to give an answer as to why it was denied.</div>
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If we don’t care about our past, we cannot hope for our future.</div>
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<img alt="" class="alignnone" height="549" src="http://saverizzoli.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/chickeringhallcomparison1.jpg" style="border-bottom-left-radius: 3px; border-bottom-right-radius: 3px; border-top-left-radius: 3px; border-top-right-radius: 3px; border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 1px 4px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="908" /></div>
pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-46794088969833930882014-03-26T21:58:00.000-04:002014-03-26T21:58:41.213-04:00LPC Says “No” to another Vornado building.<div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.714285714; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<a href="http://forgotten-ny.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/rizzoli1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://forgotten-ny.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/rizzoli1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The city’s <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/html/home/home.shtml" style="border: 0px; color: #9f9f9f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Landmarks Preservation Commission </a>will not give last-minute protection to the <a href="http://rizzolibookstore.com/" style="border: 0px; color: #9f9f9f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rizzoli Bookstore</a>, the century-old building will be demolished by it’s current owners Vornado Realty Trust.</div>
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The LPC’s decision came when community outrage about the demolition of the 57th Street building, which Vornado plan to tear down along with two other buildings.</div>
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“After a careful review, the Commission determined the building does not meet the criteria for individual landmark designation…” LPC spokeswoman Damaris Olivo said.</div>
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Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer wrote a letter urging the commission to hold a public hearing to consider landmarking the building’s interior and exterior in the hopes of protecting it. MBPO’s office had filed a formal request to have the building landmarked on March 21.</div>
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Vornado declined to comment on this.</div>
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According to DOB Records, no demolition permit has been filed as of yet.</div>
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The 109-year-old building at 31 W. 57th St. is renowned for its “architectural richness and diversity” Brewer wrote in her letter to LPC on Tuesday.</div>
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The bookstore was originally a showroom for the Sohmer Piano Company and was designed in the French Classical style by architect Randolph Amiroty. The LPC has already recognized another building on the so-called Piano Row of current and former piano showrooms, giving protection to the nearby Steinway Hall in 2001.</div>
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This is not the first time that officials have pushed to give landmark status to a Vornado building. In 2007, <a href="http://www.cb5.org/cb5/resolutions/o_min_23/#o_hotelpenn" style="border: 0px; color: #9f9f9f; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Community Board 5 requested that the Hotel Penn receive protection</a>, but was denied by the LPC.</div>
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pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-29906525508175338252014-03-10T19:09:00.001-04:002014-03-10T19:09:42.992-04:00NYC Council are off the rails at the Moynihan Station development.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFak-0njQY5AcjfEgnFdgOwqzGO7igEw-aMbBPebbQiVc-wfx7oKc7qKHbpmTT6aJ61ZyHZ8tV_5HeKNPVOtK4YCveJQevwZnA4Tk41Nf9mNnuTG7MhqoW-q_5RtmEl56aZSs4EGL8RDL/s1600/moynihan-station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeFak-0njQY5AcjfEgnFdgOwqzGO7igEw-aMbBPebbQiVc-wfx7oKc7qKHbpmTT6aJ61ZyHZ8tV_5HeKNPVOtK4YCveJQevwZnA4Tk41Nf9mNnuTG7MhqoW-q_5RtmEl56aZSs4EGL8RDL/s1600/moynihan-station.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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City Council member Corey Johnson, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Hell’s Kitchen residents are worried that the sale of air rights for the Related Companies and Vornado Realty Trust’s Moynihan Station redevelopment site could spur overdevelopment.<br />
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Johnson and Brewer criticized the Empire State Development Corporation’s efforts to sell 1.5 million square feet of air rights over the alleged lack of transparency. The intention to sell is part of renewed plans to expand New York Penn Station into the James A. Farley post office building. The post office, at 421 Eighth Avenue, would serve as a waiting room for Amtrak passengers.<br />
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“The RFP (for a broker) came as an unwelcome surprise to us,” Johnson and Brewer wrote in a letter last week. “We had not been given notice of the timetable for or any indication of a plan or policy to guide the sale of the Farley air rights. … As representatives of this area, we share our community’s concern about significantly increasing density in the immediate area surrounding the station.” [DNAinfo] — Mark Maurer<br />
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via Moynihan Station Port Authority | Gale Brewer NYC.pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-89786586520370823562014-03-05T20:27:00.001-05:002014-03-05T20:27:14.389-05:00Steve Roth talks about the plans for "renovating" the Hotel Penn<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;">During Vornado's 4th Quarter conference call, </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 26px;">Jamie Feldman,</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;"> a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;">REIT Equity Research Analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, asked the million dollar question to Mr. Roth. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;">Q: "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;">...how should we think about Hotel Penn? Do you think you keep it hotel? Or is it too early to tell?"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;">Mr. Roth replied:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;">A: "The answer is, while we are zoned for a 3-million-foot tower -- a financial services headquarters tower, and as I tell my children, you have to look at the deals that almost happened, so that was a deal that almost happened when we were -- we had 2 huge investment banks on that at one time. In any event, the -- it looks to me like the math does not support a tower today. We are nothing if not realistic, and our plan is -- I wanted to say our current plan, I'm going take out the word "current." Our plan is to redevelop the Hotel Pennsylvania. Our objective there is multiples. Number one, we own that building for -- in the low hundreds of millions of dollars. It's worth 6x that or more. So our first objective is to get the hotel to be an asset to the neighborhood, not so much to make money in the hotel but to improve the neighborhood so that the value of our 7 million square feet of surrounding office space goes up. So that means we have to focus very hard on the lobby experience, on the hotel -- on the restaurant experience, the nightlife experience, what have you in that. The second is to make money on the hotel. And we believe every dollar that we put into that hotel in terms of renovation will be rewarded with very, very significant double-digit financial returns. Our third objective is to harvest some of the capital that we have in that building because the building is worth a lot of money, will become worth a lot more, and we have no debt on it and what have you. So that's our financial objective and our environmental objective, if you will, with respect to the hotel."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 26px;">With that two things come to mind:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 26px;">1. The plans for the office tower, have not been scrapped, just temporarily sidelined?</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 26px;">2. What two investment banks were "on" at that time?</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 26px;">The above transcript was taken from </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana;"><span style="line-height: 26px;"><a href="http://goo.gl/9G2og3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://goo.gl/9G2og3</a></span></span></span>pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-74002876971330216972014-02-27T22:12:00.003-05:002014-02-27T22:12:30.665-05:00New Site, New Ideas!We decided to go a new route with the launch of the <a href="http://savehotelpenn.org/" target="_blank">new site</a>. We are going to use it for new and exiting features, and breaking news. Naturally we will still post here as needed, but now you have two great place to get your Hotel Penn news! As always as we expand we are looking for new people to help join our crusade. If you think you got what it takes <a href="mailto:info@savehotelpenn.org" target="_blank">let us know</a>!pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-34954532859348901112014-01-27T18:57:00.002-05:002014-01-27T18:57:57.638-05:00New Site!It's a work in progress but, we are updating our original site<a href="http://www.savehotelpenn.org/" target="_blank"> http://www.savehotelpenn.org</a>/. We managed to transfer most if not all out post to the new site, (sadly not the comments). We will be keeping both locations active, and making updates on both sites, so keep tuned!pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-47883881188008623542014-01-25T17:26:00.001-05:002014-01-25T17:26:09.602-05:00Happy 95th Birthday Hotel Pennsylvania!Cheers to many more!StevenGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534258613449045393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-87957091307603492832014-01-07T13:29:00.001-05:002014-01-07T13:29:34.147-05:00Gimbels PassagewayI came across this article from the <a href="http://goo.gl/mNvhd6" target="_blank">NY Observer</a>. They seem to be under the assumption that the City Council denied the rezoning application for the Gimbels Passageway. The truth is it was never turned down. The whole re-opening was part of the 15 Penn Plaza Project that never got off the ground (thank goodness).pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-41994569681646110152013-11-07T14:12:00.000-05:002013-11-07T14:12:33.396-05:00Vornado Third Quarter EarningsVornado talks about their third quarters earnings, and the renovation of the Hotel Pennsylvania.<br />
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<a href="http://vno.com/investor-relations/presentations">http://vno.com/investor-relations/presentations</a>pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-66835796524925451502013-11-06T05:17:00.002-05:002013-11-07T09:33:59.811-05:00HP Renovations get $300M Budget<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;">Renovations to the Hotel will soon be starting. Vornado announced in its third-quarter earnings call. Although we don't yet know the scope of the renovation, it is reported that they will be spending up to $300 million on the project.</span>pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-19042030950317128382013-06-05T23:42:00.001-04:002013-06-05T23:42:32.387-04:00Penn Station Renderings<span class="userContent">As you may know, Madison Square Garden's lease
is up and some influential groups in NYC want to see the garden torn
down and a better Penn Station rebuilt. While I agree that it is time
for a new station, I don't agree with are the (unoffi<span class="text_exposed_show">cial)
design proposals... Take a look for yourself. I have no idea how
these designs play tribute to a structure whose loss is possibly one of
the greatest architectural blunders the city has ever seen. The
architects need to rethink their designs... or get a good spanking.... Check it out <a href="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/29/re-imagining-penn-station/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span>StevenGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534258613449045393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-999434558742814022013-05-02T23:44:00.001-04:002013-05-02T23:56:56.374-04:00Restoration Proposal UpdateOur proposal for restoration has been completed and sent out to Vornado! We'll keep you informed on our progress. In the meantime, why not check us out on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/savehotelpenn/" target="_blank">Facebook?</a>StevenGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534258613449045393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-43317054997369879852013-04-01T00:45:00.002-04:002013-04-01T00:46:30.797-04:00Restoration ProposalWe are currently in the process of writing up our proposal for the restoration of the hotel. We hope to come up with a plan that will restore the hotel but also set it up for great success in the 21st century. We will send the proposal to Vornado as soon as we can. We hope to work with Vornado to help make Hotel Pennsylvania one of the best hotels in Manhattan. More updates to come!StevenGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534258613449045393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-13498682801320652292013-03-06T17:31:00.001-05:002013-03-06T17:31:09.050-05:00New Chapter - New NameNow that the threat of demolition is finally over, we felt it was time to change our name to something more suitable for our current intended actions. We are now the "Hotel Pennsylvania Preservation Society". Our current goals are to persuade Vornado to <i>RESTORE</i> the hotel instead of just renovating it. Don't get us wrong, we're so grateful that Vornado even decided the hotel isn't being demolished, but our work will never be done until it is restored to it's original 1919 splendor.
Until then, on behalf of all of us here, Welcome to the Hotel Pennsylvania Preservation Society!StevenGLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04534258613449045393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-79915752365172044732013-03-05T18:28:00.001-05:002013-03-06T19:13:11.135-05:00WE WON!<br />
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In a shocking move this week <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324539404578342754211087498.html" target="_blank">Vornado has announced</a> to give up its plans to tear down the historic Hotel Penn, and instead bring in new management to renovate the old girl!! A quote from CEO Steven Roth, <span class="s1">"We're not going to tear down the hotel," Mr. Roth said. "In fact, we're going to invest in it aggressively and try to make it into a really profitable, really good hotel for our purposes."</span></div>
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All of us at the Foundation are thrilled with this news!!pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-89534842082354251032013-02-27T12:44:00.001-05:002013-02-27T12:44:57.710-05:00Vornado CEO Fascitelli Stepping Down, Roth to Replace!<pre style="font-size: 1.2em; padding: 0px;"></pre>
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<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130227-707758.html" target="_blank">The Wall Street Journal</a> reported today that "Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) said President and Chief Executive Michael D. Fascitelli is stepping down, and Chairman Steven Roth will return to his former role as CEO.</div>
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The real estate investment trust said Mr. Fascitelli plans to take a break after which he will pursue new challenges.</div>
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Mr. Fascitelli--who will step down April 15--will continue to serve on Vornado's board. He joined Vornado 16 years ago as president and trustee and became CEO in May 2009.</div>
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Mr. Roth joined Vornado in April 1980 and has been board chairman since May 1989. He was Vornado's CEO from May 1989 through May 2009.</div>
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Separately, Vornado's 32.4% affiliate, Alexander's Inc. (ALX), said Mr. Fascitelli would resign as its president effective April 15 and that Mr. Roth continues to serve as its chairman and CEO. Vornado is the manager that conducts Alexander's operations.</div>
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Vornado owns and manages commercial properties around New York and the District of Columbia. The real-estate investment trust has been buying up more in its strongest markets, while shedding properties in its noncore markets.</div>
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Its latest announcement comes a day after Vornado reported its fourth-quarter earnings slipped 1.3% with a loss from its stake in J.C. Penney Co. (JCP), though core funds from operations and revenues improved.</div>
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Shares closed Tuesday at $83 and were inactive premarket. The stock has risen 11% in the past three months."</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em;">In the past Mr. Roth who has never been a fan of the hotel has </span><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 31.1875px;">referred</span><span style="font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em;"> to it as a "placeholder, like a parking lot"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5em;">What does this mean to the fate of our beloved Hotel?</span></span></div>
pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-82805365382273602552012-08-02T18:46:00.001-04:002012-08-06T01:42:05.776-04:0050 years goes by quickly, let's not let history repeat itself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZe60n63vy13xj3wwiuGgyvx0irO27wjXQYXnPbGX7Rwy9Y0bf2C0E2ZFbFaEFNPTYHpj71Uem2H-KYecmWblRrQYeUcJr7-ZIZ_fqdx7qa60xOmuim_oLzNXUvmyZbih0MfTjmhdOMGpA/s1600/image002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZe60n63vy13xj3wwiuGgyvx0irO27wjXQYXnPbGX7Rwy9Y0bf2C0E2ZFbFaEFNPTYHpj71Uem2H-KYecmWblRrQYeUcJr7-ZIZ_fqdx7qa60xOmuim_oLzNXUvmyZbih0MfTjmhdOMGpA/s320/image002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Penn protesters (David Hirsh) FRanzen, Samton, Saarinen, Johnson, Parkinson (01).jpg<br />
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Fifty years ago today, John F. Kennedy was President, the Beatles had not released an album in the U.S., and in New York City, a group of architects, historians and planners gathered under the banner of the “Action Group for Better Architecture in New York” to protest the demolition of Pennsylvania Station. Built in 1910 by the firm of McKim, Mead and White, the classically-inspired train station was widely regarded to be “one of the largest and finest landmarks of its age, “consisting of "nine acres of travertine and granite, 84 Doric columns, a vaulted concourse of extravagant, weighty grandeur, classical splendor modeled after royal Roman baths, rich detail in solid stone, and an architectural quality in precious materials that set the stamp of excellence on a city” (“Farewell To Penn Station” NYT, 10/30/63). Unfortunately, its railroad owners allowed it to deteriorate and by the time its demolition was announced in 1961, the years of deferred maintenance had taken their toll, rendering the glorious public spaces somewhat shabby and dilapidated. AGBANY strove to prevent its destruction but the forces of politics and money doomed the 52-year-old building, despite even the damning words of The New York Times. As Jane Jacobs, present at the protest, later recalled, “There was no exhilaration to this kind of thing. It was more like a wake. The city was making everyone's life absurd with its goofy decisions.''<br />
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The myth goes that from the rubble of Pennsylvania Station, the Landmarks Preservation Commission sprang fully formed. The reality is more complicated – preservationists had been hard at work for years formulating strategies to defend and preserve New York City’s historic buildings from thoughtless destruction – but the myth serves its purpose. The demolition of Penn Station became a rallying cry and a graspable moment, one where the effects of slow-moving public policy became blindingly obvious. AGBANY gathered as a wake – but as a hopeful one, praying that Penn Station would be the last masterpiece to fall before the bulldozers of short-sightedness.<br />
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The half-century that followed has been good for the appreciation of urban history. Jane Jacobs’ vision of “small plans and big ideas” has found traction with new generations of planners who try to engage affected communities in planning projects. The adaptive reuse of buildings and neighborhoods have become, at least, accepted options to redevelopment plans. Dozens of cities across America have seen that preservation and urban husbandry can bring old growth neighborhoods back to life and breathe new economic, social and cultural vitality into abandoned city districts. In New York City, we have seen the designation of 108 historic districts and the triumph of preservation projects like the High Line and revitalization projects such as Prospect and Central Parks transform the City in exciting and successful ways. But the work of saving our city is far from over.<br />
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Neighborhoods throughout New York still suffer the blows of sledgehammers to their historic streets and ungainly towers still sprout like pernicious weeds in otherwise well-tended gardens. Worst of all, Jane Jacob’s words still apply – the city is making everyone’s life absurd with its goofy decisions. For every successful revitalization of a neighborhood, there are plans seeking approval to bury the area in mammoth towers. The historic Chelsea Market building, reinvented as a destination for food lovers and neighborhood shoppers, is being asked to shoulder the burden of over 100 feet of towers. New York University, previously a well-respected commuter school and now the largest private university in the country, has unfortunately developed a voracious appetite for development – development which threatens the scant open space of Greenwich Village. Facing the lower Manhattan waterfront, DUMBO has become a national model of how to redevelop a formerly industrial area by capitalizing on its architecture, but its character is threatened by an over-scaled slab which will block the Brooklyn Bridge. The naturally-developing regeneration of Prospect Heights has been body-shocked by the behemoth Atlantic Yards plan.<br />
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Fifty years ago, professionals in ties and white gloves took to the streets to call attention to “an act of civic vandalism”. They hoped for a time when such actions would not be necessary, when the appreciation of the ideals of our past would guide development and build a better future. Their actions helped move us closer to that worthy goal but we are not there yet. We must remember the lessons of Penn Station, all of them, and strive to not allow them to be repeated.<br />
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Thanks to the HDC for posting this to its members.<br />pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4443421743160279841.post-36702047511406168772012-06-21T18:10:00.000-04:002012-06-21T18:10:12.254-04:00Responsible Landmarks Coalition<br />
Below is an excerpt from the <b>Responsible Landmarks Coalition</b>, the organization that wants to change the way our NYC buildings are designated and how the ones that are already Landmarked should be treated.<br />
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"New York City’s Landmark Law has enhanced New York City by preserving and protecting its most noteworthy historic buildings and neighborhoods over the last 47 years. However, there are many concerns about the manner in which the Law has been implemented, particularly in recent years as the number of properties under the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s jurisdiction has skyrocketed. Among the most important reforms that are needed are:<br />
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Provide An Open & Transparent System<br />
The landmark designation process should be open and transparent, particularly to those property owners who will be most impacted by the decision.<br />
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Apply Consistently High Standards<br />
A consistently high standard should be applied in determining whether an individual structure or district merits landmark protection.<br />
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Promote Growth & Success Of New York City<br />
Landmark designations and oversight of landmark properties must be reconciled with other policy considerations that are critical to the growth and success of the City.<br />
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Administer The Laws In A Sensible Manner<br />
The Landmarks Law should be administered so that the best examples of City’s architectural and historic heritage continue to adapt and meet the needs of the citizens of the 21st Century."<br />
<br />pirhounixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08318388858735524435noreply@blogger.com