That's not accurate. Because the HY was a vast wasteland of lots, it was a blank canvas that was created instantaneously in a vacuum. Simultaneously, parks were built, super high-end shops were built, etc. An isolated oasis of luxury arose spontaneously.
The Penn area, by contrast, is a vast existing, filthy cancer that needs to be rebuilt one building at a time. It has huge potential. 15 years ago, the stretch of 42nd Street between 7th and Lex was utterly disgusting, and towers like 1 Vandy and 175 Park would not have been viable.
A super tower on the Hotel Penn site will be viable in the future, but that area needs to be cleaned up first, just like 42nd St was. The chemo should start with the hideous block to the north of the Hotel Penn.
Last edited by JMKeynes; Mar 2, 2021 at 6:24 PM.
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