You’ve probably walked past it a thousand times if you’ve ever caught a train at Penn Station. Honestly, it was hard to miss. Standing right across from Madison Square Garden, 371 7th Ave NY NY was the address of the Hotel Pennsylvania—a massive, 2,200-room behemoth that defined the Midtown skyline for over a century. It wasn't just a building; it was a literal titan of New York hospitality. But if you go looking for it today, you're going to find a very different scene. The dust has mostly settled, the limestone is gone, and what's left is one of the most controversial "blank slates" in Manhattan real estate history.
Most people knew it for the phone number. PEnnsylvania 6-5000. It’s the longest-running phone number in New York City history, immortalized by Glenn Miller. It’s catchy. It’s iconic. But the reality of the building toward the end was a bit more, well, gritty. It had seen better days, and by the time Vornado Realty Trust decided to pull the trigger on demolition, the debate over whether to save it or scrap it became a proxy war for the future of the entire Penn District.
Why 371 7th Ave NY NY defined an era of Manhattan travel
When it opened in 1919, 371 7th Ave NY NY was the largest hotel in the world. Think about that for a second. In an era before mega-resorts in Vegas, this was the peak of scale. It was designed by McKim, Mead & White—the same architectural geniuses who built the original, breathtaking Penn Station that was tragically torn down in the 60s. The hotel was meant to be the sophisticated companion piece to the station. You’d get off your Pullman carriage, walk across the street, and check into a room that featured "a bathroom in every room," which was a wild luxury back then.
The building wasn't just for sleeping. It was a cultural hub. The Cafe Rouge inside hosted the giants of the Big Band era. Duke Ellington played there. Count Basie played there. If you were anyone in the 1930s jazz scene, you were at 371 7th Avenue.
But buildings age. And they age fast in a city as relentless as New York. By the 1980s and 90s, the Hotel Pennsylvania had transitioned from a luxury destination to a high-volume, budget-friendly option for tourists who wanted to be near the action. It was functional. It was affordable. It was also, according to many Yelp reviewers in its final decade, "tired" and "smelling of another century." The disconnect between its glorious past and its crumbling present made it a prime target for redevelopment.
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The demolition heard 'round the neighborhood
The fight to save 371 7th Ave NY NY was intense. Preservationists, led by groups like the Historic Districts Council and various "Save Hotel Pennsylvania" advocates, argued that the building was an irreplaceable part of the city's fabric. They pointed to the facade, the history of the jazz era, and the sheer waste of sending that much embodied carbon to a landfill.
Vornado Realty Trust, the owners, had a different vision. They saw a neighborhood that was suffocating under the weight of a cramped, dark, and subterranean Penn Station. To them, the hotel was an obstacle to progress. They envisioned "Penn 15," a supertall office tower designed by Lord Norman Foster that would reach 1,200 feet into the air.
Demolition started in earnest around 2022. It wasn't a spectacular implosion like you see in the movies. It was a slow, surgical dismantling. Floor by floor, the history of 371 7th Ave NY NY was peeled away. By early 2024, the site was essentially cleared. Seeing that massive gap in the skyline for the first time was jarring for anyone who had used the hotel as a landmark for decades.
What happened to the "Penn 15" dream?
Here is where it gets complicated. You’d think once the building was gone, the new tower would shoot right up. That hasn't happened. The commercial real estate market in New York took a massive hit post-2020. With remote work becoming a permanent fixture for many firms, the demand for a massive new office skyscraper cooled off significantly.
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So, what is 371 7th Ave NY NY right now? Currently, it’s a bit of a waiting game. Vornado has paused the "Penn 15" skyscraper project, opting instead to wait for better market conditions. In the interim, there have been talks about using the site for public space or "PENNSYLVANIA 2.0" style activations, but for the most part, it’s a giant footprint in the heart of the city waiting for its next identity.
Navigating the area: What you need to know now
If you are traveling to the area today, don't look for a lobby at 371 7th Ave NY NY. You'll find construction fencing and a lot of sidewalk sheds. However, the "Penn District" is undergoing a massive transformation regardless of the hotel's absence.
- The Moynihan Train Hall: Just a block away, this is where the "grandeur" of the old Penn Station has been resurrected. It’s clean, bright, and has a great food hall.
- Penn 1 and Penn 2: These nearby office buildings have been renovated with massive LED screens and new public plazas that make the area feel less like a dungeon and more like a modern transit hub.
- The Madison Square Garden Factor: Despite the hotel being gone, the Garden remains. Entry points and crowd flows have shifted slightly due to the construction at 371 7th Avenue, so give yourself an extra 10 minutes if you're catching a Rangers game or a concert.
It's kinda sad to see the old lady of 7th Avenue gone. Even if it was a bit run down, there was a soul to that building that a glass tower might struggle to replicate. But New York has never been a city that looks backward for very long.
Common misconceptions about the site
People often confuse the Hotel Pennsylvania with the New Yorker Hotel further up the street. The New Yorker is the one with the big red sign. 371 7th Ave NY NY was the one directly opposite the main MSG entrance.
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Another big myth? That the building was "landmark protected." It wasn't. Despite years of lobbying, the Landmarks Preservation Commission repeatedly declined to grant it protected status. They argued that while the building was significant, it had been altered too much over the years to retain its "architectural integrity." It’s a controversial stance that still bugs preservationists today.
What this means for your next trip to NYC
If you used to stay at the Hotel Pennsylvania because it was the cheapest way to be in the center of Manhattan, you'll need a new strategy. The loss of those 2,200 rooms tightened the mid-range hotel market in Midtown.
- Look toward Chelsea or Nomad: You'll find newer, boutique hotels that offer a similar "walk to Penn" convenience without the 1920s plumbing issues.
- Use the new entrances: With the demolition and ongoing work, new entrances to Penn Station have opened on 7th Avenue that are much easier to navigate than the old ones.
- Check the skyline: Keep an eye on the site at 371 7th Ave NY NY. If cranes start moving again, it’s a sign that the New York economy is officially back in "super-growth" mode.
The story of 371 7th Ave NY NY isn't over—it’s just in a very long intermission. We’re moving from the era of limestone and jazz to an era of glass and tech. Whether that’s a fair trade is something New Yorkers will be arguing about for the next fifty years.
Actionable insights for visitors and locals
- For History Buffs: Visit the transit museum or the Moynihan Train Hall to see photos of the original McKim, Mead & White designs that once mirrored the hotel.
- For Commuters: Avoid the 7th Avenue sidewalk directly adjacent to the site during peak rush hour; the construction barriers make it a bottleneck. Use the 8th Avenue side of the station if you're in a hurry.
- For Real Estate Watchers: Follow Vornado Realty Trust’s quarterly earnings reports. They are the ones who will ultimately decide when the "void" at 371 7th Avenue gets filled.