You remember how Oculus, the long-awaited $3.7 billion rail terminal housing Westfield's $1.4 billion shopping center is supposed to open in March?
Well, we've been pretty excited about it, especially since this announcement has been ten years in the making.
Well, Second Avenue Sagas just reported that they won't be holding an opening ceremony.
To which we sort of responded... why not?
After spending nearly $5 billion and a decade, you'd think the Port Authority would be interested in celebrating Oculus' opening.
Apparently, they're not.
Port Authority doesn't support the building that soared over budget, that took advantage of its clients, and pitted the state against the city.
[anad]
Port Authority announced on Monday that they won't even hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
They said they're too embarrassed by the bad publicity and expensive price tag attached to the project, that there will be no ribbon-cutting, no giant scissors, and no press conference.
"I'm proud of the work that the Port Authority and hundreds of skilled union workers performed on the Hub.," said the Port Authority's Executive Director Patrick Foye.
However, Foye quickly explained the lack of opening ceremony for Oculus.
"Since I arrived here, I have been troubled with the huge cost of the Hub at a time of limited resources for infrastructure so I'm passing on the event...The thing is a symbol of excess."
The reality is that not that many people will be using the subway station below Oculus.
On weekdays, it currently amasses 50,000 passengers. On Saturdays it sees about 10,000 riders, and fewer than 9,000 on Sundays.
robbreportes Ya es una realidad. La última obra del arquitecto español #SantiagoCalatrava se va a inaugurar en #NuevaYork, más de una década después se reconstruye la última parte de la Zona Cero. #Oculus está a punto de abrir el ojo. Link en bio o visita #robbreportes.
During the weekday, the station sees about as many passengers as the 14th Street stop at 7th Avenue. On weekends, it's about as many as the 6 train's 28th Street station.
These stations, obviously, will not see a $4 billion revamp.
As for Oculus' interior, several journalists have been invited to preview it.
"What will the public find on the vast, 56,448-square-foot floor? Nothing. Not a seat. No newsstands or snack concessions," wrote Steve Cuozzo of The New York Post.
Cuozzo reported the space will not even have a central information kiosk, "Like the one that provides a focus to the main hall of Grand Central Terminal, to which Calatrava and the Port Authority presumptuously compare the hub."
So we guess billions of dollars and ten years amount to... a pretty exterior? A new Eataly? Well, yeah. We are super excited about the new Eataly.
If you're excited about the opening of Oculus in March, you're going to have to celebrate it yourself, because the Port Authority isn't interested.
Check out The MTA Wants to Spend $66 Million in Order to Meet 2nd Avenue's December Deadline.
[via Second Avenue Sagas] [Feature Image Courtesy Instagram]