No Movement on The Garden

Madison Square Garden stays where it is, at least for now. Cablevision has found a construction manager for the project, which may mean that Moynihan Station is a pipe dream.

By Darryle Raynard

So, it turns out the Swedes will be rehabbing Madison Square Garden. In the latest setback to city officials, who have been hoping for a relocation to Moynihan Station, officials in charge of the MSG renovation project have said that they have tapped Skanska AB as the construction project manager for the rehab work to be done on the Garden. “Madison Square Garden is moving full-speed ahead on its renovation to provide New York with the state-of-the-art venue the greatest city in the world deserves,” says Fisher, in a statement released by the VP of Renovation.

By choosing the construction firm, Cablevision has sent a message to the city; a message that there will be no relocation to the proposed Moynihan Station project. Penn Station, beneath the Garden, is in need of a makeover itself, say city officials, and they have been trying to convince CableVision to move the project so that the renovation of Penn can be done. The move, if considered, would be to the western half of the proposed Moynihan Station Development. Demolishing the current MSG, and moving it to the western side of the development would allow the Moynihan Station project to go ahead, replacing the current Penn Station site.

The renovation project, which will be handled by MSG's own architects, facilities managers, and subcontractors, is slated to be completed for the 2011-2012 Knicks and Rangers seasons. The rehab will include a complete overhaul of the bathrooms, front entrance, and a new concourse.