The Strange Voyage of the South Street Seaport
In a thorough and insightful article, Allison C. Meier describes the tumultuous history and struggles of the South Street Historic District to maintain its storied and historic nature faced with natural, economic and commercial threats.
EDC Responds to Elected Officials’ Letter regarding Air Rights
The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) responded to a letter from elected officials and made it clear that HHC only owns 341,000 sf of air rights and 685,000 sf are owned by the city on other sites. The letter shows that the building that HHC has proposed on 250 Water St is three times larger than what they could build given the current ownership and zoning. HHC’s proposal would require multiple ULURPs and the sale of city owned air rights.
Elected Officials Demand Transparency Regarding Seaport Air Rights
Following a meeting we held with local elected officials, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou and others sent a letter asking NYCEDC to become transparent about Seaport Air Rights. In February, a new community engagement process will seek to enlarge both the Seaport and FiDi into the East River to make both neighborhoods resilient.
CURBED NY ASKS IF THERE WILL BE A NEW TOWER IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT
Curbed NY published an article on January 30, 2020, by Carolyn Spivack titled, "Is a new tower coming to South Street Seaport's historic district?" The article provides an update on the responses to a preliminary proposal by the Howard Hughes Corporation to develop 250 Water Street using air rights transferred from other properties. Get more information here.
LETTER FROM MICHAEL KOMOROSKE, DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION, NEW YORK STATE DEP’T OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
Chief Michael Komoroske has informed us that the public comment period for the remediation of 250 Water Street ended on January 16, 2020. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Health are now reviewing approximately 92 individual emails and comments, including input from Save our Seaport. The DEC has already requested preliminary revisions to the work plan based on the comments received. The letter can be found here.