Pier 94, long a fixture on the Hudson River shoreline in Hell’s Kitchen, is on the verge of a rebirth. On a bright October morning, as workers carefully hoisted the new “PIER 94” sign onto the façade, cyclists zipped through a just-opened, smooth section of the Hudson River Greenway — no longer forced to navigate the notorious bottleneck at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal ramp, a problem that plagued local bikers for decades.
Worker hoist the Pier 94 signage onto the building. Photo: Phil O’Brien
Pier 94’s transformation into Sunset Pier 94 Studios is nearing its ambitious Fall 2025 completion, and should be ready to host its first shows early next year. As reported by Deadline, Sunset Studios Senior VP Sean Griffin confirmed the studios are accepting bookings for its state-of-the-art stages starting January 2026. “We had strong conviction in New York as a market and as one of the top production markets in the US,” Griffin said. He called the project “a completely new, unique asset” that will put Manhattan on the map for top-tier film and television production.
Once a berth for luxury liners, Pier 94’s previous decades were marked by trade and expo events. The new studio, a $350 million public-private effort from Hudson Pacific Properties, Blackstone, Vornado Realty Trust, and NYC’s Economic Development Corporation, marks the site’s most ambitious chapter yet.
With 266,000 square feet, six purpose-built soundstages, and 145,000 square feet devoted to support space, the facility boasts ceilings rising 36 feet — tall enough to hoist entire sets into the rafters. The design also reserves 25,000 square feet for waterfront open space and a 1,850 square-foot community amenity area, integrating with Hudson River Park.
Updated rendering of Sunset Pier 94 Studios with a walkway on the north side leading to public space at the end of the pier. Rendering: Sunset Studios
“We’re really the only purpose-built independent studio in Manhattan,” said Griffin, pointing out that productions needing comparable space would otherwise have to cross to Brooklyn, Queens or even New Jersey. “The quality of the soundstages just makes production so much easier,” Griffin added, citing the ability to double up on set space and the unique benefit of abundant natural light — thanks to the facility’s unobstructed position on the river.
Designed to host two to three productions at a time, the studio is geared for single-camera TV series and films, with its sixth stage tailored specifically for multi-camera talk shows. “We’re in talks with a couple of those types of shows right now,” Griffin teased. The team is confident that renewed energy in US film and TV production, spurred by improved tax incentives, will keep Sunset Studios buzzing when doors officially open.
The official groundbreaking in Autumn 2023 was a high-profile affair, attended by public officials and industry partners alike. From the outset, project leaders pledged the new facility would not only redefine Manhattan’s place in the global media landscape but also bring tangible economic benefits: 1,300 construction jobs, 400 permanent studio roles, and an estimated $5.4 billion contribution to the local economy over 30 years.
Construction inevitably meant disruption — but out of this came one of the neighborhood’s biggest quality-of-life upgrades. As the studio rose, crews worked to untangle the snarled stretch of the greenway notorious for forcing cyclists and pedestrians into conflict with traffic bound for cruise ships.
Cyclists on the newly re-routed Hudson River Greenway outside Pier 94. Photos: Phil O’Brien
As Gothamist’s recent coverage attests, the new bike path under the Manhattan Cruise Terminal ramp is winning rave reviews from locals and commuters alike. “It was a mess. There was no rhyme — it was no good,” longtime cyclist Mike Derewianik told Gothamist, celebrating the smoother, safer ride through Midtown’s busiest green corridor. Paula Young, another greenway regular, enthused, “It’s smooth… a lot, lot more bicyclists” are now riding the path.
John Orcutt of Bike New York summed up local sentiment: “It’s great that that’s finally been addressed.” According to NYC Economic Development Corporation’s Seth Schuster, “This project will not only spur the growth of the film and TV industry right here in New York, but is already delivering much needed public realm improvements — like the wonderful, improved greenway — that New Yorkers can enjoy every day.”