South Street Seaport to see a revival

Plans to Redevelop The South Street Seaport are once again up for discussion, according to the Downtown Express. Its owner, the Howard Hughes Corporation, a spin-off of General Growth Properties, has acknowledged that it is reviving the plans, which include a hotel, a condominium tower and retail shops. In 2007, General Growth developed a plan to enhance public access to the waterfront at South Street Seaport, intending to create pedestrian-only streets that extend beyond the city grid. Two sky bridges would connect the commercial and public spaces. The proposal also calls for the demolition of the Pier 17 mall. Since the South Street Seaport is a historic district, any plans for redevelopment would have to be approved by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. In 2008, the LPC criticized the original development design, saying the buildings were too tall and modern for the area. However, General Growth never made a follow-up presentation, so the commissioners never ended up voting on the project, according to Elisabeth de Bourbon, director of communications at the LPC. [Downtown Express]