The South Street Seaport development plan

Citation preview

THE

SOUTH STREET S

DEVELOPMENT PLAN

When you Because

leave, please leave this it

book

has been said

who

"Ever'thing comes f him

waits

Except a loaned book."

OLD YORK LIBRARY - OLD YORK FOUNDATION

Avery Architectural and Gift of Seymour B. Dirst

Fine Arts Library

Old York Library

THE

SOUTH STREET SEAPORT DEVELOPMENT PLAN Prepared by

Jonathan Barnett, A. I. A., Master Planner

Edward L. Barnes, F.A.I. A., Architect James Ulmer and Company, Economic Analyst and

Financial Planner

Charles Forberg, Graphic Design

John M. Y. Lee, Project Manager LeMessurier Associates, Structural Engineers Joseph Loring & Associates, Mechanical Engineers

Wolf &

Co., Building Cost Estimates

Jeffrey Fulton, Building

Codes

Jan V. White, Publication Graphics

John V. Y. Lee, Drawings

Ron

Taylor, Publication Graphic Production

Sanders Printing Co., Printing

The South

Street Seaport

This development plan is the Laurance S. Rockefeller

first

Museum

stage of a three year planning program,

made

possible by a grant from

he South Street Seaport

Museum was

conceived, in the words of

its

founder and president, Peter Stanford, "out of a general-

and surviving

ized affection for the old brick buildings

taverns and maritime enterprises of the historic city waterfront along South Street."

The Muse um was founded coll ection of ships

and marine

as a ce n tral point for th e artifacts,

presentation of the vanished ways of

New York

built

and the study an d th at r>rio;ina1lY

life

City. It seeks to preserve a group__o|_sig^_

where

nificant ships, and, in the blocks a djoining the piers

on

the ships are

display, to resto re a precinct of histo ric

build ings that will preserve a continuity with the past, and yet will

of

hav e a contemporary

life

of

its

owrj.

The Museum, founded in 1966, now has a membership more than 25,000 people and displays a collection of

ten ships at two piers in the East River just south of the

Brooklyn Bridge.

It

also occupies space in several old

Market area

buildings in the Fulton Fish piers,

just

behind the

with displays, a book store, model shop, and

The Museum's

ships

and other

offices.

draw more than

activities

a million people a year as visitors, and the

Museum

pro-

gram is becoming more popular and active all the time. The growth of the Seaport Museum has been rapid, but up Scene in Fulton Market, 1856. F. Heely Collection.

until recently

it

has taken place step by step in rela-

tively small increments.

While a number of

partial plans

have been published, the actual advance of the Seaport has been on an informal, ad-hoc basis. Certain events have

now

taken place, however, which require that the Seaport

formulate

its

plans for the future in a

The Fulton Fish Market has improved

facilities in the

Bronx. Knowing ings

had been

Market so

this,

set

up

more

plans to

move

to

much

Terminal Market area of the

an organization called Seaport Holdto acquire land

and buildings

that they could be preserved

Museum. However,

precise manner.

the Seaport

in the

by the Seaport

was not alone

in being

interested in these properties.

The impending departure

of the Fish Market,

expansion of the Wall Street business

major

real-estate

company

to

district,

and the

caused a

purchase two key blocks

in

the Seaport's prime area of interest, with the objective of

tearing

down

the historic structures

—

including Scher-

merhorn Row, the most famous group of buildings in the area and replacing them with a large new office tower.

—

^

View of Fulton

The developer's plans were slowed down, however, when the City's Landmarks Preservation Commission deand near-by buildings an HisLandmark. The City also extended the Brooklyn

toric

Schermerhorn

Row

clared Schermerhorn

Street

looking towards the Ferry Terminal

Courtesy

Museum

Row

around 1880. on the right. New York.

is

of The City of

Bridge Southeast Urban Renewal designation to include the. Seaport area.

The

Seaport, working with the Mayor's Office of

Lower

Manhattan Development and the City Planning Commission,

found a way

to save the old buildings

real-estate interests trict.

The

who were

and buy out the

threatening the historic dis-

existing zoning permitted buildings to

floor area ten to fifteen times as

much

have a

as the area of the

land they stand on, in other words, a building covering the entire site

would be ten

to fifteen stories

The existUnder City

tall.

ing buildings average less than four stories.

law, the differences between the actual floor area of a des-

ignated landmark building and the permissible floor area

can be transferred to adjacent properties. These unused portions of the building envelope permitted on a landmark site

are called the "air rights," or "development rights."

As

there turned out to be no immediate buyer for these

air rights, a

group of banks led by

First National City

Bank and Chase Manhattan Bank, have purchased them for sale to future developers of adjacent blocks. This sale

had permitted the City and

W (see

knowing

map,

p.

10

to acquire the blocks labeled

under

)

its

74E

urban renewal powers,

and prospective sale and would reimburse the City and it would not be diverting scarce urban renewal funds from areas that the air rights sale

lease agreements

of immediate social concern. Seaport Holdings already

owned blocks 96E and 96W, which City, along with

its

The New York

it

transmitted to the

97E and W. Museum will purchase

property on blocks

State

Maritime

now minus its air rights, and will restore it and home of its permanent collection. The South Street Seaport has leased back from the City blocks 96E and W, now also divested of their air rights, along with block 74E,

make

it

about

15%

the

years, with

of the 97 blocks. its

13%

become an

office

Block

74W

on

lower floors and

its

The

rental being

will

transferred air rights.

is

The

Seaport's lease of

its

own

tower with

eligible to receive

result of this

is

for

99

gross rents. retail

some

space of the

complex transac-

3

tion

Schermerhorn Row, and the other

that

Lumbard attended on

historic

staff.

Eliot

buildings on Block 74E, have been preserved without any

State

Maritime Museum.

is

At

subsidy by the City.

The Seaport has stantial amount of Peck

also signed a separate lease for a sub-

the City's waterfront, extending

Slip south to Pier 15,

from

and from the west face of the

behalf of the

New York

the suggestion of the consultants, the Planning

Development Committee met on an exceptionally

by the consul-

sive schedule, with frequent presentations tants.

An

and

inten-

was created

orderly decision-making process

This

with the Committee reviewing progress, making sugges-

lease covers four existing piers

and two waterfront buildamount of land and of wooden

tions,

ings, plus a considerable

plan as they were completed. The plan was the result of

Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive to the pierhead

line.

platforms built out over the water.

The Seaport

and then formally adopting various aspects of the

this process of

eventually expects to lease blocks

97E and

interchange and participation.

W from the City on analogous terms to those for the 96

The development plan was then submitted to the Seaport Board in July of 1973 and, after some revisions, was

blocks.

adopted as the policy guide for the future of the Seaport.

The South

Street Seaport

Museum

will then control a

substantial portion of the waterfront, and, eventually, as

many

as five or

Through

more blocks

of property behind the piers.

the generosity of

Laurance

S.

Rockefeller,

funds were provided to conduct a comprehensive planning study of the properties the Seaport

surrounding areas. Funds for the

were received

in

March

of 1973

represents the conclusion of the

now

controls and the

The development plan consists of: 1, a staged design and development plan that allocates the major uses for land and buildings; 2, pre-schematic designs for the building projects and for the treatment of the highway and waterfront; 3, an outline financial plan based on preliminary cost estimates and estimates of potential income

stage of the plan

and, 4, a graphic design policy for signage, maps, street

and the following report

furniture and other elements of the Seaport environment.

first

first

phase of

this plan-

The purpose come

The Development Plan The Seaport Museum as the master planner

ment

studies,

of the development plan

to create a

is

financially feasible balance of uses that will provide in-

ning study.

to support the Seaport restoration while allowing

space for non-revenue-producing retained Jonathan Barnett,

and co-ordinator for

its

AIA,

develop-

and the planning team consisted of the

fol-

Museum

functions. It

and new

also sets the design character for both restored

buildings,

and

for the waterfront

and

streets,

orderly framework for future decisions.

providing an

The plan

also

lowing consultants: Edward L. Barnes, FAIA, architect;

creates the context for fund raising, for discussions with

James Ulmer & Co.,

potential developers

real estate analysis; Charles Forberg,

graphic design; LeMessurier Associates, structural engi-

and

investors,

and

for dealings with

government agencies.

neers; Joseph Loring

&

Associates, mechanical engineers;

The plan does not

try to

be definitive about matters that

Wolf & Co., building

cost estimates; Jeffrey Fulton, build-

won't take place for

many

years,

and which should be

re-

ing codes; and Jan V. White, publication graphics.

solved closer to the actual time of decision. However, the

The Board of the Seaport designated a Planning and Development Committee, under the chairmanship of Rich-

document

ard Buford, to be

enough

its

representative in working with the

consultants on the development plan.

The membership

the Committee, in addition to Mr. Buford,

was

of

as follows:

is

definitive in the sense that the

to

make drawings

such planning

For

4

members

of the Seaport

is

of im-

It is

easy

would be

some hypoth-

about the means by which goals can be achieved,

Kenneth Patton, and Peter Stanford. Richard Weinstein, the Director of Lower Manhattan Development for the City, participated in the meetings, as did Bronson Binger and other

of something that

desirable in the future, but, unless there esis

Kent Barwick, Joan Davidson, James M. Fitch, Jakob Isbrandtsen, D.

means

plementation are an intrinsic part of the plan.

is

this reason,

not a meaningful guide to future actions. the real-estate consultant has

closely with the planner

worked

and architect from the beginning,

and continuous checks have been run on building and prospective engineering problems.

costs

View of Brooklyn,

Study Area the area south of the Brooklyn Bridge

and from Pearl

to Burling Slip,

Street to the pierhead

and will

Goals For The Plan

no

to turn

back the

desire to create a detailed restoration,

with the buildings brought back to a particular historic date, guides in period costume, visitor feel

the

series of uses

in

and every aspect designed

he has stepped back into the past.

Museum

wish to create a wholly modern

where the old buildings and ships are pre-

served purely for scenic

effect.

Ghiradelli Square and the

San Francisco, are modern shopping centers

occupying the

shells of older buildings.

edly popular, but the Seaport in

Museum

They

ticularly

charming.

commercial

districts

It

and a genuine

interest to tourists

also the

aim of the Seaport

be active for as

much

to create a district that

of the day as possible.

Not only

it is

the

and

life

of

aim of the Seaport Mu-

working its

as well as craft shops, but there should be a substantial

number

of residents. Restaurants

important

in

making

and theaters

will also

be

the area lively.

Another important aim

is

that the Seaport should be, to

the extent possible, self-supporting, so that

means should

be found to maximize income, to the degree that remains consistent with the Seaport's principal objectives.

The

plan should represent the best trade-off between commercial

income and the Seaport's museum function, so

the plan will be as readily

money needed from

the

amount

will

be held down.

of

implemented

as possible,

that

and

philanthropic sources

elegant or par-

has always been one of the City's

and

to preserve this area as a

activities

are deserv-

has something else

mind for South Street. The South Street waterfront was never

seum

ticket takers.

should ground floors house activities like shops and stores,

The Seaport Museum does not wish clock. It has

Cannery,

New York.

vidual ownership, and not be a precinct with turnstiles

It is

line.

make the Nor does

from U.S. Hotel,

personal experience, personal handling of materials, indi-

The plan covers

to

L.I.

district,

with real

own, although also of

visitors.

The tenants and land uses should relate to the educational work of the museum, but in an experimental, not a didactic way. The Museum should be perceived through

The Bicentennial The South Street Seaport Museum has been endorsed as an official project by the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission and by the State and City Bicentennial organizations as well, as part of the observances for

the 200th Anniversary celebration of the independence of the United States of America. significant part of the plan

The Seaport hopes

that a

can be implemented by 1976. 5

The development plan covers

area

the

south of the Brooklyn Bridge to Burling

and from Pearl

Slip,

Street to the

end of

the piers in the East River.

The South dorsed as an

been en-

Street Seaport has

official

project by the national

Bicentennial Commission, and by the organizers of the City and State Bicentennial celebrations

as well.

The date 1976

is

therefore very important for the Seaport,

and a substantial amount of the development plan should be carried out by then. The Fulton Fish Market, however, will not be moving to the Bronx Terminal Market until the middle of 1976, or possibly

even

so that the plans have to be de-

later,

signed around the continued presence of the market. Accordingly the plan in

two

is

distinct phases, the first to

shown

be com-

pleted by the Bicentennial year, the second

representing the ultimate restoration. In 1976,

all

if

goes according to plan,

the visitor walking east will find that the street

on Fulton

Street

has been closed and

repaved from Water to South Streets, and the blocks of Front Street

on

either side of

Fulton have also been closed and repaved.

On his right, the block containing ScherRow will have been restored as the New York State Maritime Museum, merhorn

and, on the

left,

Fulton, Water,

the block

bounded by

Beekman and Front

Streets

have been restored by the Seaport

will

Museum,

including replacing the missing

building at Fulton and Front Streets.

The one

story

market building on the

block across from Schermerhorn

Row

will

have been remodeled temporarily for shops

and

exhibits,

and surrounded with a tradiThe drawing on pages 12

tional "tin" roof.

and 1 3 shows how the block of Front Street between Fulton and Beekman is expected to look at this stage.

As

the visitor nears South Street, he will

find that a

canopy has been stretched from highway struc-

the west face of the elevated

and out over a waterfront esplanade.

ture

Brightly colored kiosks will occur at intervals along this covered

the

Museum's

significant ships.

nade

is

walkway leading

collection of historic

A

to

and

drawing of the espla-

shown on pages 18 and

19.

new

Ultimately, a

PHASE 2

building will be con-

on the "market" block across from Schermerhorn Row that will follow the general shape of the building that stood on structed

the site in the early nineteenth century, but will not

reproduce

it

in exact detail.

There

be a glassed in arcade between the inner and outer buildings. The drawing on

will

page 25 shows what the arcade in such a structure might look like. If to

move components

it is

of the Fish

other locations in the vicinity,

make

possible to

possible

Market it

to

may be

a start on this building by

1976. However, this portion of the plan will

probably not be built for several years.

The buildings on the blocks bounded by Beekman and Water Streets, Peck Slip and South Street

will

be restored and missing

buildings replaced by the Seaport as part of the final phase of the development plan.

The portion of Front Street between these blocks will become a special enclave of galleries

Crafts

is

apartments and

craft shops, with

and

studios above.

A

drawing of

shown on page

27.

this Street of

The canopies

along the elevated drive structure will be extended northward to Peck Slip and a new Pier 18 constructed in order to display additional ships. Streets will be resurfaced

with traditional paving materials through-

much

out the Seaport Area and

of

it

will

be a pedestrian precinct. In this final phase, two large office buildings will have

been constructed on near-by

The lower

properties.

floors of these build-

ings should be designed to be in

harmony

with the Seaport, and their bulk minimized

much as possible. The City's Office of Lower Manhattan Development has writ-

as

ten zoning controls to accomplish these objectives.

The South

Street Seaport

planned to be more than a its.

The combination

craft shops,

an area with a strong visitor will

of residences

commercial

taurants and theaters

come

Museum

is

is

series of exhib-

and

stores, offices, res-

designed to create

life

of

its

own. The

to look at the ships

and

displays, but he will also be able to partici^COMMERCIAL

BUILOINGS

pate in an experience, a district of the City

^RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

^LIGHT ||PARK ^

that preserves a continuity with the past

INDUSTRIAL

PEDESTRIAN PRECINCTS j

3

but

is full

of vitality today.

(^INDUSTRIAL

7

INVENTORY

The Relocation of

A co-operative cipal

Market composed of the prinFulton Fish Market has

the Fish

organization

companies

in the

signed a lease with the City for space in a

new build-

ing to be constructed for the Co-operative in the

95%

Bronx Terminal Market. As

come

in

of the fish

by truck, the removal of the market

City's principal wholesaling area will

tion far

The

more

efficiently

than

it

it

func-

does at present.

was approved by

revised lease

make

now

to the

New

Estimate in February of 1973.

the

Board

of

construction

documents are being prepared on an accelerated schedule. If City approvals and the building process are carried through expeditiously, it is hoped that construction can begin on the new market facilities during 1974. With luck, a new building in the Bronx would be ready for the Fish Market in 1976.

The

Seaport's plans will have to be staged to take

account of the continued presence of the Fish Market for the next several years.

Building Survey

The

structural engineers

sultant

made

and the building code con-

a tour of the Seaport area and graded

each of the buildings according to apparent structural condition.

The purpose

of this survey

was sim-

ply to minimize unpleasant surprises at a later date.

There did not appear to be any impossible problems, even in the buildings that are in the worst condition.

A

the State

findings

check with the consultants for Block 74,

Maritime Museum, indicated that

were

similar.

The most

preserve and restore, should

would be the so-called front opposite block

difficult it

their

building to

prove desirable,

"tin building"

on the water-

96W.

Drainage

There are some apparent problems with the backup of storm drains in the Seaport area, and with flooding from the East River in periods of exceptionally high tides and storms. Should the problem persist after the new South Street interceptor sewer

is

pumping system may have Fulton Street, and,

later,

connected, a special to be provided

under Peck

under

Slip, to take

care of the over- flow from the storm sewers.

It is

important that the City keep the Seaport plans in

mind while

its

sewer improvements go forward.

Pier Structure

The City has been doing some

repairs on an adhoc basis to the piers leased to the Seaport, particularly Pier 17. As the piers are old, and no complete engineering drawings of them exist, it is important that a program of inspection and maintenance be continued, and unusual impact loads be avoided.

Front Street, looking north from Fulton

Street.

PHASE

1

While the identity of each individual building be preserved, all of the buildings in this block

will

will

be treated as a single building complex by constructing

BLOCK 96 W

an internal corridor system

in

what

is

presently an areaway between the two rows of buildings.

An elevator and stair tower will be placed

next to the main entrance on the south side of the buildings,

and another

stair

and elevator

will

be

built adjacent to the Inner City Fish Building at the

north end of the block. There

is

some

variation in

the floor levels of the buildings, but this discrepancy

would be corrected by short flights of stairs leading off the entrances from the internal corridor. The upper floors will be remodeled as office space, except for the top floor of the western row of buildings, which is a story higher and permits windows on the east side facing the corridor (which at this level could be an open walkway). This top floor space can be used for apartments. The ground floor will be shops and restaurants, except for entrances to the offices above.

The

third floor of the Inner City Fish Building

has been reserved for use as a theater, and other spaces in this block will be used for

museum

offices

and museum shops.

The building at the corner of Front and Fulton, which was torn down to make way for a subway ventilator, will be replaced in a style that ible

with the rest of the block

repeating

all

— without

the historic details.

is

compat-

necessarily

The plan shows

certain design features that are required to produce

conformity. Designing this building will be some-

what

difficult, as

it

cannot be permitted to

inter-

fere with the function of the ventilator; but prelim-

inary consultations with the Transit Authority indicate that a solution can be

worked

out.

BEEKMAN

NEW CONSTRUCTION OVER EXISTING LIGHTWELL

1 g |g g Hffl m im m

OFFICE

SHOP

I

m

ffl ffl

HsH ffl

US

ESI

rt~*~i

H4~l

,*ttj

eea Bfflffl

1—

i

11

;-tj

3

SE

NEW BUILDING CORNICE LINES ARE TO ALIGN WITH ADJACENT EXISTING FRONT ST CORNICES ENTRANCE LOBBY TO upp r flo° r ^

ttnmrc EXISTING

NEW

FULTON

The group of small

buildings on the

96W block

will be given the efficiencies of a single building

while preserving the identity and historical

NEW BUILDING CORNICE

character of each separate part.

ARE TO ALIGN WITH ADJACENT EXISTING FRONT ST CORNICES

An

internal corridor

introduced into what

and circulation system, is

now

a narrow light well, will provide access to all the buildings,

and

will

LINES

SHH

III

permit

the upper floors to be reached

by elevator.

1

PHASE

1

View up Front

Street,

looking north from Fulton. The restored buildings of Block

On

96W are at left.

the right

is

the tin roof

of the temporarily remodeled existing building

on Block 96E. (Seepage 14)

PHASE

1

may

well be oc-

this building

during the

Because the Fish Market cupying part of

Bicentennial year, an interim plan has been

devised that will utilize the existing strucit becomes and tear down the existing building, then it would be rea-

ture

BLOCK 96E

on a temporary

basis. If

possible to vacate the site

sonable to proceed with the plans for this

block that are outlined for the

final

phase

of the development plan.

1

The existing building was constructed in 949 and houses part of the operations of

the Fulton Fish Market.

a one-story

It is

structure with brick exterior walls

modern

frame and

steel

it

is,

one of the soundest structures port, although

it

tural distinction

BEEKMAN

The western

and a

ironically,

in the Sea-

enjoys neither architec-

nor historic significance.

side of the building

is being used as a parking garage, and the eastern

side

is let

As

as fish

stalls.

the structure

is

essentially similar to

a one-story "taxpayer" store structure, and

has most of the necessary

utilities,

it is

pro-

posed to rent out segments of the building as stores, starting with the western side,

with the tenants making

all

the internal

improvements.

The exterior would be given a metal awning supported on a pipe frame structure, similar to the "tin roofs" which surround many structures of this type in waterfront areas. This awning would give the building a unified architectural character at a relatively will

low

cost,

and the design

be enlivened by the storefronts and

signs.

This temporary remodeling

is

in

keeping with the Seaport's history of stepby-step organic growth.

p ULTON

14

Most

of this block has been purchased by

Consolidated Edison some years ago with the intention of tearing

down the existing new building

buildings and constructing a

housing ten transformers. Various alterna-

AND 107E

tives

were explored with the aim of finding

another

site for

at least,

preserving

the transformer station, or, all

or part of the facades

hownone of these alternatives were found to work, and Consolidated Edison will have to tear down most of this block. of the existing buildings. In the end,

ever,

Edward

L.

Barnes, the architect for the

Seaport's development plans,

is

a consul-

Edison to create design compatibility between the new subtant to Consolidated

DOVER

station

1

and the Seaport.

ffs

/

/

3|

1

^

!

h

PECK

[107VV_j/ NEW CONSTRUCTION

SLIP 15

PHASE

1

The elevated

structure of the Franklin D. Roosevelt

Drive will be a permanent fixture of the Seaport area.

the

port

THE HIGHWAY

It is

necessary to find some method of treating

highway which

Museum

but

will is

be compatible with the Sea-

true to the essential nature of

highway as a modern engineering structure. The plan calls for the highway to be repainted a deep umber color, similar to nineteenth century the

colors that will be used elsewhere in the Seaport. series of flexible canopies will

A

be attached to the

west side of the elevated highway structure, carried

underneath the highway and then extended out thirty feet

over the waterside esplanade. This con-

figuration will have the effect of de-emphasizing the

highway

eastern side. Kiosks will

under it, and proand shade on the be placed under the cano-

pies, allowing the piers

themselves to be kept free

structure, leading people

ducing a better pattern of

of permanent structures.

kiosk space

is

light

12,000 square feet of

planned for the

first

phase of devel-

opment, which will create an open market environment in what is now dead space under the highway.

Clipper

Young America

alongside a South Street pier.

PHASE

1

View looking north along the waterfront esplanade, towards the Brooklyn Bridge.

Kiosks retain some of the area's traditional open market atmosphere.

18

PHASE 1 Because the Fish Market operating at

its

will

probably be

present location during

all

or part of the Bicentennial Year, the Seaport Plan has to be designed around this situation.

By 1976,

New York

State

it is

assumed

Maritime

that the

Museum

will

have taken over and restored Block 74, the block that includes Schermerhorn

The Seaport

will

Row.

have restored Block 96W,

including replacing the missing building at

Front and Fulton. will

A temporary remodeling

have been done of the one-story build-

on Block 96E, or at least of the garage on the western side of the block. In addition, the western face and underside of the highway structure will be coving

ered with a

light, flexible

new

structure that

run under the Drive and form a covered esplanade on the eastern side. Kiosks will

and concessions will be located beneath and there will be no such structures on the piers themselves. A new substation for Consolidated Edison will have been built on Block 107E, its design this covering,

will

be compatible with the Seaport Plan.

Street Closings: First Phase

The

City has acted to close Fulton Street between Water and South Streets, the portion of South Street that lies under the elevated highway structure, and the two

blocks of Front Street that

lie

on

either side

of Fulton. These streets will be repaved,

where necessary, with Belgian Block to create a uniform appearance, and the sidewalks and curbs will be renewed, preferably with bluestone. Trees will be planted to screen the vacant,

on

city-owned properties

either side of Fulton Street to the west

of the Seaport area.

rr——n COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

^RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

^LIGHT

INDUSTRIAL

["^PEDESTRIAN PRECINCTS

^INDUSTRIAL

20

t~^5

The

PHASE 2

building on this

site in

the early nineteenth cen-

was like a traditional English market hall. A narrow structure in the form of a squared-off C, or U, surrounded the block on three sides, with the opening facing the water. Within the C was a separate structure, which was the market hall itself. Its principal facade was also turned to the water. The plan proposes that a new building be constructed on this site following approximately the tury

MARKET BLOCK 96E

configuration of the historic market, but not in so detailed a

way

as to be simply a replica.

The outer

building would contain shops and offices, and the

on the ground floor and a theater above. Instead of being separate structures, the two portions of the building would central building a restaurant

be connected with a glass-roofed

Two

galleria.

schemes are shown. The

alternative

first

shows the outer ring as one-and-one-half stories high and the central building as two stories; the second proposal shows a three-story outer ring, and

ALTERNATIVES

A"°B

a two-and-a-half story inner building.

building appears to that there

is

make

The

first

economic sense, in a better balance between income probetter

and construction costs. The second alternative would be superior from an architectural point of view, and probably would make more

jections

sense for the Seaport in the long run. If the necessary funds are available, the second building should

be constructed, the fall-back position.

The

original

as

looked from Fulton Street

it

in 1828.

22

market building shown

From

B. T. Valentine's

Manual, 1854.

first

alternative represents a

MM SKYLIGHTS

THEATER

l^^^POSSIBLE gallery

—»

BARS

RESTAURANTS

jr*—

lilt

^^^^

BAL CONY MARKETS.^: SHOPS jj

AWNING

r" ' '

\

1

_ 1

This version of the building for the

96E

block,

would

be the most nearly self-supporting

according to the economic projections.

PUBLIC

ALTERNATIVE

CIRCULATION

23

This larger, and more complex, structure for Block

Bthan

would be

ma ^ e

alternative

the

It will,

to raise in

24

96E

a superior building,

^ etter use °^

first

me and '

alternative.

however, be necessary

more money

order to build

it.

PHASE 2

These blocks would follow the same basic principle as that used in the restoration of Block 96W, in that they would be treated as units, and developed at once, while preserving the individuality of each building.

BLOCKS

97E&W

There would be a similar internal corridor

system, with stair and elevator towers at the ends.

There are several missing buildings, and they would be replaced on the same design principles as the missing building on Block 96W. The major difference would be that the Front Street side of both blocks would be designed to have residential and

on all floors, instead of just on the top would be the case in 96W. The ground floor space along Front Street would be for artisans and art galleries rather than more active commerstudio space

floor, as

cial uses, thus creating a quiet

enclave within the

over-all high intensity activity of the Seaport.

The

Meyers Hotel at and Peck Slip will be pre-

restaurant and bar of the existing the corner of South Street

served and restored, and a small hotel operation

may

be possible on some of the upper

floors.

The

outer areas of the other buildings, facing other directions than across Front Street, will follow the

pattern of shops and restaurants on the ground floor, offices

above, established on Block

96W.

View looking north on Front Street between Beekman Street and Peck Slip shows the "Street of Crafts" that will be created as a quieter enclave

within the Seaport.

There

will be

apartments over the shops

on both

26

sides of the street.

27

BLOCKS 97E.97W

Schematic sections show how building relationships will vary, because of greater range of building types and infill requirements than those found in Block 96 W. Basic treatment PECK

is

similar to

96W, however.

SLIP

BEE K MAN

GROUND FLOOR

Pairs of floorplans

Blocks 97E and typical floor,

W

show both at

and top

ground

On upper floors Studio and one bedroom apartments face Front

of Crafts. level.

floor level.

Shaded areas represent new, infill construction. At ground level shops face each other across Front Street, forming Street

28

:

=

other space will be used for

Variation

in

offices.

height of buildings

permits top floors to be used for larger studios

and apartments.

Street.

TYPICAL FLOOR

PHASE 2 Other Blocks

in the

Seaport area,

Final Phase:

hoped that the frontage on the north Peck Slip can also be redeveloped in a manner compatible with the Seaport. There are no plans for the remainder of It is

side of

these blocks, but

it is

the intent of the plan

they remain working areas in real

that

waterfront uses: remaining segments of the fish

market might relocate

in these blocks,

warehousing and manufacturing related to

and so on.

the waterfront,

If

these uses

do

not prosper, a restoration plan should be

drawn up and

the blocks

added

to the Sea-

port's holdings.

There

will

be two large buildings on the

remaining blocks of the Seaport area, one

on Block 74W and one on Block 98. It is hoped that, not only will the architectural treatment of these buildings be compatible

with the Seaport, but their use will be as well. It

would be helpful

to the Seaport

if

the lower floors of both these buildings

were

to

house department stores or other

intensive

retail

strengthening

uses,

the

over-all Seaport as a shopping area.

Street Closings: Final Phase

After the departure of the Fish Market,

Beekman

Street will be closed to traffic between Water and South, Front Street will be closed between Beekman and Peck Slip, and portions of Burling and Peck Slips will

be closed as well. Water and South Streets will remain open, although there is a possibility that they can be closed during non-

peak

traffic

periods.

These

street closings

have been decided upon by City agencies, and are not under the direct control of the Seaport or

its

planners.

Highway Treatment and Kiosks: Final Phase

The treatment

of the highway structure

with canopies placed at intervals will be

continued up the waterfront to Peck

Slip,

The repaving already on other closed

and additional kiosks constructed. The

will

Seaport also hopes to rebuild Pier 19

the Seaport area

though no money for

this is

al-

budgeted in

be extended throughout from Peck Slip south, and bollards, or some similar traffic

the plan.

30

carried out

streets

control device installed.

There

is

some question about

the future

of the two waterfront buildings, east of the

highway

structure,

that are now occupied by the Fish Market. The plan shows them cleared

00

ov

4350.0

4331.0

Net Available Capital For

19189.0

3910.0

1552.0

5

E. Foundation Gift

12757.0

3052.0

Total I

97E&W

Project

CASH FLOW: INCl

1

U

«JtI

VXLC

ULVl

1

4

j

^ 5

1

88 8

1

ZU.D

724 9

22.1

H.1J.J

Z 1 ou.z

A. Ground Rent to City

— Uplands — 97 Balance Net Cash Flow —

2

B. First Mortgage

Net Cash Flow C.

Bank &

I.

—

3

Co. Loans

Net Cash Flow

—4

D. Foundation Loan

Net Cash Flow

—

5

42.9

17.9

82.9

18.7

101.6

—

—

-0-

-0-

251.0

251.0

372.6

170.9

98.5

642.0

1165.6

1807.6

286.6

-0-

75.8

362.4

896.6

1259.0

22.7

86.0

170.9

98.6

H3.2

(12.6)

57.7

22.7

279.6

269.0

548.6

211.8

33.8

245.6

67.8

235.2

303.0

67.8

235.2

303.0

-0-

-0-

-0-

GRAPHIC POLICY The graphic

policy for the master plan

bears the same relationship to the Seaport's graphics

the

as

schematic architectural

drawings done for the plan have to the architectural drawings that will be

Iff

done by

the architects of the buildings.

RIDMS

Charles Forberg, the graphic consultant, has prepared policies for two areas graph:

and streetscape. Under graphics are four sub-categories: 1, elements that would identify the Seaport area as approached from outside; 2, direction and information ics

graphics inside the Seaport area; for special exhibits

Under

publications. categories:

and

1,

activities,

f

GAEHSfONQMTCK

3, signs

and, 4,

streetscape are three

lighting; 2, seating in pedes-

C

ML Some examples

of compatible

modern

graphics.

used

trian areas, and, 3, other elements

repeatedly throughout the Seaport, such as kiosks, awnings, barriers, trash cans,

and

so on.

Three different kinds of graphic design be needed to cut across the other cate-

will

gories:

1,

a vocabulary of lettering styles

derived directly from historical examples; 2, a transitional

graphic style derived from

historic

examples but used more

and,

modern typography which

3,

freely, is

re-

lated stylistically to the historic lettering

which could be used in an way. Some examples

selected, but

entirely un-historic

are

shown on

this page.

They

include:

1,

alphabets of letters derived from nineteenth century painted signs that

would be

used on the exterior of restored buildings

ABCDEFGH

ABCDEPG

to identify shops; 2, signs that could iden-

or identity symbol; and, 3,

ABCDEF

which could be used inside new buildings, and other places where historic lettering was

ABODE FG

not appropriate.

Examples of appropriate

tify

museum

exhibits

which use nineteenth

century lettering over a

modern logotype modern sign-

age, compatible to the old lettering,

40

historic alphabets.

205 Front Street

in

1

885.

SOUTH STREET SEAPORT MUSEUM

OFFICERS

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Jakob Isbrandtsen, Chairman

Kent Barwick Kenneth Bilby Richard Buford Joseph Cantalupo Melvin A. Conant

Peter Stanford. President F. Briggs Dalzell, Secretary

Eric Ridder, Sr., Treasurer

E. Virgil

Moulton H. Farnham Jakob Isbrandtsen James C. Kellogg III James F. Kirk Warren T. Lindquist Robert W. McCullough D. Kenneth Patton

Conway

F. Briggs Dalzell

Fergus Reid

III

Eric Ridder, Sr.

George W. Rogers Victor A.

Romagna

James R. Shepley

Howard Slolnick Edmund A. Stanley,

Jr.

Joan K. Davidson

SOUTH STREET ADVISORY COUNCIL E. Virgil Conway, Chairman

Melvin Conant, Co-chairman Barbara Johnson, President, Board of Trustees, Museum of American Folk

Robert G. Albion

Gardner Professor of Oceanic History and Affairs, Emeritus, Harvard University Jack R. Aron, President, J. Aron Charitable Foundation

Arts Waldo C. M. Johnson. Director. Mystic Seaport A. Edwin Kendrew, FAIA, Senior Vice President (ret.). Colonial Williamsburg Karl Korlum. Director, San Francisco Maritime Museum Randall J. LeBoeuf. Jr.. Senior Partner, LeBoeuf Lamb. Leiby & MacRae John Lyman. Professor of Oceanography. University of North Carolina Loring McMillen. Director, Staten Island Historical Society Ralph R. Miller. Artist Rick Miller, Vice President, National Maritime Union

George F. Baker III, Trustee, George F. Baker Trust Frank O. Braynard, Maritime Historian

Thomas

S. Buechner, Director, Corning Glass Museum George Campbell. A.M.R.I.N.A. American Museum of Natural History Howard I. Chapelle, Curator Emeritus, Smithsonian Institution Moulton H. Farnham, Editor,

Boating

James M.

Fitch, Professor of Architecture, Director of Graduate Studies in

Admiral Edmond

Restoration and Preservation of Historic Architecture. Columbia University Oliver Jensen, Editor,

J.

International Basic

Ravmond S. Rubinow. J. M. Kaplan Fund R.

J.

Schaefer

III,

—

—

—

Economy Corporation

—

— —

Secretary,

Chairman of the Board.

M

Schaefer Brewing Corp. and Trustee, F & Walter Schlech. President, United Seamen's Service Whitney North Seymour, Jr.. Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Dr. Floyd M. Shumway. Associate Editor, John Jay Papers. Columbia University

Moran, Chairman

— —

James R. Shepley, Chairman Development Richard Buford, Chairman Education Kent Barwick, Chairman Events & Communications Kenneth Bilby, Chairman Fund Raising E. Virgil Conway, Chairman Robert W. McCullough, Chairman Piers & Ships Pioneer Moulton Farnham and Richard Rath, Co-Chairmen Planning Melvin Conant, Chairman

Bicentennial

for Historic Preservation. New York State Department of Parks and Recreation Rodman C. Rockefeller. President.

of the Board, Moran Towing & Transportation Co., Inc. Nelson North, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, City National Bank of Connecticut

American Heritage

STANDING COMMITTEES

Admiral William M. Pugh. USN, Commandant, Third Naval District and Military Sea Lift Command Frederick L. Rath. Jr.. Deputy Comn

Edouard A. Stackpole.

Editor,

Nantucket Inquirer and Mirror Alan Villiers. Master Mariner and Author Robert A. Weinstein, Marine Historian Admiral John M. Will, USN (Ret.)

OTHER COMMITTEES Stockton, Chairman Friends of South Street Joseph Cantalupo, Chairman Melvin A. Conant, Chairman Chairman Local History Val Wenzel,

Community Advisory— Richard

— — Mayor's Cup Race — Howard Slotnick, Chairman Membership— Leon Kaplan. Chairman Restoration — James M. Fitch, Chairman Shipwrights — Frank O. Braynard, Chairman

Governance

—

SUPPORTERS* Hugh Trumbull Adams

Mark Di Suvero

The Allen Foundation American Export Industries Foundation American Express Foundation American Hull Insurance Syndicate American Institute of Marine Underwriters American Re-Insurance Corporation American Stock Exchange, Inc. American Telephone & Telegraph Company J. Aron Charitable Foundation, Inc. The Vincent Astor Foundation Sol G. Atlas and John P. McGrath

Exxon Corporation First National City

Leroy Frantz

Fund for the City of New York Eva Gebhard-Gourgaud Foundation Sumner Gerard Foundation Frederic H. Gibbs Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Gilmore Roger Gimbel Charles M. Grace W. R. Grace & Company Robert H. Gregory Graham D. Gund The Marie Josephine Hartford Foundation William Randolph Hearst Foundation Mrs. Rose B. Heller Holland Lodge

Bache Corporation Foundation The George F. Baker Trust Bankers Trust Company

Bank

of

New York

Beinecke Foundation Bethlehem Steel Corporation Mr. and Mrs. Walter D. Binger Mr. and Mrs. John R. H. Blum Miss Anna E. Borgstrom

The Home Insurance Company Townsend Hornor Cecil Howard Charitable Trust Incres Lines International Business Machines Corporation International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation

Bowne & Company, Inc. Bruce Ford Brown Charitable Trust Mrs. Helen W. Buckner Cantalupo Carting Company Joseph Cantalupo Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. Chemical Bank

Chubb*

Jakob Isbrandtsen Fred S. James & Company of

Son. Inc.

Company

of

Cross, Austin

& Ireland Lumber Company,

Constans Culver Foundation

J. M. Kaplan Fund, Inc. Atwater Kent, Jr. Randall J. LeBoeuf. Jr. Lever Brothers Foundation Levitt Foundation Albert A. List Foundation

The

New York

George Coumantaros Inc.

Loeb, Rhodes & Company Mrs. J. Noel Macy Clifford D. Mallory, Jr. Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company Marine Engineers Beneficial Association District #2 Marine Midland Bank of New York Marsh & McLennan Foundation The Charles E. Merrill Trust

Sea-Train Lines, Inc. Securities Operation Division of Securities Industry Association Seiden & DeCuevas Foundation The Seth Sprague Educational & Charitable Foundation Charles Simon

Foundation Funds of Norton Simon,

Mobil Oil Corporation

The Sykes Foundation Mrs. James W. Sykes Macrae Sykes II

Jansen Noyes, Jr. Port Authority of New York and Pouch Terminal. Inc. Prudential-Grace Line, Inc.

Robert V. Timken Todd Shipyards Corporation

New

Jersey

Thor Ramsing Corporation Island Corporation

Rhode

Laurance

S. Rockefeller C. Rockefeller Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Inc. George W. Rogers Construction Corporation

Rodman

The Rudin Foundation Salomon Brothers Foundation. Donald C. Samuel Foundation R.

J.

Inc.

Schaefer

Rudolph J. Schaefer III The F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company William M. Schaefer William Jay Schieffelin. Jr. Seaboard Surety Company The Seamen's Bank for Savings

Inc.

Howard Slotnick C. F. Smithers Edmund A. Stanley, Jr.

The Ambrose Monell Foundation Albert V. Moore Foundation, Inc. Moran Towing & Transportation Company Charles F. Morgan Muir & Company, Inc. National Maritime Union of America New York Community Trust New York Foundation New York State Council on the Arts

RCA New York/Despard

International

Alfred P. Jobson Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Foundation Mrs. Barbara Johnson Johnson & Higgins Edward Powis Jones Journal of Commerce

Circle Line Sightseeing Yachts, Inc. Cities Service Foundation Frank E. Clark Charitable Trust Colt Industries Charitable Foundation Capt. J. Ferrell Colton

Melvin Conant Consolidated Edison

Bank

Stanley

Tananbaum

Fred P. Tasner

The Moses Taylor Foundation Texaco. Inc. Time. Inc.

John M. Timken

John C. Traphagen Trinity Church Corporation Universal Terminal & Stevedoring Corporation Mrs. Arnold van Ameringen

Vinmont Foundation, Barclay Warburton

Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas

J.

Mrs. Richard B.

Watson,

Jr.

Webb

The Weiss Foundation, Wertheim & Company,

Inc. Inc.

Western Electric Company White. Weld & Company Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney

Admiral John M. Will. USN (Ret.) Kenneth I. Wilpon R. Thornton Wilson, Jr. Robert W. Wilson Foundation F.

W. Woolworth Company

'Individuals, foundations and corporations who have supported the Museum by giving $1,000 or more. To this listing should he added many who have given materials, services, and the work of head and hand to build South Street, as well as a number of supporters who prefer to keep their gifts anonymous.

aea