Cuomo's Hell's Kitchen Development Plan Is Revoked By Hochul

HELL'S KITCHEN, NY — A Cuomo-era invitation for developers to build on a long-vacant lot near the Javits Center was unexpectedly rescinded by Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration, which said it needed to solicit more local feedback.

Tuesday's announcement came nine months after the state first issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the area known as Site K: a full-block, 1.2-acre lot on 11th Avenue between West 35th and 36th streets. At the time, officials described the site as "one of the last remaining vacant parcels on the West Side of Midtown Manhattan."

State leaders initially said that developing the site would be a key part of then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo's vision of transforming the neighborhood, joining other projects like the Javits Center's expansion and the extension of the High Line.

"Site K will bring even more opportunities to this flourishing New York neighborhood," Cuomo said in March.

The RFP invited developers to submit proposals for the site by May 6. Though the state suggested a preference for a hotel, which it said would be "complementary to the Javits Center," the document also acknowledged the wishes of Community Board 4, which has requested that affordable housing be built there.

It is unclear how many proposals were submitted in the ensuing months, since the process is private. Only one was publicly revealed: a proposal by The Peebles Corporation that would include a mind-bending, 1,500-foot-skyscraper by architect David Adjaye, plus two hotels and commercial office space.

Notably, the proposal lacked any housing, and was coolly received by CB4 chair Lowell Kern. The fate of that project now seems in doubt, and a representative for the Peebles Corporation did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Hope Knight, CEO-designate of the state's Empire State Development corporation, said the RFP was being rescinded "in light of today’s changed economic environment and in keeping with Governor Hochul’s commitment to building a thriving and equitable New York.

Dropping the invitation would give the state time to "solicit more input from the local community and other stakeholders," Knight said.

The agency did not respond to questions about what had led to the decision to rescind the RFP. Kern said Wednesday that the board had no involvement in the move.

"CB4 continues to believe that the best use of this site is for affordable housing," Kern said.

Related coverage:

• Long-Vacant Hell's Kitchen Lot Could Finally Be Developed
  
• Skyscraper Proposed For Long-Vacant Hell's Kitchen Lot: See It