An ambitious development that embraces the revitalized food and art scene of neighboring Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen, the vibrant new Hudson Yards district has transformed the surrounding area and New York skyline alike
In the heart of an area once characterized by the city’s industrious waterfront, Hudson Yards is New York’s newest neighborhood and challenger to the cultural throne of Manhattan’s West Side. With its ample MTA transport connections, and numerous new upscale dining, shopping and cultural institutions adding to its cachet, Hudson Yards is being labeled as a “city within a city.”
The Lay of the Land
Split into two phases—the first of which is bound by 30th Street to the south, 34th Street to the north, 10th Avenue to the east, and 11th Avenue to the west—Hudson Yards has been called a “city within a city.” The public portion of the $25 billion development includes 100 stores, 28 restaurants, and a $200 million art installation.
“What’s so exciting about Hudson Yards, from a real estate standpoint, is that it fills what was a gap in the city’s landscape,” says Erin Boisson Aries, broker at Christie’s International Real Estate Group in New York City. Hudson Yards bridges two very vibrant and important neighborhoods: Midtown and West Chelsea. West Chelsea, in particular, has seen tremendous growth in the past decade. An area previously known mainly for its art galleries, it has become a world-class residential area, with creative working spaces, upscale dining, and designer shopping adding to its cachet.
Our clients who own property in the area know that Hudson Yards will bring significant additional economic expansion to an area of the city that has emerged as one of the best to invest in. – Erin Boison-Aires
Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller served as a curator for the dining concepts at Hudson Yards, bringing everything from grab-and-go spots (such as high-end tapas restaurant Mercado Little Spain) to high-end eateries. In a space that recalls the glamour of the Art-Deco age, Keller has opened TAK Room, an open-plan dining room, lounge, and bar that treats guests to table-side p
Belcampo provides the ultimate farm-to-table dining experience with its organic, grass-fed meat served both in-house and via its home-delivery service, while Queensyard serves modern British dishes and gin cocktails, and has breathtaking views of Thomas Heatherwick’s “Vessel” sculpture—the centerpiece of the new neighborhood.
A section of the High Line wraps around the new neighborhood, hosting public arts projects as well as serving as a key access point for visitors to the boutiques, restaurants, and offices at Hudson Yards.
The physical transformation of the Hudson Yards neighborhood is dominated by a raft of dramatic skyscrapers that pierce the New York skyline with startling brilliance. Designed by a roster of starchitects, the large-scale redevelopment projects include Foster + Partners’ 58-story vertical campus, 50 Hudson Yards, and the tallest of the towers at 1,268 feet (386 m), 30 Hudson Yards, designed by KPF. Mostly occupied by offices, 30 boasts a pointy observation deck named Edge, which at a soaring 1,100 feet (335 m) above ground level, includes a vertigo-inducing glass floor section.
Part sculpture and part public walkway, Heatherwick’s “Vessel” allows for a different perspective on the new neighborhood. Likened to a copper-clad beehive thanks to its 154 connected staircases that ascend 150 feet (46 m), this dramatic sculpture in the middle of Hudson Yards cost more than $150 million to build.
Similarly, New York-based studio Snarkitecture, known for its surreal installations, has conceived the eponymous Snark Park exhibition space. Expected to hold around three shows a year, the inaugural exhibition, Lost and Found, is an immersive installation of white columns that are meant to evoke a labyrinth.
The second phase of the Hudson Yards development, named the Western Yard, is set to comprise several residential towers, office blocks, and a school.
Famed originals and commissions by some of the art world’s most eminent names decorate the walls and public spaces of Hudson Yards. Visitors can expect to see works by the likes of Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella, Alexander Calder, and Luke Edward Hall, to name but a few.
Likewise, the site’s renowned architecture is not restricted to office blocks and residential condos. The Shed, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with the Rockwell Group, is a monolithic performing arts venue famed for its retractable roof that can convert the plaza into a covered concert arena in just five minutes. Although not technically part of Hudson Yards, its close proximity means it is slated to become part of the area’s fabric, playing host to a diverse mix of art and artists, from Steve McQueen and Björk to possibly even a new home for New York Fasion Week.
A section of the High Line wraps around the new neighborhood, hosting public arts projects like The Mile-Long Opera, as well as serving as a key access point for visitors to the boutiques, restaurants, and offices at Hudson Yards.
While the Public Square and Gardens—New York’s other elevated park—is tipped to form the heart of Hudson Yards, the commercial blood of the development is pumped by the arterial one million square feet (92,903 sq m) of retail space. Department store Neiman Marcus is the mall’s crowning glory, both in size and in its three-story location, while the remaining levels boast upscale boutiques from Dior and Tiffany & Co. to contemporary establishments like Forty Five Ten.
Dubbed the Innovator’s Floor, the second level features a selection of digital native brands debuting their bricks-and-mortar concepts, while on the fourth floor 3den provides shoppers with a lounge and relaxation space complete with showers and charging ports.
For longer spates of relaxation—or to challenge yourself physically—Equinox Hotel is a hive of healthy decadence. Designed by Hong Kong’s Joyce Wang, guests will have fitness club memberships with access to holistic approaches to high-performance living. These include recovery and regeneration techniques, personal training, and even in-room IV vitamin drips.
The second phase of the Hudson Yards development, named the Western Yard, is set to comprise several residential towers, office blocks, and a school. Distinctive from the ground up, the residences at Hudson Yards offer remarkable craftsmanship, exquisite service, and amenities. Construction of the second structural platform is expected to begin in 2020.
