With the collapse of the stadium project in Manhattan, United States Senator Charles Schumer called yesterday for New York City to move ahead swiftly on two other major development projects for the West Side: the extension of the No. 7 subway line and an expansion of the Javits Convention Center.
Mr. Schumer said that the $2 billion subway extension from Times Square to the convention center, at 11th Avenue and 34th Street, would spur the development of large hotels nearby and, eventually, office towers. With the stadium "off the table," Mr. Schumer said , it is time to consider expanding Javits beyond the original plans to 3 million square feet, making it the largest convention center in the country. and allowing the city to compete for large trade shows that now go to Las Vegas, Chicago and Orlando.
Mr. Schumer gave voice to the fears of some business and real estate groups that state legislators may scuttle the subway project in an area of Manhattan where there is little public transportation. The No. 7 plan and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's entire capital budget is now being reviewed by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver - who has expressed skepticism about the need to revive the West Side before Lower Manhattan, which he represents in the Assembly - and Senate majority leader Joseph L. Bruno.
Charles Carrier, a spokesman for Mr. Silver, said that the speaker was looking at the full range of transit projects, although he says the proposals that relieve overcrowding, like the Second Avenue subway, should be the priority.
Mr. Schumer made several proposals yesterday that were intended to calm any fears that the West Side would compete for tenants with Lower Manhattan, or that the expansion of the No. 7 line - which would be paid for by the city - would siphon funds from other transit projects.
To avoid potential competition with downtown projects, Mr. Schumer said, the city should eliminate all plans to provide developers and tenants on the West Side with steep property tax abatements and other incentives to spur construction.
He proposed that the city and the transportation authority use rising tax revenues on the West Side, proceeds from the sale of development rights and an additional hotel tax to cover the entire cost of extending the No. 7.
"Throughout our city's history," Mr. Schumer said, "development and economic growth have followed the same pattern: We build a subway line, and jobs follow."
Edward Skyler, a spokesman for the mayor, said the Bloomberg administration shared the senator's belief that public money should not be wasted on unnecessary inducements to attract businesses, but said the West Side incentives would lead to job growth and tax revenue that would pay for parks and mass transit improvements.