Politicians look for alternate South Street Seaport plan

Beep and council member met with other developers to prevent Howard Hughes' 494-foot tower

From left: David Weinreb (credit: Max Dworkin), a rendering for the South Street Seaport redevelopment (credit: SHoP), Gale Brewer (top) and Margaret Chin
From left: David Weinreb (credit: Max Dworkin), a rendering for the South Street Seaport redevelopment (credit: SHoP), Gale Brewer (top) and Margaret Chin

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and local City Council member Margaret Chin have been talking to developers to try to find a new plan for the historic South Street Seaport site to prevent a 494-foot tower from being built.

Howard Hughes Corporation‘s current $1.5 billion redevelopment plans include the 494-foot residential tower directly outside of the borders of the historic district, according to Crain’s. Brewer told the website that the tower would be “out of context.”

Now, Brewer told the website that the politicians have been meeting with other developments,but that it was all “very back-of-the-napkin.”

Sign Up for the undefined Newsletter

By signing up, you agree to TheRealDeal Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

There are no concrete proposals yet, Brewer told the website, but multiple firms have floated ideas. They didn’t reveal the names of the developers.

Howard Hughes’ plans also include a public promenade, a retail center as well as funding for the Seaport Museum, according to Crain’s. The developer has said it needs the residential building to help pay for the public amenities of the plan, which will cost roughly $300 million[Crain’s] — Claire Moses