Yesterday, we shared news about the raging debate over Manhattan’s skyline. The City Council meeting on Wednesday was the deciding factor in whether the Pelli Clarke Pelli tower would move forward. According to yesterday’s meeting, as Charles V. Bagli reported for the New York Times, the City Council has approved the plans 47-1 and so, the new tower will rise to within 34 feet in height of its iconic neighbor.
Although both sides spent this past week lobbying their views, the City Council ultimately found that the new tower would help New York get out of our economic slump. Christine C. Quinn, the Council speaker, told the New York Times that the project was about jobs and signaled that “New York City is moving forward and moving out of this recession.”
The owners of the Empire State Building feel that 15 Penn Plaza, due to its height and design, will take away from the Midtown landmark – especially since the new tower’s zoning bonus allows it to be 56% larger than it would ordinarily be allowed.
Even though Wednesday’s vote favored Pelli Clarke Pelli, it will be years until 15 Penn Plaza starts breaking ground due to the demolition of the existing Hotel Pennsylvania which occupies the site, and the fact that Vornado Realty Trust does not want to move ahead without a major corporate tenant.
What do you think of the City Council’s decision?
