Block 780, across from Penn Station, has dodged demolition for years despite state plans to replace it with a new rail terminal. Andrew Cuomo’s administration eyed the block for a $16 billion expansion, but his successor, Kathy Hochul, shelved the project in 2021, favoring quicker Penn Station upgrades. Rising interest rates and a cooling office market also stalled Vornado Realty Trust’s nearby development plans, weakening the project’s financial backbone. Transit activists continue pushing an alternative: making Penn Station a through-running hub, eliminating the need for a new terminal. With Cuomo possibly eyeing a political comeback, the block’s fate remains uncertain.
Block 780
