South Street Seaport, New York, NY
The ever-evolving South Street Seaport was dealt a terrible blow when Hurricane Sandy struck in 2012. Covered in several feet of water, this required everything to be rethought and rebuilt in the aftermath of the storm. Today the district shows a level of vitality it likely has not seen in a very long time.
Very refined way-finding signs greet visitors and help them to navigate the district. Particularly impressive are the line-drawings showing each block. Also intriguing is how businesses are grouped in the directory according to which block they are on.
Mobile vendors and the use of an adapted shipping container, complement the permanent tenants in neighboring buildings while also activating the public space.
The Kikkerland Pop-up Shop presented an interesting use of a large two-story space. Very temporary furnishings, and a variety of merchandise especially with a home decoration focus — create an eclectic yet welcoming retail environment. What makes this all the more attractive is that this likely would have otherwise been a vacant space. Making the space a true pop-up, it was open only from August 18, 2016 to September 30, 2016.
A wonderful passageway leads through the Fulton Stall Market to an interior courtyard between buildings by the name of Cannon’s Walk. Of the later, Cannon’s Walk was opened to the public in 1983 to commemorate the origins of the South Street Seaport when small wharves stood where the present 19th century buildings now sit.
Older interpretive signs throughout the district, while concise, have a slightly worn look to them. If there one feature to upgrade, recasting these signs in materials that are more permanent might be desirable.
A circular gathering space with tables, benches, and tree cover creates an inviting oasis. The one drawback here is without nearby food vendors and few other additional activities, the space while attractive is not as active as others nearby. It’s also interesting to compare the relatively expensive fixed investment of concrete and pavers here, compared with the more temporary improvements with the shipping containers, tables, and chairs less than a block away — represent two very different approaches to development.
We were particularly fond of these two artist-designed cutouts of Robert Fulton and Peter Schermerhorn. To reinterpret historical figures in a creative and whimsical way such as this, creates a sense of the past while having a bit of fun in the present.
Perhaps as a good sign of the changes happenings to the South Street Seaport, on September 6, 2016 a gathering occurred to discuss “ Temporary Urbanism and the Resilient City.” Speakers included Ryan Reynolds with Gap Filler from New Zealand; Ship-pei Tsay, Executive Director of the Gehl Institute in New York; and Mike Lydon with Street Plans Collaborative, also from New York. The presentations and discussion were lively featuring many examples of how citizen-innovators are adapting public spaces. There was perhaps no better place or time to have such a discussion than at the South Street Seaport as it is in the midst of reinventing itself.
The vision for the future of the district as taken from the South Street Seaport website perhaps sums up the future potential best.
The Howard Hughes Corporation is proud to be a steward of the Seaport District NYC and help usher this dynamic neighborhood into the 21st century. With a commitment to restoration and an eye toward the future, the organization is helping the District reclaim its role as the heart of Lower Manhattan and the city as a whole.
The Howard Hughes Corporation’s vision to revitalize the South Street Seaport is crowned by Pier 17. The development plan balances the pier’s iconic waterfront location with its unique ability to provide a much-needed community and cultural anchor for Lower Manhattan’s rapidly growing and changing residential population and workforce as well as visitors. Pier 17 will feature a contemporary, sustainable design, conceptualized by SHoP Architects. With over 400,000 feet of retail space it will honor its historic roots as a bustling marketplace and influential port of trade centuries ago. The areas revitalization will also include lush open spaces with unmatched views of the Brooklyn Bridge, a rooftop venue with outdoor bars, restaurants and a retail environment complete with premier fashion brands and a world-class market.
Once completed, Pier 17 and the Seaport District will be a premier cultural, dining and retail anchor, creating an unparalleled New York experience and the most vibrant lifestyle destination in Manhattan. To realize this vision, The Howard Hughes Corporation plans to bring over 400,000 square feet of unique entertainment, first-rate retail brands, curated dining experiences and creative arts and culture to the flourishing neighborhood.
The redeveloped Seaport is building on its reputation as the next culinary hub. Acclaimed chef and restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten is opening a 40,000-square-foot seafood market inside the historic Tin Building as well as a seafood restaurant on Pier 17. Both Momofuku Group, led by David Chang, and By Chloe, a pioneering vegan restaurant, are launching their first food concepts in the neighborhood. These outposts, along with luxury cinema operator iPic Theaters, independent New York book store McNally Jackson, fashion brand Scotch and Soda and the Pier 17’s rooftop, will ensure the Seaport remains a top destination for Lower Manhattan residents and the millions of visitors who come to the city each year.
The Howard Hughes Corporation is committed to celebrating the District’s historic buildings that give the neighborhood its irreplaceable culture, character and charm. The refurbished Tin Building, once home to one of the world’s largest fish markets and the future home of the Jean-Georges curated food market, will be painstakingly moved out of the floodplain and rebuilt piece by piece, restoring it to its 19th-century glory. The building, pushed back from the FDR Drive, will also include increased plaza space for both customers and local residents to enjoy.
