Former President Donald Trump replaced the Commodore Hotel with the Grand Hyatt Hotel in 1980. This major development project was situated in a prime location next to Grand Central Terminal. Now, developers TF Cornerstone and RXR are proposing to tear down the Grand Hyatt, and the remains of the old Commodore underneath, and replace it with an 83-story tower. 

Why is this Project Important?

Some of the reasons the RXR/TF Cornerstone Project has importance is because structural columns that are part of the Commodore Hotel underneath are blocking entrances and access to stairways in the Grand Central Terminal subway station. The new proposal will demolish those columns, and the columns that replace them will be placed outside of the station. 

Project Details 

This 2.2 million-square-foot tower will be 83 stories tall, with a ground floor that serves as a public train hall that allows the public street entrances to Grand Central and the 4, 5, 6, and 7 lines. This project will also relocate from the mezzanine, often a source of crowding and chaos, to the train hall at the street level.

TF Cornerstone will also develop a 12,000-square foot underground passageway that links several train lines together: the Long Island Rail Road to the East Side Access Terminal, below One Vanderbilt to Metro North, as well as the subway mezzanine. This will allow the LIRR and Metro North commuters access to the subway platforms, rather than having to walk through the Grand Central concourse, which can often be crowded and time-consuming. 

There will also be 5,400 square feet of new space to the 42nd Street Passage, with room for ticket machines, signage, and arrival boards. Also, there are plans for a 22,000-square-foot public outdoor space that wraps around the building, complete with a reflecting pool with seating, two cafes, outdoor art, and ADA-compliant elevators that allow passengers access to the subway station and street. 

What Are Other Details of the Tower?

The design’s full details have not been released to the public just yet but are expected to be available in Spring 2021. Developers have said that the building’s shape will be set back at its zenith, similarly to the Chrysler building. 

Besides being an asset to Grand Central Terminal travelers, the tower will also have 2,1 million square feet of office space, 10,000 square feet of retail space, and a 500-key hotel on the top floors. 

Demolition is expected to begin in 2022, and completion of the project is expected to occur by 2030. 

Contact CIS Leads for information on this project and others in the area.