Renderings show transformation of
revitalized South Street Seaport
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
The Howard Hughes Corporation
unveiled its comprehensive proposal
to upgrade Lower Manhattan’s Seaport
area.
The $1.4 billion proposal includes plans
for a transformation of an underutilized fullblock
surface parking lot along the boundary
of the South Street Seaport Historic
District into a mixed-income development
that would include some of the area’s fi rst
new affordable housing in decades, longterm
fi nancial stability of the beloved South
Street Seaport Museum, improvements to
the Museum’s historic buildings that will
allow it to reopen, and a design for a new
Museum building on an adjacent vacant lot.
The plan comes after hearing input from the
community over the past year.
“The Howard Hughes Corporation
remains fi rmly committed to the Seaport
and New York City for the long-term, with
mixed-income housing and a plan to save
the Seaport Museum at the heart of our
commitment,” said Mary Ann Tighe, member
of HHC’s Board of Directors, and Chief
Executive Offi cer of the New York Tri-State
Region for CBRE. “We believe visionary
projects like this will help propel the city’s
economic recovery.”
The proposal is in keeping with HHC’s
commitment to preserving the character
of the Seaport and honoring its past,
which has included refurbishment of the
historic buildings on Schermerhorn Row,
preservation of the cobblestone streets,
and the nearly completed renovation of
the esteemed Tin Building.
The plans were designed by worldrenowned
architecture and urban design
fi rm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).
The centerpiece of the proposal centers
around 250 Water Street, which would
include the fi rst affordable housing built
in Manhattan Community Board 1 through
the City’s Mandatory Inclusionary Housing
program. It would bring at least 100 apartments
to those who are making 40 percent
of Area Median Income. Of the project’s
roughly 360 overall units, approximately
25 percent will be affordable, along with
approximately 260 condominium units.
Earlier concepts of 250 Water St.
included a single tower standing nearly
1,000 feet, however, shaped by feedback
from community members, Community
Board 1 and elected offi cials, the highest
point of the proposed building is now 470
feet. The distinctive two-tower design includes
a contextually scaled podium base
designed to reference the heights, materials
and massing of adjacent buildings and the
vernacular of the Historic District.
Over the past 20 years, the South Street
Seaport Museum has suffered fi nancially due
to a number of setbacks including a two-year
closure after 9/11, the 2008 fi nancial collapse,
crippling fl ooding during Hurricane
Sandy, and now an existential threat resulting
from the pandemic, making the need to
strengthen and secure its fi nances more vital
than ever. Through the proposal, $50 million
in funding will be available to the Museum,
providing it with a secure recurring revenue
stream and allowing it to advance a fi rst
phase of restoration and rehabilitation that
will enable the Museum to reopen.
“As New York City works to recover from
the devastating impacts of the pandemic,
we are redoubling our commitment to the
city and the Seaport. We aim to be part
of the solution by investing in this unique,
historic neighborhood and its economy,
providing a crucial lifeline to the Seaport
Museum, and building affordable housing
in an area where housing prices are out
of reach for most New Yorkers,” said Saul
Scherl, President of the New York Tri-State
Region, The Howard Hughes Corporation.
The proposal also plans to provide signifi -
cant benefi ts to the area by generating more
than $1.8 billion in economic output annually
for both the city and the state, $640 million
in new labor income, and roughly 2,000 construction
jobs. The site is projected to create
an estimated 2,475 new direct and indirect
full and part-time permanent positions, and
annually generate $645 million in economic
output for New York City, along with $327
million in wages, salaries and benefi ts.
The ULURP process is expected to begin
in the spring of 2021.
If approved, construction, and the economic
activity it will create, would begin
in 2022.
One World Observatory to reopen to visitors in November
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
One World Observatory will offi -
cially reopen next month at limited
capacity.
Located at One World Trade Center, 117
West Street, One World Observatory sits
on top of the tallest building in the Western
Hemisphere – on levels 100, 101, and 102
of the One World Trade Center building.
The Observatory will reopen on Sunday,
Nov. 1 and again on Saturday, Nov. 7. The
Observatory will resume two-day weekend
operations starting Saturday, Nov. 14 with
adjusted hours of operation from 11 a.m.
to 7 p.m.
The Observatory will operate at a maximum
of 25% capacity and ticketing will
be timed to minimize queues and offer a
seamless, socially distant onsite experience.
Visitors are strongly encouraged to purchase
tickets online in advance of arrival
at www.oneworldobservatory.com.
“For many months we’ve been looking
forward to the day when we would be able
to welcome guests back to One World
Observatory,” said Delfi n Ortiz, General
Manager of One World Observatory. “We
are thrilled that time has come, and we are
again able to offer visitors the opportunity
to reconnect with the greatest city in the
world and create unforgettable memories
from our unmatched vantage point in
Lower Manhattan.”
The staff at the Observatory is
FILE PHOTO
committed to keeping guests safe upon reopening.
Regular cleaning and disinfecting
will take place, and mask wearing and social
distancing will be enforced. Additional
information can be found on the Health &
Safety Procedures page.
Visitors will be treated to the famous
SkyPod™ Elevator experience, which
transports them to the 102nd fl oor in
60 seconds. Customers that purchase an
“All-Inclusive” experience are guaranteed
the exclusive (private) use of a SkyPod™
Elevator traveling up and down the tower.
Guests will also be able to enjoy premier
dining high above Manhattan’s spectacular
skyline at ONE Dine Restaurant and Bar,
which will feature seasonally inspired fall
favorites and signature beverages. Reservations
are currently being accepted for ONE
Dine and are highly encouraged due to
seating limitations. The SEE FOREVER™
theater remains closed at this time.
COVID-19 frontline workers and fi rst
responders will receive free admission to
the Observatory through Dec. 31, 2020
when accompanied by a paying guest. The
Observatory will also continue its ongoing
discount for active and retired members of
the US military, as well as its complimentary
admission for 9/11 family members,
rescue and recovery workers. Tickets must
be secured at the box offi ce and a valid
work ID must be presented.
For more information or to purchase tickets,
visit www.oneworldobservatory.com.
4 October 29, 2020 Schneps Media
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