More details of the proposed South Street Seaport development plans will be submitted by the developer soon, according to the local community board and the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC). The developer, the Howard Hughes Corporation (HHC), has faced questions from the community over its proposal to erect a 600-foot skyscraper at the foot of the city’s last remaining piece of low-rise historic waterfront.
Other aspects of the proposed redevelopment plan could include destroying one building and moving another. Members of the community have said, largely through the community board, that they want a larger voice in any plans to make major changes in the area.
Plans are now in the works to form a community task force that will give input on the project, which is taking place partly within the South Street Seaport Historic District. The district is situated on publicly owned property and is largely comprised of historic maritime buildings, many of which date back to the early 1800’s.
The local community board announced last week that HHC would halt the development process until a coalition of local stakeholders can be formed. For more than a year, community stakeholders have been unhappy about how the private, out of state developer has handled sharing information. HHC, based in Texas, has frequently refused to give details about their plans.
But the EDC, which manages city-owned property on the city’s behalf, almost immediately said reports of a halt were erroneous.
