The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s Oculus World Trade Center transport hub, 10 years in the making, is finally set to open in March.
The Santiago Calatrava-designed steeled-winged 365,000-square-foot facility at the PATH tran station will ultimately serve around 200,000 passengers and visitors, Politico reported, citing two sources with knowledge of the impending opening.
The project was originally projected to open in 2009, but was vastly delayed by political and bureaucratic wrangling, as well as structural problems at the site, such as leaks. Its cost — $4 billion — was more than twice what initially anticipated.
“It has not been easy for me,” Calatrava told the Wall Street Journal earlier this year. “I have been treated like a dog.”
Westfield Group will operate a $1.4 billion shopping center at the facility, with tenants to include Apple, Daniel Boulud, Eataly and others. The retail has been fully leased.
Retail spaces at the complex range from 800 to 8,000 square feet. The company says it expects to do $700 million to $1 billion in annual retail sales — between $2,000 to $3,000 per square foot. [Politico] – Ariel Stulberg
Correction: A prior version of this article identified the Westfield Group as Oculus’ primary developer.