AMERICAS – New York City (NYC) Governor Andrew Cuomo has outlined proposals for a new convention centre in the city and, if realised, the biggest in the country.
At his State of State Address (4 January) he said: “New York will build the largest convention centre in the nation to build on the city’s strength as an international tourist destination.”
The US$4bn, 353,031sqm proposed centre would be built at the Aqueduct Race Track venue in NYC.
Governor Cuomo said it would: “drive demand for hotel room and restaurants and create new tourism revenues”.
The Governor also called for a master plan of the Jacob Javits site to create a mixed used facility and revitalise NYC’s west side with 18 acres of planned development. The plan would follow the successful Battery Park City model and involve more than $2bn in estimated private sector development funds, to create a new 21st century neighbourhood on the west side of the city.
The existing Jacob J Javits Center, built in 1986, is currently searching for a new Chief Executive and is completing a $500m renovation.
Critics have long claimed the state-owned convention centre is too small and out-dated to host world-class events.
Cuomo said: “Right now the Jacob Javits Center is not competitive and it is smaller than convention centres in cities like Anaheim and Atlanta, that hurts the New York economy.”
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