MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Commuters and visitors are discovering some new sights around Penn Station in Manhattan.
Plaza33 officially opened on Monday outside Penn Station along Seventh Avenue at 33rd Street. Trees, benches and new businesses welcome people to the area.
“It caught my eye. There’s always something happening in New York,” said Gloria and Brenda, who were walking and saw the yellow chairs.
The plaza was created as a public-private partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation and Vornado, the real estate developer creating the Penn District at its properties in the area.
It's part of many ongoing projects between Sixth and Tenth avenues around the 34th Street corridor.
“Plaza33 is the beating heart of the new Penn District, a destination where office workers can sit for lunch, where commuters can take a moment to pause, and where neighbors can come to connect,” said Steven Roth, the chairman and CEO of Vornado Realty Trust.
Vornado calls the plaza the central outdoor feature of its $2.7 billion investment in the district, which includes over $100 million in public realm improvements.
“Open space created for pedestrians and New Yorkers is always an exciting development. These types of investments are good for quality of life and good for making commercial corridors vibrant and active,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.
The company’s office buildings, Penn 1 and Penn 2, border the plaza and have been renovated along with other improvements from 31st to 33rd streets.
Elected officials, commuters and neighbors are also watching for transit and housing improvements.
"The area around Penn Station has needed open public space for years," said New York State Assemblymember Tony Simone.
The MTA has opened new entrances and added access points to Penn Station. Work inside the terminal has also been a priority for the agency.
“This new public plaza is a great complement to the MTA’s recent accessibility and passenger circulation improvements at Penn Station,” said MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer.
Plans have been previously proposed by the state and MTA that include open space, affordable housing and large-scale transit projects. Funding for the ideas is being reviewed.
The 34th Street Partnership is providing programming for the plaza. Events include community activities, performances and architectural tours.
Some groups have been organized to keep focus on housing, transit and open space improvements.
“It’s time for the governor to reverse course, honor her promise to build housing wherever possible, and embrace a more sustainable, housing-first vision for the Penn neighborhood immediately,” said Michael Kink, executive director of Strong Economies for All.
Developers and elected officials said there’s more to come and future projects are being planned.
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