NEW YORK CITY — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority wants to buy Grand Central Terminal. The MTA proposes purchasing the Hudson and Harlem Lines as well as Grand Central Terminal for $35 million from Midtown Trackage Ventures LLC. The MT...
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/11/13-mta-looking-to-buy-grand-central-terminal
Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine
They mention that the sale does not include the air rights over GCT. As I recall, the sale of air rights for a skyscraper on top of the headhouse in the 70s(?) was the start of the historic landmarks movement which eventually killed the development. Is GCT in danger again?
Actually the preservation/heritage movement started with the destruction of Penn Station in the early 60s.
MidlandMike They mention that the sale does not include the air rights over GCT. As I recall, the sale of air rights for a skyscraper on top of the headhouse in the 70s(?) was the start of the historic landmarks movement which eventually killed the development. Is GCT in danger again?
No, Grand Central Terminal's head house is quite safe! The creation of its landmark status after the demolition of Pennsylvania Station insures that; the discussion of air rights refers to all of those structures that were built over the train yards up Park Avenue. Where the tracks combine down to just four is where the air rights no longer exist as those Park Avenue structures would be outside the railroad's property lines.
“Things of quality have no fear of time.”
Looking at Google Earth image, there does not seem to be much usuable air space between the Pan Am (MetLife?) bldg and the Central office tower. The only big space is above the headhouse. Landmark status laws are subject to change.
Pratically, the air-rights refer precisely to those two towers you mentioned.
A huge political shift would be required to change GCT's landmark status. Not likely. Ever.
I have seen proposed bills that would sunset landmark status, and make it much harder to re-establish. There is a lot of money to be made in redevelopment. Until MTA owns the air rights, at least above the head-house, there is always a threat.
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