No doubt we all have seen NY Penn Station on TV news recently. Many complain of its general ugliness and want to tear it down. Madison Square Garden's lease is expiring and NYC wants to limit the new lease to 15 years. MSG is not giving up its prime location at 7th Avenue and 32nd St; it wants a new lease "in perpetuity." I don't know what will happen to it.
There are still people who are appalled at Pennsylvania Railroad's decision to tear down the station. I don't want to add my personal opinion to the debate but it seems reasonable to point out that both building and tearing down the station were the same kinds of decisions and were based on business concerns.
This link contains a number of photographs of the old Penn Station and others of the rebuilding project in the 1960's: http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-3445_162-10010377.html
I think a reasonable compromise is a lease in perpetuity and means fouind to beautify it and make it compatible with the surrounding buildings. A good architect could do the job.
And Amtrak can remodel its subway station like LIRR and NJT have been doing.
Tearing down the real Penn station was a disgrace and reading the history, bordering on criminal. I would hope cities like NY and Chicago that have essentially underground stations could look to the new Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Main Station) for ideas of how to do so while keeping it light and open.
https://www.google.com/search?q=berlin+hauptbahnhof&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=B3urUfjEAeuyygHH24DQBQ&biw=1024&bih=487&sei=DnurUYeDM6SsyAHnp4GwBA
Many images here to look at.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
schlimmTearing down the real Penn station was a disgrace
I agree with you, Schlimm. Tearing down the old Penn Station was a disgrace. And you and I are certainly not the only ones to have that opinion. But it was torn down. Now Madison Square Garden is on top of it and MSG wants to say there. For a new glass covered train shed similar to Berlin's Hauptbahnhof MSG would have to do. Whether it will or not I don't know. But I think we need to consider what can be done if MSG stays.
I have clear memories of the old station and I am fairly familiar with the current one. I do think the present station is pretty ugly but I don't find is as oppressive as many do. But I sure agree it could be improved.
John
Is the plan still moving forward, to buy the adjacent Post Office building and convert it to something resembling a railroad terminal befitting its importance?
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