The South Street Seaport Museum, damaged in Superstorm Sandy, received $10.4 million in federal aid to repair building systems damaged in the storm.Congressman Jerrold Nadler, who represents the 10th District, including large coastal sections of Manhattan and Brooklyn, made the announcement today, along with the museum’s executive director Captain Jonathan Boulware, the Associated Press reported.
Roughly seven feet of water flooded the landmarked building in 2012, damaging its electrical, heating and cooling systems.
The building is part of the master plan conceived by Dallas-based Howard Hughes Corp., to Redevelop The South Street Seaport. The controversial plan calls for a 42-story mixed-use tower, a smaller building housing 60 to 70 affordable apartments, the preservation of the museum and a strengthened infrastructure surrounding the project.
Earlier this year, Hughes paid $31 million to JPMorgan Chase for 300,000 square feet of air rights at the seaport, including the area above the museum.
The museum, which opened at this location in 2012, is dedicated to maritime activities and houses a fleet of ships, which were undamaged in Sandy. [AP] – Ariel Stulberg