Move Madison Square Garden For Penn Station Fixes, Group Proposes

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Madison Sqare Garden fancies itself "the world's most famous arena," but one influential planning group argues the city would be better off without it.

The Regional Planning Association proposed moving the home of the New York Knicks and Rangers in order to transform Penn Station into a world-class transportation facility. Madison Square Garden, located on the "superblock" that spans West 34th to 38th streets between Seventh and Eighth avenue sits atop Penn Station, making improving the beleaguered station difficult.

The proposal was detailed in the Regional Planning Association's Fourth Regional Plan for the New York metropolitan area. The plan focuses on four main solutions: fixing failing institutions, creating customer-oriented transit systems, rising to the challenge of climate change and making the regional affordable for everyone.

The proposal to move Madison Square Garden is part of the plan's vision for a Penn Station that is "an inspiring gateway to New York."

"By removing the sports arena and theater, Penn Station’s underground complex will gain much-needed natural light and air, and significantly improve pedestrian circulation and safety," the Regional Planning Association writes in its proposal.

Madison Square Garden's 10-year permit is due to expire in 2023. If the city does not renew the permit, the sports venue could be transformed for the public good, the Regional Planning Association argues. A spokesperson for the Madison Square Garden Company did not immediately return Patch's message.

The Regional Planning Association noted that many proposals to transform Madison Sqaure Garden have been floated throughout the years, but seemingly threw its support behind architect Visnaan Chakrabarti's vision for a new Penn Station.

Chakrabarti and the design firm PAU propose completely gutting Madison Square Garden as we know it. The building's exterior shell would be replaced almost entirely by glass to bring light into the complex. In addition to the exterior transformation, the proposal would completely eliminate a concourse beneath the venue. The plan would eliminate ore than 200 columns from Penn Station platforms, freeing up a ton of space for transit passengers.

Rendering courtesy Vishaan Chakrabarti/PAU