July 12, 2016 Real Estate, Restaurant/Bar News
••• You can play Pokémon Go at the 9/11 Memorial; naturally, people are upset. —Gothamist
••• “You can’t have a much more stark comparison between two lofts in the prime Manhattan loft neighborhoods than two approximately 2,000 sq ft lofts that sold on the same day, both with high ceilings, both with a mix of classic features dressed up with things like chef’s kitchens, both built as two bedroom + two bath units, both condos.” One was at 43 Wooster, the other at 8 Warren/ And the winner was…. —Manhattan Loft Guy
••• Pier 17 is getting glassed. —YIMBY
••• 70 Vestry will have an “international regulation size” squash court, among other fitness-y amenities. —Real Estate Weekly
••• Fioro opens Tuesday at 191 Pearl in FiDi: “Neapolitan pizzas from the chef Pasquale Cozzolino of Ribalta take a starring role in this financial district fast-casual spot that also serves paninis, salads and pastas, and has an espresso bar.” —New York Times
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Oh look everyone, an ugly Lego Period rectangle which evokes NOTHING of a “seaport” on the East River.
South Street Glassport
It may be ugly, but if architecture expresses outwardly the inner dynamic of what a thing is, this is no more a seaport than my pants are jodhpurs, which they resemble not at all.
Try it is ugly. Oh so let’s just make NYC’s riversides malls along the water because it isn’t a real seaport anymore, ok, whatever. They should’ve renovated Pier 17.
Call it Seaport Mall and be done with it then.
I think we’re in partial agreement then. Call it a mall. (I can’t agree that it’s ugly because it doesn’t exist yet, I’m only looking at a rendering).
It’s a functional building that I don’t think has to reflect anything “nautical” or whatever, because that has nothing to do with its agenda. The park and promenade at BPC were made up out of dirt dug from the site of the original WTC. We make things we find useful, we put them out there, we use them – or we don’t. But there was never a mandate that the park and promenade had to reflect evidence of whatever took place in that waterside site a century ago.
I notice that this has a huge green roof, suggesting it’s an energy-conscious structure, and that it’ll have a public function, a place where families can picnic and play, with a gorgeous view. So even if one doesn’t care for “malls”, there may be something in this place for them. Frankly I find it clean and orderly, contemporary, functional. Ugly is all over the place, and I wish I could prevent it, but I can’t. And while there may be a sentimental hankering for the good olde-timey days of NYC, when brawny men with handlebar mustaches ruled the docks, they’re gone, the river-borne commerce is gone, and filigreed and ornamented seaport buildings are not (for better or worse) much in vogue. I have to say WADR that I can’t get too exercised about that.