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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 362-06
October 16, 2006

MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND GOVERNOR PATAKI ANNOUNCE START OF CONSTRUCTION OF JACOB K. JAVITS CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION

Demolition of North Side Buildings Clears the Way for New Convention Space Expansion will include a 1,500 room Hotel and the City’s Largest Ballroom

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Governor George E. Pataki today announced the start of construction on the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center expansion and renovation project.  Phase I of the project, expected to cost about $1.68 billion, will increase exhibition space at Javits by 45% and will begin with the demolition of two buildings totaling 500,000 square-feet on the north side of the site to make way for construction.  Phase I of the Javits expansion and renovation is expected to be finished in 2010.  The Mayor and Governor also announced the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Javits Convention Center hotel on 11th Avenue.

“New York City deserves a world-class convention center with ample capacity to host the world’s largest shows, and today marks an important step forward in making that happen,” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “The expansion and modernization of the Javits Center will allow New York City to attract conventions and visitors we have had to turn away in the past, generating tens of millions of dollars in new annual tax revenue for the City and State, and it will create thousands of new jobs in the building, construction and hospitality industries.”

“This day marks a tremendous step forward in the redevelopment of the new and greatly improved Jacob K. Javits Convention Center – a modern, spacious and spectacular international Convention Center for New York City,” said Governor Pataki.  “The new Javits will not only give New York City one of the nation’s best convention facilities, but it will spur investment, create jobs and greatly benefit the economy. It will also be the latest example of the wave of cleaner, energy-saving ‘green building’ technology that is sweeping the City – another important way that New York continues to lead the nation. I am proud to be here today, as we embark on another vital New York City project.” 

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said, “The expansion of the Javits Center is one of the most important things we can do for the economy of this City.  This project will make New York City one of the top five convention centers in the country.  Today marks a new future for New York City’s convention industry, a future of economic growth that will be seen for decades to come.”

Deputy Mayor for Economic Development & Rebuilding Daniel L. Doctoroff said, “The Javits expansion will provide a tremendous boost to the New York City economy, and it will play a major role in achieving the Mayor’s goal of attracting 50 million visitors annually to New York City by the year 2015.”

The first phase of the expansion project will create approximately 340,000 square feet of new exhibition space, including approximately 65,000 square feet of ballroom space that can act as swing exhibition space. This increases the total exhibition space at Javits by 45% to 1.1 million square feet.  The plan also calls for an increase in the total meeting room space from 30,000 to 210,000 square feet. An additional 50,000 square feet of meeting room space will be available in the new Javits Convention Center hotel. The second phase of construction will create an additional 500,000 square feet of contiguous exhibition space.

The cost of Phase I, including construction costs, land acquisition and other non-construction costs is currently estimated to be approximately $1.68 billion. The City will contribute $350 million and the State will contribute $350 million through a state supported credit in conjunction with a restructuring of existing Javits Center bonds. An additional $645 million funding will be raised through the sale of bonds backed by a dedicated $1.50 per key surcharge that the hotel industry has begun to collect. The balance of the funding will be obtained from Javits’ sale or lease of its current truck marshalling facility located between 33rd and 34th streets for mixed-use development.

The Javits Convention Center hotel will be located on 11th Avenue between 35th and 36th Streets. The hotel will have a minimum of 1,000 rooms and a minimum of 50,000 square feet of meeting, ballroom and pre-function space and will be connected directly to the Convention Center via an underground connection; the site will accommodate the entrance and exit ramps for the Mid-Block Boulevard Garage and No. 7 Subway vent shaft and related mechanical infrastructure.

A new multi-level truck security screening, marshalling and loading facility is being designed by A. Epstein Architects, one of the leading convention center architects in the country. Epstein is part of the Javits architectural team led by world-renowned architect Richard Rogers. The team also includes New York City-based FXFowle Architects, which has been involved in several projects in Times Square and Manhattan’s West Side.

Several modifications to the General Project Plan (GPP) adopted in April were made based on public comments and design refinements, but one increased the overall square footage of the expansion project.  The modifications include: moving the truck screening facility from 40th Street to 12th Avenue to increase operating efficiency and reduce the impact on the front of the Convention Center; the relocation of about 30,000 square feet of new exhibition space from Level 1 to Level 3, creating an increased amount of contiguous space; and several other refinements.

Empire State Development Chairman Charles A. Gargano said, “New York City needs a world class, state of the art convention center and the new Javits will awe visitors and make New Yorkers proud.  I am pleased to see work begin on this project and am excited for progress.”

Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said, “The greatest city in the world deserves the greatest convention center.  With this expansion project, we are making the Javits Center into a first-class, state-of-the-art convention space that will bring people in from all over the world. 

The project will help create thousands of new jobs, generate new economic development and make a tremendous impression on visitors to New York City.”

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, “The expansion of the Javits Center that we celebrate today is a testament to what can be achieved when elected officials are able come together in a bipartisan way and produce a thoughtful, responsible plan. The world’s greatest city should be the world’s premier destination for trade shows, exhibitions and conventions. The economic stimulation that will result from the construction and operation of this state-of-the-art facility will be significant and I look forward to future joint efforts that will also create jobs and spur economic growth in our city and state.”

Edward J. Malloy, President, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York said, “We commend Governor George Pataki, Mayor Bloomberg, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno for their leadership in bringing this long overdue project to fruition.  We further commend them all for assuring that this project will create thousands of construction jobs that pay prevailing wages with health and pension benefits and promote apprenticeship opportunities to train and employ new members of our industry.”

Joseph E. Spinnato, President and CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City said, “Today is certainly a historical day for those of us who have worked over these many years for the expansion of the Javits Center.  We are grateful to Governor Pataki and his administration for their commitment to this project.  We now look forward to the tremendous benefits that the city and the state will enjoy in the years to come.”

NYC & Company Chairman Jonathan M. Tisch said, “Today’s expansion will launch a new era for New York’s $24 billion travel and tourism sector. This expansion will not only impact the West Side of Manhattan, but will impact every neighborhood in each of the city’s five boroughs with new jobs, greater economic opportunity, and nearly $50 million in additional annual tax revenue that support essential city services and enhance New Yorkers’ quality of life.”

The expansion project has received wide support from City and State public officials, including City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Congressman Jerry Nadler, State Senator Eric Schneiderman, Assemblyman Herman “Denny” Farrell Jr., and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. A diverse group of leaders from the tourism, hotel, building and construction industries, civic groups and labor unions formed the Javits Now Coalition in April. The Coalition includes Jonathan Tisch, Chairman of NYC & Co.; William C. Rudin, Chairman of Association for a Better New York; Peter Ward, President of New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council; Ed Malloy of The Building and Construction Trades Council; Jeff Little of George Little Management; and Ken McEvoy of Reed Exhibitions, the largest producers of trade shows at Javits.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser/Jennifer Falk   (212) 788-2958



GENERAL CONTACT:

Joanna Rose (Governor)   (212) 681-4640


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