What is New York City without Madison Square Garen at its current location? In a decade, New Yorkers will have to answer this question, because the city has given the Garden ten years to leave 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, its home since 1968. New York City Council voted 47 to 1 to the lease extension; MSG's owners had requested perpetuity and the Bloomberg administration recommended 15 years.
MSG controller James Dolan—who also owns the Rangers and Knicks—is acting like the announcement never happened, telling the New York Times that a $968 million renovation of the legendary building should be completed this fall. “Madison Square Garden has operated at its current site for generations, and has been proud to bring New Yorkers some of the greatest and most iconic moments in sports and entertainment,” he said.
Here's the thing: Penn Station sucks. It's an eyesore, and developers have been looking to refashion it for years. This could be the chance, but still, can you picture the area without Madison Square Garden? Better yet, where will it move to? Leaving the Garden and Penn Station as is for years has been like remaining in a loveless marriage because you're too lazy to do anything about the situation. However, that 47 to 1 vote shows that the city has been waiting to exhale for a while now.
[via New York Times]
