In the News: South Street Seaport Skyscraper

••• Howard Hughes Corp. released to the New York Times a rendering of what it’s hoping to do at the Seaport. (Note the 50-story skyscraper, which would be built at the expense of the historic New Market Building.) “Howard Hughes, which would triple the size of its operations, had hoped to continue negotiating in secret with the city’s Economic Development Corporation while it completed its proposal. But demands by local officials and residents for a more open design process forced the company to make the plans public.” Also, one of the architects said this: “We want to get New Yorkers to come to the seaport, where there’ll be unique shops and history. The tourists will come anyway.” Not sure how a 50-story apartment and hotel tower achieves that better than New Amsterdam Market did. But hey, there’s a marina for your yacht. Reminder: Community Board 1 will be discussing the plan tonight and you’re welcome to voice an opinion.

••• The New York Times rightly weighs what we lose when we go overboard in the name of security, especially in regard to the “World Trade Center campus.”

••• “The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America hopes its huge new St. Nicholas Church at 130 Liberty St. designed by Santiago Calatrava will open in early 2016 after a mere $20 million outlay. But don’t count on either prediction to stand up.” —New York Post

••• “A new private school, created by the woman who recently founded the Battery Park Montessori School, is slated to opened in the Financial District in less than a year. The Pine Street School will offer classes ranging from pre-school through eighth grade.” —Broadsheet

••• Downtown Lunch on the new Pisillo Italian Panini on Nassau between Fulton and Ann: “There are 25 varieties with fillings such as prosciutto, salami, tuna, soppressata, fresh or smoked mozzarella and various spreads and toppings.”

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6 Comments

  1. He really says “unique shops”? That’s not part of Howard Hughes plan. C’mon.

    Only thing that would have drawn NYers down there would have been a park. Opportunity gone.

  2. Did any one attend the CB1 Seaport meeting tonight ?

  3. @Ariane: New Amsterdam Market just tweeted that the CB1 Seaport committee voted against the design, but it’s unclear how meaningful that is. CB1 is advisory, I believe; the Landmarks Preservation Commission truly can veto it.

  4. I did, and it felt like kindergarten. The Howard Hughes corporation and its architect went on and on saying how they will spend money on rotting piers. They also claimed that the ESPLANADE is the most important thing, and that is why they have to move the LANDMARKED Tin Building, to agree with the Flood plan zone, and then they claim they have to tear down the New Market Building.
    Then they claim the only way they can do this and make money for all those repairs is to put up a 50 Story tower, luxury high rise and condo. Contemptuous and insulting presentation, We knew this all along ,because their secret plan was redacted when they went before Quinn’s City Council Hearing. It was a secret plan. Then they think they can bribe us and pull the wool over our eyes by claiming, and pretending they might build a marina , and they might help out the South Street Seaport Museum. Give me a break. The only reason Howard Hughes Corp. does anything is to make tons of money. They have been sabotaging the South St Seaport Museum; they prevented the South St Museum from building an extra space for new electrical systems and climate control. Hurricane Sandy wiped out the systems in the museum. Howard Hughes is claiming the right to space INSIDE the museum, if those spaces are un-used for six months. They are lying to the community. They are trying to make a Lincoln Center out of this poor little ole historic district with its schooners, tall ships and cobblestones.
    An outrageous Bloomberg Versailles fantasy.

  5. I too attended the CB1 Meeting and thought the presentation by Shop Architects was excellent. The crowd was packed with New Amsterdam Market supporters but supporters of the new plan were present as well. The Piers that the New Market and Tin Buildings sit on are made of wood and must be replaced. The cost is estimated to be about $150MM. I hear NOT one suggestion from the opponents on how that should be paid for. None. Howard Hughes has committed to moving and restoring the Tin Building (which has very little Tin left) in a better sight. The Landmarks committee has rejected landmarks legislation for these two building not once, but twice. As I understand it, Howard Hughes can actually build a shorter denser building pretty much as of right if they want. They prefer to build a higher, more slender (and less shadow inducing tower) because it would be more profitable to them. Exactly how do the opponents expect these repairs to be made? Where is the money coming form? I am looking forward to more info form the developers on the project which will be forthcoming before the town hall meeting in January. As a neighborhood resident I look forward to the improvements that Howard Hughes is planning for the neighborhood. The old Seaport failed and needed to be redirected to be more appealing to residents and that is what is being done. In other news, they announced that the Fulton Market Building (where the Bodies exhibit was) is expected to reopen in late 2014. Announcements for who the new tenant(s) are will be made “shortly”. Based on what I saw last night, the opponents won’t agree to anything that Howard Hughes wants to do yet offer no constructive plans in return. It was like watching the Tea Party at work. :-)

  6. Erik, 5 Beekman came up on the agenda but I don’t hear anybody speak up. There were hundreds of people in the room and it was loud but I don’t think I missed it. I don’t believe anyone showed up on behalf of 5 Beekman. In other news, Stella on Front Street is returning in early March as a Seafood restaurant! The committee approved the Liquor License.