Schumer Joins The Fray

Finally some leadership from a politician. Sen. Schumer has called for the swift resolution to building the expanded convention center and expanded 7 line to service the Javits Center plus whatever is eventually built at the West Side (Hudson) Yards. Mayor Bloomberg, who has been championing the Hudson Yards stadium project, has not nearly been as forceful in highlighting this portion of the project as he needs to be. The City desperately needs the expanded center to compete with other cities, and will be a catalyst for additional hotel space, jobs, and economic development.

With the collapse of the stadium project in Manhattan, United States Senator Charles Schumer called yesterday for New York City to move ahead swiftly on two other major development projects for the West Side: the extension of the No. 7 subway line and an expansion of the Javits Convention Center.

Mr. Schumer said that the $2 billion subway extension from Times Square to the convention center, at 11th Avenue and 34th Street, would spur the development of large hotels nearby and, eventually, office towers. With the stadium "off the table," Mr. Schumer said , it is time to consider expanding Javits beyond the original plans to 3 million square feet, making it the largest convention center in the country. and allowing the city to compete for large trade shows that now go to Las Vegas, Chicago and Orlando.

Actually the need for an expanded Javits Center was apparent not long after the Center was opened. While it provided crucial convention space, it was too small by nearly half to handle the convention needs for the City.

Technorati: Hudson Yards, stadium, 7 line, urban policy.