175 Park Avenue, developed by clients RXR and TF Cornerstone, is set to transform the skyline of East Midtown in Manhattan. This iconic skyscraper, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), will be constructed at the site of the current Grand Hyatt Hotel, and offer 2.1 million square feet of Class A office space, 500 hotel rooms, and 10,000 square feet of retail. Additionally, it will feature 25,000 square feet of new public open space.
VHB played a crucial role in this transformative transit-oriented development by leading the New York City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) process and preparing a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Collaborating with the New York City Departments of City Planning and Transportation, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), and other key stakeholders, VHB assisted the owners in designing and planning transit improvements throughout Grand Central Terminal and Grand Central 42nd Street Subway Station. This will be essential for enhancing pedestrian flow and the commuter experience. VHB's efforts were instrumental in securing public approvals through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), which was critical for this ambitious project as it reshapes the urban landscape. In coordination with the Build America Bureau and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), VHB is also assisting the clients with their National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental review strategy to qualify for a discretionary source of project financing through the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program.
