The South Street Seaport redevelopment plan, released yesterday, is unsurprisingly being met with immediate backlash. Councilman Alan J. Gerson, who the NY Times reports has a significant voice in the approval, has stated with confidence that the plan is “certainly not going to pass in its present form.”
The developers, General Growth Properties, told Gerson of their “willingness to work with him” and have mentioned refining the plan, though have not mentioned to what extent. Meanwhile, Community Board 1 members are also voicing their concerns, mainly their demands for parks and community centers.
In the other corner, however, is the Bloomberg administration, who are in favor of the GGP plan. Since the property is city-owned, this could be the thorn in the side of those opposing the plans, which include a high-rise blocking the waterfront.
The Times breaks down the square footage for the future look; it would include "423,815 square feet of retail space, 375,140 square feet of hotel space, 247,950 square feet of open space, 176,575 square feet of residential space and 32,000 square feet of space for a community center." Earlier this year a 30,000 square foot community center was proposed, to be housed on the second floor of the former Fulton Market building (currently where the “Bodies” exhibit is on display), and the community deemed it too small. The next monthly scheduled meeting for CB1 is next Tuesday.
