Staff from the Regional Plan Association (RPA) testified during a hearing in support of the redevelopment and rezoning plans for the Hudson Rail Yards. The RPA stated that rezoning the area for mixed-use development would better connect the area to the waterfront, cultivate economic growth, and provide additional mixed-income residential units to the neighborhood.

City Planning Commissioner, Amanda Burden, is expected to cut off 200 feet from the building height plans for the Nouvel Tower. The tower, which is to be built next to the MoMA will hold hotel rooms and expensive apartments.

The Extell Development Co. has begun work on the International Gem Tower in the Diamond District at 50 West 47th Street. The first phase of construction, consisting of below-grade level housing retail, vaults and parking facilities, is expected to be completed this year. The entire 32-story tower is slated to open in the fall of 2011.

The Rail Yards Committee of the West Side Neighborhood Alliance met on August 6 to plan for a scheduled public hearing with the Department of City Planning (DCP) focusing on the western portion of the Hudson Yards project.

Developer the Related Companies is making progress in plans to redevelop the Hudson Rail Yards, despite an economic slump that has hindered the revitalization of Manhattan’s West Side.

An analysis of the various challenges facing the 2nd Avenue Subway construction concluded that the completion date for phase one of the project should be extended to December 2016, and possibly until the summer of 2017. The targeted completion date for phase one was previously intended to be June of 2015.

Manhattan Borough President, Scott Stringer has conditionally approved of Jean Nouvel’s proposed tower for the Modern Museum of Art (MoMA). The conditions include creating a maximum number of 300 housing units and 167 hotel rooms and expanding space for greater public and pedestrian use. The City Planning Commission is schedule to vote on the proposed tower next week.

Axis Mundi, an architecture and design firm, has released its alternative proposal for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) tower.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) purchased the first of five Midtown buildings on a site that will house a ventilation structure for the East Side Access project. The MTA plans to acquire three additional adjoining buildings on the block of 50th East Street between Park and Madison Avenues as well as one nearby on East 49th Street.

Last week developers of the Hudson Yards project met with members of Manhattan’s Community Board 4 and the public as part of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). The current plan consists of one commercial and six residential towers on a 13 acre lot along the Hudson River bounded by 11th Avenue, 30th Street and 33rd Street.