Part 3: The Eagle Rises Again

In one dramatic gesture, the real estate giant has literally placed a symbol of Old New York on a pedestal, hoping to cloak its modern mega-projects in the glory of a bygone era. Vornado Realty Trust recently reinstalled a 1,700-pound original 1910 Penn Station eagle in a new Penn District Plaza, along with a replica now perched high atop its revamped PENN 2 tower. The move is a savvy public-relations gambit meant to stir nostalgia and signal a sense of historical continuity, all while subtly deflecting criticism of the developer’s hyper-dense Midtown redevelopment.

For New Yorkers, this eagle is more than just a sculpture — it’s an American icon and a ghost of Penn Station past. The original Beaux-Arts Pennsylvania Station (opened in 1910) was adorned with 22 majestic stone eagles, which survived the station’s tragic 1963 demolition and were scattered far and wide. To see one of these century-old guardians return to 33rd Street is to relive a piece of the city’s lost grandeur. It tugs at the collective memory of a time when even a train hall was built like a temple, and its destruction famously galvanized New York’s historic preservation movement. Little wonder that Vornado seized the chance to bring back the eagle, a bird that resonates with patriotic symbolism and local nostalgia in equal measure.

Unsurprisingly, Vornado’s team has been eager to frame the move as an homage to history. “Our investment in the future of the Penn District proudly builds on the history of the neighborhood,” proclaimed Glen Weiss, a Vornado executive, calling it “a privilege to bring back the iconic eagle that once graced Penn Station” as part of their transformation of the area. The symbolism is powerful: a historic eagle perched proudly over contemporary Midtown, suggesting that the spirit of old Penn Station still watches over present-day progress.

Yet for all the warm feelings this eagle conjures, it also serves a very practical role in Vornado’s Midtown playbook. The bird’s return comes amid a $2.4 billion neighborhood overhaul rebranded as “the Penn District,” which includes sleek new entrances, renovated office towers, and expansive commercial development. This redevelopment plan has faced its share of scrutiny. Initially part of a state-led vision to erect up to 10 new skyscrapers around Penn Station, the scheme was criticized for its scale and lack of clear community benefits. The grandest tower plans are on hold for now — Governor Kathy Hochul “decoupled” the Penn Station expansion from Vornado’s mega-project when the office market faltered — but Vornado still controls most of the site and is pressing ahead on lucrative upgrades to its existing properties. The company has openly touted how its Penn District investments have driven office rents skyward, bragging to shareholders about raising area rents from $50 to $100 per square foot and predicting even higher rates soon.

All of this explains why a little historical theater can be so useful. The eagle’s presence lends a heritage veneer to what might otherwise be seen as an alien corporate campus. It invites the public, and even policymakers, to think of the Penn District not as a soulless real-estate venture, but as a place with roots, a neighborhood anchored by the same symbols that once welcomed travelers to the city. This goodwill PR gesture conveniently shifts the conversation away from demolition, density and profit, and towards preservation, continuity and civic pride. 

Understanding who Vornado is—and how it operates—is the first step toward a more transparent and community-driven development process in New York City. In the Vornado Watch series, we explore Vornado’s role in specific projects and unpack its political ties.