Lost Empire

A proposed tower on 33rd Street, two avenues to the west of the Empire State Building, will fully or partially obscure the view of the historic building for many in Hoboken, Weehauken and Union City.

According to its developers at Vornado Realty Trust, 15 Penn Plaza is a "major office tower" that would rise opposite Pennsylvania Station to a height just shy of the Empire State Building's 1,216 foot spire.

For thousands of people in Hudson County this means that cherished views of the landmark building will be eclipsed by a glitzy office tower with zero historic or emotional relevance.

See the illustration below. (Those living in the red shadow will lose site of the Empire State Building; those in the gray shadow will have only a partial view):


(Click on image for a larger view)