Amusement Park Hotel, Penn Station Fix: Top Midtown Stories Of 2023

MIDTOWN, NY — Midtown went through a lot in 2023, and Patch was there to write about it.

From a look at how to rebuild Penn Station in its former glory, to a proposal to cap a giant hotel tower with an amusement park-style ride to the closure of a longtime addiction meetinghouse. here are the top Midtown stories of 2023 — ranked by the number of minutes people spent reading them.

1. Skyscraper Ruling Opens Door To Amusement Park Rides In Midtown

The recent approval of a 260-foot-tall ride could usher a new world of architecture into midtown, a concerned zoning expert says.

2. Classic Penn Station Plan Would Fix One Of NYC's Greatest Errors

The plan? Get rid of Madison Square Garden, make major track improvements for regional rail, and rebuild the station to its 1910 glory.

3. Tommy Playboy, Trans Model/Activist, Killed In Midtown Subway: NYPD

Thomas Blackwell, who went by Tommy Playboy, was a trans model who brought life and energy to a community struggling to find space.

4. Midtown AA Clubhouse Forced Out By Construction Noise, Founder Says

For almost two decades, the 46th Street Clubhouse drew hundreds for meetings daily — until a 1,000-foot tower started construction work.

5. UN General Assembly Brings Worst Traffic Of The Year To NYC

Dozens of streets on the East Side of Manhattan will be closed to traffic during the United Nations General Assembly. Here's a rundown.

Thanks for reading Patch this year — stay tuned for lots more neighborhood news in 2024!