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MSG's Special Permit Up For Review... But Should The Venue Just Move?
By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 14, 2013
Modified Feb 14, 2013
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 14, 2013
Modified Feb 14, 2013
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With Madison Square Garden's special permit coming up for review, Michael Kimmelman of the NY Times is calling upon the city to let the venue's permit expire. While its previous buildings were gorgeous, the current one—which opened in 1968—is a dismal atrocity that is somehow even worse than the loathed Verizon building that sucks the life out of the Manhattan skyline. Kimmelman explains the upcoming process:
"The owners of Madison Square Garden are now looking to New York City to renew—in perpetuity—the special permit that allows them to operate an arena atop Penn Station. The Council could grant a 10-year permit, enough time so that the Garden and the various parties responsible for the station can come up with an appropriately aggressive plan to improve the site, a plan that should include discussions about a possible future home, elsewhere, for the arena. Renewal of the permit is one of the few points of leverage the city has over the Garden."
Pushing MSG off the current site would also aid in improving the over-capacity and ugly-as-sin Penn Station. The possibility of MSG moving was brought up in 2008, as well, but since then the Dolan family has spent billions on upgrades, something the Times points out has been partially paid for by the taxpayers. This is due to a 1982 ruling by the State Legislature that granted a tax abatement—by 2008 it was estimated to have cost the city $300 million.
The special permit's journey towards approval—or stone cold REJECTION—begins with Community Board 5, who will vote tonight. After that, Manhattan borough president Scott Stringer and the City Planning Commission will make recommendations, and the City Council will rule.
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madison square garden
msg
special permit
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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