Hudson Yards, the largest real estate project that opens in New York

"It's like a city in a city, you can eat, work, sleep and have fun. No need to leave here, "says Sean Marshall, representative of Related Companies, a large US real estate company and one of the leaders of this monumental project that has been developing for six years.

Regarded as the largest private real estate project in the history of the United States, the imposing Hudson Yards urban complex he has turned an abandoned area of ​​western Manhattan into a new nerve center of the city, with hundreds of shops and restaurants and thousands of homes.

Located between 30th and 34th streets and the 10th and 11th Avenues, the 180 degree turn of this gray area of ​​Manhattan, until recently dominated by a large, industrial-looking esplanade that served as a "parking area" trains. Hudson Yards cost about $ 25,000 million.

New York's new neighborhood, which extends over 4.8 hectares, includes a seven-storey shopping center totaling approximately 6,700 square meters. establishments, among which stands a new Spanish culinary center, Little Spain Market, renowned chefs José Andrés and Adrià brothers.

Only this company has more than 3,200 square meters of three restaurants, 15 kiosks, two bars and two shops that will discover New York and its tens of millions of tourists the delights of Spanish cuisine.

Other master cooks, such as Thomas Keller, David Chang or Michael Lomonaco, also wanted to be at Hudson Yards.In addition to major brands such as Coach, Kate Spade, Fendi, Patek Philippe, Rolex, Cartier, Christian Dior, Tiffany and many others.

Six scintillating and spiky skyscrapers rise above the mall, where will be concentrated the luxury residences and offices, for which companies such as BlackRock, Warner Media or L & # 39; Oréal USA were created.

To give a unique touch to the titanic project, be part of the original slim buildings such as the avant-garde art center "The Shed", which has a huge mobile roof, and the sculpture "The Vessel", one of the greatest attentions has been taken and should become another attraction of the city.

More than 45 meters highit's a complex spiral staircase made up of more than 2,500 steps of shiny materials that leads nowhere to the eyes of British designer Thomas Heatherwick. It cost about $ 200 million.

The titanic project began about two decades ago, in 2001, when the authorities began to raise the idea of ​​giving a completely renewed aspect to the neglected area as part of the bid for the 2012 Olympic Games.

The area was requalified in 2005 to build infrastructureand, although the Olympic dream is still there, Related Companies and Oxford Properties Group have strengthened the revitalization of the region through this huge real estate structure.

Hudson Yards, which officially opens this week but is still partially under construction, is expected to generate some 19,000 million dollars In terms of taxes for New York City, in addition to the 55,000 new jobs, more than double the 25,000 that Amazon talked about when he announced his arrival in the Big Apple, which ultimately failed .

These are the numbers that made the project popularAlthough, in total, between public aid and tax exemptions, it took about $ 6 billion, according to a recent study by the New School.

This figure far exceeds the $ 3,000 million offered by New York to Amazon., and this has raised such a dust that has led the online sales giant to retreat, but the economic support given to Hudson Yards has gone virtually unnoticed.

Around the complex, there are many people these days of workers who polish the metal panels of the facade and clean the windows, the neighbors seem more than satisfied with Hudson Yards, which they believe will revitalize one of Manhattan's few forgotten places overcrowded.

"We have been here for four years and we have seen how it was built, it's fantastic, there is a lot more lifeand I have not heard anyone talk about this breakthrough, "said Lisa Catalano, owner of a traveling food truck, who believes that the new shopping center and its restaurants are not a direct competition.

Perhaps Hudson Yards could be a competition for other downtown Manhattan neighborhoods, where the Big Apple's commercial activity has been concentrated so far.

"I'm sorry for Midtown," jokes Marshall, a representative of related companies., referring to the reduction in the number of visitors who can register the central area of ​​Manhattan, which includes attractions such as Times Square or Broadway.

It remains to be seen in the years to come if this new and modern district will really appeal to tourists and New Yorkersand dislodge other mythical neighborhoods of the Big Apple such as Wall Street Financial District, Central Park or the luxurious Fifth Avenue.