Agreement Reached for Overhaul of NYC's South Street Seaport

The red, boxy Pier 17 building at South Street Seaport will be getting a modern makeover. City officials have reached an agreement with developer Howard Hughes Corp. to redevelop the building.

The contemporary design calls for a glass-enclosed mall and larger open spaces on the pier that juts out onto the East River, as well as on the building’s roof.

Howard Hughes CEO David Weinreb said Thursday the revamped pier will transform the Seaport into "an energetic, highly engaging destination for shopping, dining and entertainment in lower Manhattan."

The company reached a deal with the city's Economic Development Corp. for the redevelopment. The plan was also approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, with support from Community Board 1.

“As Lower Manhattan continues to grow and thrive, the reimagined Pier 17, along with the new Pier 15 and East River Waterfront Esplanade, will present New Yorkers with an even better reason to explore and visit the South Street Seaport,” NYCEDC President Seth Pinsky said.

The Pier 17 renovation plans were created by SHoP Architects, which designed the East River Waterfront esplanade and Pier 15. T

South Street Seaport comprises an existing mall as well as historic buildings. There was a fire at Pier 17 last month, but no major damage was sustained.

Construction will start next year and is expected to be completed by 2015.

(A rendering of how the redeveloped Pier 17 will look inside./Courtesy of Howard Hughes Corporation/SHoP Architects)