E-BULLETIN OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS COUNCIL
March 2013, Volume 10, Number 2
Pier 17 – It’s not over yet!
If it seems like the fight for Pier 17 in the South Street Seaport Historic District has been going on for years, well, that’s because it has. From General Growth’s plan that dates back to 2007 and included moving the Tin Building, demolishing the New Market Building, and constructing a tower to the most recent Howard Hughes Corporation’s project, it has been over six years. The HH project is now working its way through the ULURP process, most recently receiving an amended approval from the City Planning Commission which included the removal of the nine-foot tall, ninety-foot long illuminated signage on the roof. The next step will be the Thursday, March 14th hearing by the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises.
HDC is not alone in trying to preserve the character of this unique historic neighborhood. We have recently joined with Save Our Seaport, the New Amsterdam Market, the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance and others to form the Save Our Seaport Coalition. The SOS Coalition seeks to preserve public space and stop future handover of such space to private developers; retain and enhance maritime uses, including adequate berthing facilities for historic ships; match the smaller city-designated historic district with the South Street Seaport Historic District listed on the State and National Register; and preserve the Tin Building and the New Market Building (the latter currently not landmarked) as a public market to serve locals and draw visitors.
You can help too:
1. Join HDC and other members of the Save Our Seaport Coalition and sign the petition. You can also sign the petition in person on Friday, March 8th 6:00-8:00 pm at Fresh Salt (146 Beekman Street) and on Monday the 11th and Wednesday the 13th 1:00-3:00 pm at Made Fresh Daily (226 Front Street).
2. Contact local Council Member Margaret Chin, subcommittee chair Council Member Mark Weprin, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and your City Council Member to let them know what New Yorkers want for the historic district.
3. Attend the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises on Thursday, March 14th, 9:30 am,
4. Forward this email to others who care about the distinctive neighborhoods that make our city special.
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Landmarks don’t deserve to be demolished
As we know too well, designation does not ensure the life of a landmark. A hardship application to demolish the individually landmarked Beth Hamedrash Hagodol on the Lower East Side was submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission recently. The Gothic Revival style building was constructed in 1850 as the Norfolk Street Baptist Church, and a decade later became a Methodist church. In 1885 it was acquired by the Congregation Beth Hamedrash Hagodol and converted into the first Russian-American Jewish synagogue in the country. In 1967 the synagogue’s spiritual leader Rabbi Ephraim Oshry, a survivor of the Holocaust and a distinguished religious scholar, requested the newly formed LPC to designate the building, and the Commission happily did just that. In recent years, though, the dwindling congregation has found it difficult to maintain. That does not seem to be a reason to give up on building that has meant so much, to so many, for so long. No public hearing has yet been scheduled, but you can help by signing the petition.
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The Advocate for New York City’s Historic Neighborhoods
232 East 11th Street New York NY 10003
tel: 212-614-9107 fax: 212-614-9127 email:[email protected]