Editor’s Note: Build affordable housing in the Penn Station neighborhood, not tennis courts and fashion runways

Vornado Trust Realty razed the Hotel Pennsylvania last year to make way for an ambitious development plan around New York City’s Penn Station. The demolition delivered a sad end to what was once the world’s largest hotel, famous for celebrities and its place in Big Band music history.

However, an office market slump forced Vornado to put plans for a supertall at the location on hold, leaving the neighborhood stuck with a huge vacant lot. But Vornado isn’t letting an opportunity go to waste. Earlier this month Crain’s New York reported Vornado was considering an alternative for the site: Tennis courts, a fashion runway and 10-story electronic billboard. 

The idea would be to attract the U.S. Open and New York Fashion Week events to the site, but both already have homes in Flushing Meadows Corona Park and Bryant Park, respectively. It also would bring thousands on event days into a neighborhood already overcrowded with tourists, sports fans, shoppers, commuters and office workers. Plus, the area doesn’t need another massive electronic billboard. Vornado is missing the one alternative that addresses New York City’s greatest need: affordable housing.

“In the midst of a massive housing crisis, here we have a large vacant parcel,” Assembly Member Tony Simone who represents the area, said in a statement to Crain’s, “and it’s being allowed to be turned into tennis courts that no one asked for.”

Simone wants Albany lawmakers to seize the property to bring in new housing. It’s too bad no one spoke up about converting the Hotel Pennsylvania for that purpose. That was a wasted opportunity that could have helped New Yorkers – not just sports fans and fashionistas.