Plans to redevelop the South Street Seaport, now owned and operated by the Howard Hughes Corporation, are back on the discussion table, according to an article by Aline Reynolds in this week's edition of downtownexpress.com.
The Howard Hughes Corporation, a spin-off of General Growth Properties, who went bankrupt in April 2009, has acknowledged that is reviving the plans, which include a hotel, a condominium tower and retail shops to the Howard Hughes Corp., the article said.
The Howard Hughes Corp. said it was not at liberty to release new design plans to the press or public until they are finalized, according to the company's president, Grant Herlitz, the article continued, adding that the company, however, is in contact with the city and various architects and consultants to "make sure we continue the process."
Mr. Herlitz would not confirm or specify any aspect of the design plans, the article continued, though he said that the corporation plans to engage in "thought-provoking" discussions with the city and local organizations to "come up with the most vibrant plan for the South Street Seaport that'll garner support and be an exciting new redevelopment [project for the city."
Since the South Street Seaport is a historic district, any plans for redevelopment will have to go before the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission once it has a finalized version of the plans.
A senior designer at ShoP Architects declined to comment on the project without the authorization of the Howard Hughes Corp.
SHoP Architects designed General Growth's original 2008 plan to raze the Pier 17 mall and build a hotel and retail complex anchored by a 495-foot tower with a terracotta exoskeleton.
In November 2008, Landmarks commissioners slammed the project, calling the design "inappropriate" for the South Street Seaport Historic District. Commissioners also raised concerns about General Growth's plan to move the historic Tin Building from the base of the pier to its tip.
The commissioners never ended up voting on the project, however, since G.G.P. never made a follow-up presentation, according to Elisabeth de Bourbon, director of communications at the L.P.C.
Community Board One initially approved G.G.P.'s original development plans, voting 23 to 16 in favor of the project in November 2008, on the condition that the plans include the creation of a new school, the article noted, adding that "the board rescinded its endorsement of the project later that month, however, when the D.O.E. said there was no need for a school in the South Street Seaport."
The article said that Mr. Herlitz said it's too early to solicit community input on the project, and that a time frame for the district's redevelopment has not yet been ironed out.
The Howard Hughes Corporation, a spin-off of General Growth Properties, who went bankrupt in April 2009, has acknowledged that is reviving the plans, which include a hotel, a condominium tower and retail shops to the Howard Hughes Corp., the article said.
The Howard Hughes Corp. said it was not at liberty to release new design plans to the press or public until they are finalized, according to the company's president, Grant Herlitz, the article continued, adding that the company, however, is in contact with the city and various architects and consultants to "make sure we continue the process."
Mr. Herlitz would not confirm or specify any aspect of the design plans, the article continued, though he said that the corporation plans to engage in "thought-provoking" discussions with the city and local organizations to "come up with the most vibrant plan for the South Street Seaport that'll garner support and be an exciting new redevelopment [project for the city."
Since the South Street Seaport is a historic district, any plans for redevelopment will have to go before the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission once it has a finalized version of the plans.
A senior designer at ShoP Architects declined to comment on the project without the authorization of the Howard Hughes Corp.
SHoP Architects designed General Growth's original 2008 plan to raze the Pier 17 mall and build a hotel and retail complex anchored by a 495-foot tower with a terracotta exoskeleton.
In November 2008, Landmarks commissioners slammed the project, calling the design "inappropriate" for the South Street Seaport Historic District. Commissioners also raised concerns about General Growth's plan to move the historic Tin Building from the base of the pier to its tip.
The commissioners never ended up voting on the project, however, since G.G.P. never made a follow-up presentation, according to Elisabeth de Bourbon, director of communications at the L.P.C.
Community Board One initially approved G.G.P.'s original development plans, voting 23 to 16 in favor of the project in November 2008, on the condition that the plans include the creation of a new school, the article noted, adding that "the board rescinded its endorsement of the project later that month, however, when the D.O.E. said there was no need for a school in the South Street Seaport."
The article said that Mr. Herlitz said it's too early to solicit community input on the project, and that a time frame for the district's redevelopment has not yet been ironed out.
Architecture Critic
Carter Horsley
Since 1997, Carter B. Horsley has been the editorial director of CityRealty. He began his journalistic career at The New York Times in 1961 where he spent 26 years as a reporter specializing in real estate & architectural news. In 1987, he became the architecture critic and real estate editor of The New York Post.
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