Hudson River Film Studio Gains Backers, Ground (Or Pier) To Be Broken

HELL'S KITCHEN — A film studio on the Hudson River can move forward this fall after two investment firms agreed to flush funds into the project, the nonprofit backing the campus announced this week.

"Sunset Pier 94 Studios" — a film and television campus slated for the West 52nd Street pier — now has the backing of investment firms Blackstone and Hudson Pacific Properties, the New York Economic Development Corporation announced Tuesday.

The two firms invested $350 million into the project, according to the announcement.

"This project will bring critical, long-awaited investment to this public asset," said Mayor Eric Adams, "and improve public space and quality of life for New Yorkers.”

Construction is slated to begin before September ends and should be finished by 2026.

The 266,000-square-foot studios will include six soundstages to accommodate television series, live audience shows and feature films, Economic Development Corporation said.

Backers estimate the studio could generate $6.4 billion for the local economy over the next 30 years with 1,300 construction jobs and 400 permanent jobs.

While the mayor and CEOs concerned celebrated the deal as a win for the economy, the Daily News notes the project comes despite objections from the local community board, who reached out to the Deputy Mayor's office in May to share their concerns.

"For 14 years, Manhattan Community Board 4 (MCB4) has been waiting for the long promised
public improvements in the area of Pier 92 and 94, and for those 14 years the community has
been failed by EDC and Vornado," the board wrote.

"Upon a thorough review of the difficult-to-access-by-the public lease for Pier 94, and with the new findings provided from the lease of the Manhattan Cruise Ship Terminal, MCB4 remains deeply concerned by the lease terms and the process by which it was developed."