A cost free 750,000 s/f Javits expansion could save billions.

New York City needs a world class convention center commensurate with its stature that would attract the biggest and best events, and maximize revenues and jobs.

It is suggested that expanding Javits over Twelfth Avenue on free, immediately available, publicaly owned air rights, selling the development rights above it and redeveloping 460 Twelfth Avenue and its garage anex the same way, would result in a bigger, better, cost-free convention center and meet all expansion objectives faster, including truck staging and marshalling. Air rights expansion over Twelfth Ave. could:

(1) Add 250,000 s/f of additional floor space to each of the 3 upper exhibition levels of Javits (1,000 foot length of Javits x 250 foot width of Twelfth Ave., including its parallel service road and the Javits setback from Twelfth Ave.)--an increase of 750,000 s/fof exhibition space. (There is a drop in grade of about 20 feet from 11th to 12th Avenues.)

(2) Relocate exhibitor loading and docking along the north wall of the base portion of the new air rights addition which would be of heavy reinforced construction for security reasons. Existing truck ramps from 39th Street would be realigned for access.

(3) Provide for additional 250,000 s/f floors to be added above this air rights addition for conference rooms, ballrooms, restaurants, offices, and other ancillary uses, all with spectacular river views. If funding is not currently available to build the new air rights addition to its full potential height, the steel frame of its base section could be designed to add more floors at a later date.

(4) Alternatively, allow the sale of long term leases for the development rights of million of square feet of air Rights for prime office, hotel, or luxury residential tower to be erected above the new air rights Javits addition. This would provide the funds and "pilot" revenue to pay for the Javits expansion. The developer(s) might also be required to build the convention center extension base (to be retained by the Javits Center Authority) as a condition of the deal, saving the State an expenditure of Billions of Dollars for its cost. As a State authority, Javits is not subject to local zoning.

(5) The addition's ground level on the Hudson River side could incorporate restaurants, toilets, and other public facilities for the new Hudson River Park and the ferry terminal.

(6) 39th Street would remain open for access to the river and ferry terminal.

Upon the completion of the new addition, the wall of each floor separating the original Javits building from the new addition would be removed. This would give Javits THREE convention floors which individually or collectively could accommodate the largest conventions for the foreseeable future.

There would be no need to alter the existing I. M. Pei designed award winning Javits building or its facade--a major cost savings. New air conditioning and cutting edge building systems for the entire convention center would be incorporated into the new addition.

Furthermore, the frame of the existing Javits owned 8-story, 500,000 s/fbuilding at 460 Twelfth Ave. (39th to 40th Streets) could be saved and the structure renovated into smaller exhibition facilities, conference rooms, ballrooms, offices, and other ancillary needs of Javits.

Its 2-story mid-block garage annex (72,000 s/f footprint) has truck ramps to its roof that could be used for truck staging, marshalling, and screening. Additional floors could be added for this purpose plus parking, hotel, ballroom, exhibition, conference or other uses which could be tied into the 460 Twelfth Ave. tower and/or a new building on the Eleventh Ave. frontage.

The Twelfth Ave. air rights alternative is a better, faster and less costly way to expand Javits. It would conserve scarce land resources needed for the future growth of Midtown Manhattan and for additional municipal revenue resources. It could be completed in one phase. Also, the Javits Center could continue operating without interruption or loss of revenue, markets and related operating jobs during construction. More than $800 million would be saved because the Quill bus garage would not have to be acquired for truck staging and marshalling avoiding an unnecessary and costly logistical and relocation problem for the MTA.

There has been some talk of relocating the Javits Center to the Sunnyside rail yards in Queens. Event organizers and conventioneers also come to New York City to enjoy Manhattan's incomparable cultural, entertainment, shopping, sightseeing, dining, and business networking advantages--not to spend their time enduring the inconvenience of a crowded commute to Queens by public transportation or long expensive taxi rides there and back. Besides, the Sunnyside rail yards are essential for the future residential, commercial, retail and job development needs of Queens and must be preserved for those purposes.

Consequently, the most feasible expansion alternative for Javits is the air rights over Twelfth Avenue and it could be cost free. It merits support.