Six new soundstages will provide many new opportunities for film and television production in Manhattan. Image Credit: EDC.
On August 29, 2023, the New York City Economic Development Corporation announced a public-private partnership with Vornado Realty Trust, Hudson Pacific Properties, and Blackstone to build a studio campus at Pier 94 near Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan. The Sunset Pier 94 Studios project will create a film and production studio as well as public amenities for Hudson River Park.
The Sunset Pier Studios will be a 266,000 square foot space with six purpose-built soundstages with production control room facilities and 145,000 square feet of production support office space. Several stages will include technology for adaptation for virtual production. The studios will allow for the production of episodic television, feature films, and live studio audience productions. The facility will prioritize sustainability and target LEED GOLD and Fitwel certification.
The project will also create new public restrooms for Hudson River park, an 1,850 square foot community amenity space, 25,000 square feet of pier access and waterfront open space, and safety improvements to the bikeway. There will also be a job development and training program for local residents for opportunities in film, television, commercial, and other types of media production.
The project is expected to be a total investment of $350 million from Vornado, Hudson Pacific, and Blackstone. The project is expected to create 1,300 construction jobs, 400 permanent jobs and add $6.4 billion to the city’s economy over the next three decades. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2023 and be completed by the end of 2025.
NYCEDC President Andrew Kimball stated, “Sunset Pier 94 Studios demonstrates a monumental public-private partnership that will have a lasting impact on our city by creating 400 film and TV jobs, over 1,300 construction jobs, along with an estimated economic impact of $6.4 billion over the next 30 years. NYCEDC and our partners in this project look forward to the development and completion of the pier space – including significant improvements to the public realm and waterfront access on the west side of Manhattan that all New Yorkers will be able to enjoy. This project further advances NYCEDC’s mission of transforming New York City into a great place to live, work, do business, and play.”
By: Veronica Rose (Veronica is the Editor of CityLand and a New York Law School graduate, Class of 2018.)