King’s Cross could be model for Penn Station redevelopment

An organisation campaigning for a complete overhaul of New York’s Penn Station have highlighted the development created by work at King’s Cross station in London as the type of project the city needs.

The Municipal Arts Society (MAS) – a body dedicated to promoting attractive and sustainable development in New York – made reference to King’s Cross in a blog post promoting a new report into possible financing options for the project.

Research by MAS has indicated that by designing a mixed-use ‘Penn District’ development surrounding the station site, the project could raise in the region of $1.3 billion just from bonus payments made by developers.

MAS launched a competition earlier in the year calling for possible designs for the new Penn Station.

Madison Square Garden, which sits above the station, is currently looking to obtain a new license to allow it to continue to hold concerts and sporting events at the site now its 50-year deal has expired.

MAS said: “Anybody who’s travelled through Penn Station knows why New York needs a new station. It’s overcrowded and unsafe. Circulation is a nightmare. Rebuilding Penn Station can create New York City’s next great civic space, a respectable, dignified entrance into the city that provides relief to the over 600,000 commuters and intercity travelers who use the station daily.

“A New Penn is the type of significant investment that New York City to remain globally competitive. Cities around the globe are seeing striking results from creating high-density, mixed use neighborhoods centered around transit investments.

“King’s Cross station in London, rebuilt and expanded for the Olympics, has led to tremendous development in the area, including the construction of Google’s £1 billion new London headquarters.”




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