Design Panel Announces Plans To Renovate Aging LaGuardia Airport
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Sweeping changes are on the way for the airport Vice President Joe Biden once compared to a third world country.
On Thursday, a design panel announced plans to renovate the aging LaGuardia Airport. The panel recommends building a new main entrance in the central terminal building and a new hotel on airport grounds.
The Wall Street Journal reported other proposals are expected, with four plans on the table for Kennedy Airport.
Developers working with the Port Authority are pushing back their deadlines as ideas from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's competition to reimagine New York airports are explored. Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye said he believes the governor's ideas are in sync with those of the agency.
There is concern the ideas could raise the cost of a makeover and perhaps kill the project, WCBS 880's Paul Murnane reported.
"The question is more driven based upon whether or not government will continue to keep this as a top priority to get it done," said Joseph Sitt of the Global Gateway Alliance, who has been lobbying for improvements for years. "The frustration for us is that each government agency has always pointed to another one."
The Port Authority is expected to pick a team for the terminal project at the end of the month.