Penn Plaza
Geographic Boundaries
Penn Plaza is located mostly in Midtown South Manhattan from 30th to 34th Streets from north to south and Seventh Avenue to Ninth Avenue from east to west. The Penn Plaza area is within the larger Penn Station area, which is centered on the transportation hub and Madison Square Garden.
Businesses and Retail
The area has a mix of commercial office towers, transit-oriented retail, and hospitality uses. Retail at the ground floor along Seventh Avenue and 34th Street is largely composed of fast-casual dining chains, convenience stores, and national retailers that cater to daily commuters. Fine-dining and sit-down restaurants are less concentrated here than in other neighborhoods, but nearby Koreatown (32nd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues) has more upscale Korean BBQ and specialty restaurants. The Penn 1 building has limited retail, mainly targeting office worker needs.
Historical Attractions
The history of Penn Plaza relates back to the original Pennsylvania Station (1910-1963), whose demolition was at the heart of constructing the current Madison Square Garden (1968) and underground transit complex. The controversial replacement helped establish the identity of that locale as a transit hub instead of an architecturally significant location. Just north of Penn Plaza, Greeley Square marks an homage to 19th-century newspaper editor, Horace Greeley, with a small park at 32nd Street and Broadway.
Architectural Profile
The neighborhood features late-20th century commercial high-rises dominated by:
- One Penn Plaza (1972): story office tower with 2.5 million sq ft. The tower is particularly noted for its modernism in the rectangular shape of the tower.
- Madison Square Garden: A spherical arena with a 20,000 seat capacity.
- Penn Station: An underground transportation complex used by Amtrak, the LIRR, and NJ Transit.
Notable Buildings
Key structures include:
- 15 Penn Plaza (proposed): 1,270-foot supertall office tower by Vornado Realty Trust
- Hotel Pennsylvania (1919): Formerly one of the world's largest hotels, now slated for redevelopment
- Two Penn Plaza: 29-story office building connected to transportation infrastructure
Transportation Network
The area contains:
- Subway Lines: 1/2/3, A/C/E, B/D/F/M, N/Q/R/W at 34th St-Penn Station and 34th St-Herald Square
- Regional Rail: Amtrak, LIRR, NJ Transit at Penn Station
- Bus Routes: M34-SBS, M7, M20 along major avenues
- PATH Station: 33rd Street terminal connecting to New Jersey
Postal Codes
Primary ZIP codes include:
- 10119: Exclusive to One Penn Plaza
- 10001: Covers most commercial properties east of Eighth Avenue
- 10018: Applies to western portions near Ninth Avenue
Corporate Tenants
Major office occupants typically include:
- Financial services: Insurance firms and regional bank branches
- Legal firms: Mid-sized practices occupying upper floors
- Transportation operators: Amtrak corporate offices near station facilities
- Technology tenants: Software companies in recently renovated spaces