http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/43156.htm
AN NYC DREAM
By A. EUGENE KOHN
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March 26, 2005 -- AS an architect, it is impossible not to love New York. But I wonder whether the city has lost its enthusiasm for the boldness and courageous action that have defined it. As the battle rages over the New York Sports & Convention Center (NYSCC) proposed for the West Side rail yards site, politics and misinformation are hindering development that promises to shape the city's future.
For people who thrive on competition, New Yorkers seem awfully tolerant of the monopoly Cablevision enjoys for sports and entertainment events — all without paying city tax. Cablevision has sought to maintain its stronghold by spreading misinformation about NYSCC through costly TV ads and powerful lobbying efforts.
Because of this, many New Yorkers, including some political leaders, believe that the state and the city are donating $600 million to the Jets solely for the privilege of playing football here. In reality, the Jets are paying more than $1 billion to build a multi-use facility the team will occupy just 10 days per year. The Jets are also providing $75 million for surrounding infrastructure improvements, and covering all environmental-abatement issues and construction overages associated with the project. This is the largest contribution of its kind in history by a professional sports team.
The city's total contribution is $300 million. This will pay for a retractable roof over the stadium, allowing New Yorkers to use the facility year-round for conventions, exhibits, retail, and meetings — plus live theatrical and musical performances. A covered facility also makes New York a viable host for the Super Bowl and the NCAA Final Four, events that could bring enormous tourism revenue.
The proposed construction would displace no homes or businesses. In fact, the site is now a large, open pit revealing the MTA tracks.
This is where the state's $300 million contribution comes in: to construct a deck over the railroad tracks — a crucial requirement for any construction on the site.
The NYSCC proposal holds outstanding potential. For a combined city and state investment of $600 million the project will generate billions of dollars over the next 30 years that will provide revenue yearly that could be used for schools and firemen.
New York has a choice going forward with the NYSCC: Spend $300 million now to build the roof so the facility can generate income through varied, year-round use, or omit the roof and see the facility used only eight to 10 times a year for football.
It makes little economic sense to build the NYSCC on the West Side without a retractable roof, but it is even more nonsensical to move the stadium to Queens, as many have suggested. With nearly 50 percent of Jets fans coming from New Jersey, the West Side site offers convenient Hudson River ferry access. A stadium in Queens would encourage these spectators to drive through the tunnels on game days, causing the kind of congestion we have seen heading to Giants Stadium.
In San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Pittsburgh and Baltimore, urban stadiums have been proven economic generators. Similarly, the NYSCC will create permanent new jobs. In conjunction with the Javits Center — already slated for a $1.5 billion expansion of exhibit space — the NYSCC will attract larger conventions that will benefit local hotels, restaurants and businesses.
The future of New York's West Side requires the enterprising vision that has already been set in motion by the West Side master plan, the expansion of the Javits Center and the NYSCC. These developments recall the 1924 plan to cover the railroad tracks on Park Avenue. This resolute move helped create some of the city's best properties and tax revenue.
If New York is to remain great in the face of fierce international competition, it must not fear progress. New Yorkers, let's support the New York Sports & Convention Center today and invest boldly in the future of this city.
A. Eugene Kohn is the chairman of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC, the principal architects for the New York Sports & Convention Center.
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jake · 2005-03-26
http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/43156.htm AN NYC DREAM By A. EUGENE KOHN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 26, 2005 -- AS an architect, it is impossible not to love New York. But I wonder whether the city has lost its enthusiasm for the boldness and courageous action that have defined it. As the battle rages over the New York Sports & Convention Center (NYSCC) proposed for the West Side rail yards site, politics and misinformation are hindering development that promises to shape the city's future. For people who thrive on competition, New Yorkers seem awfully tolerant of the monopoly Cablevision enjoys for sports and entertainment events — all without paying city tax. Cablevision has sought to maintain its stronghold by spreading misinformation about NYSCC through costly TV ads and powerful lobbying efforts. Because of this, many New Yorkers, including some political leaders, believe that the state and the city are donating $600 million to the Jets solely for the privilege of playing football here. In reality, the Jets are paying more than $1 billion to build a multi-use facility the team will occupy just 10 days per year. The Jets are also providing $75 million for surrounding infrastructure improvements, and covering all environmental-abatement issues and construction overages associated with the project. This is the largest contribution of its kind in history by a professional sports team. The city's total contribution is $300 million. This will pay for a retractable roof over the stadium, allowing New Yorkers to use the facility year-round for conventions, exhibits, retail, and meetings — plus live theatrical and musical performances. A covered facility also makes New York a viable host for the Super Bowl and the NCAA Final Four, events that could bring enormous tourism revenue. The proposed construction would displace no homes or businesses. In fact, the site is now a large, open pit revealing the MTA tracks. This is where the state's $300 million contribution comes in: to construct a deck over the railroad tracks — a crucial requirement for any construction on the site. The NYSCC proposal holds outstanding potential. For a combined city and state investment of $600 million the project will generate billions of dollars over the next 30 years that will provide revenue yearly that could be used for schools and firemen. New York has a choice going forward with the NYSCC: Spend $300 million now to build the roof so the facility can generate income through varied, year-round use, or omit the roof and see the facility used only eight to 10 times a year for football. It makes little economic sense to build the NYSCC on the West Side without a retractable roof, but it is even more nonsensical to move the stadium to Queens, as many have suggested. With nearly 50 percent of Jets fans coming from New Jersey, the West Side site offers convenient Hudson River ferry access. A stadium in Queens would encourage these spectators to drive through the tunnels on game days, causing the kind of congestion we have seen heading to Giants Stadium. In San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Pittsburgh and Baltimore, urban stadiums have been proven economic generators. Similarly, the NYSCC will create permanent new jobs. In conjunction with the Javits Center — already slated for a $1.5 billion expansion of exhibit space — the NYSCC will attract larger conventions that will benefit local hotels, restaurants and businesses. The future of New York's West Side requires the enterprising vision that has already been set in motion by the West Side master plan, the expansion of the Javits Center and the NYSCC. These developments recall the 1924 plan to cover the railroad tracks on Park Avenue. This resolute move helped create some of the city's best properties and tax revenue. If New York is to remain great in the face of fierce international competition, it must not fear progress. New Yorkers, let's support the New York Sports & Convention Center today and invest boldly in the future of this city. A. Eugene Kohn is the chairman of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC, the principal architects for the New York Sports & Convention Center. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW YORK POST is a registered trademark of NYP Holdings, Inc. NYPOST.COM, NYPOSTONLINE.COM, and NEWYORKPOST.COM are trademarks of NYP Holdings, Inc. Copyright 2005 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/43156.htmAN NYC DREAM (NY Post Opinion)
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