Contact Us
Our Next Meeting
Date To Be Announced
St. Margaret's House
Library
49 Fulton St. (Map)
Sample letters to Elected Officials:
Sample One
Sample Two
Are you or were you a
Seaport Volunteer?
Please fill out our Volunteer Census.
-
Recent Posts
Archives
- January 2016
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
Categories
Recent Tweets
Tweets by saveourseaportRelated Links
- Seaport Museum May Look to Sell Off Historic Schooner
- Seaport Museum Struggles to Stay Afloat
- Seaport Museum Puts Half Its Staff on Unpaid Leave
- Seaport Museum Furloughs Staff Members
- Founding President of Seaport Museum Calls for Resignations
- Seaport Museum Founders Offer New Plan to Keep Institution Afloat
- Seaport Museum Seeks Berths for Vessels
- The Collapse of Two Seaport Museums
- Fighting to keep Seaport museum from sinking
- NY Post: Abandoning Ships – City's Old Vessels Lost In Fog Of Debt, Neglect
- WCBS News88: South Street Seaport Ships Falling Apart
- Seaport Museum In Danger
Join Save Our Seaport for our next meeting on January 25 at 6:30pm
Posted in General
Leave a comment
Join Save Our Seaport for our next meeting on November 18 at 6:30pm
Mark your calendar: The next meeting of Save Our Seaport will be on Wednesday, November 18, at 6:30 in the St. Margaret’s House conference rooms. More to come…..
In the meantime, our friends at Historic Districts Council want to let you know about a great program that HDC started last year called Preservation School. The series seeks to provide basic background and skills about historic preservation in NYC in an informal setting. The classes are held on Monday nights once a month from September to June at their Neighborhood Preservation Center (232 East 11th Street). Each class lasts about an hour and includes a Q&A period. Last year 8 classes were offered, all very well received. The series is offered again this year with a few new classes mixed in (see the list below).
You’re invited and welcome to join for any and all of the 2015-16 series. Also, please forward the info to any friends, neighbors or colleagues that you think might be interested. Spread the word!
Here is the list of classes and dates still to come:
- Working with Elected Officials (NEW!) – December 7
- Zoning 101 – February 8
- Architectural Photography – March 14
- Reading Architectural Drawings – April 11
- Building Materials – May 9
- Social Media for Preservation Campaigns (NEW!) – June 13
Here is the link to learn more and to register for individual classes or for the whole series:
http://hdc.org/featured/preservation-school-2016
Posted in General
Leave a comment
There Will Be No Tall (Seaport) Tower
New York, NY (November 6, 2015) – “There will be no tall (Seaport) tower on the New Market site ”says an Howard Hughes Corporation (“HHC”) spokeswoman.
“That is not happening.” (As quoted in Thursday’s New York Post).
Save Our Seaport’s Michael Kramer said that the grassroots group was encouraged by today’s announcement. “Both the Seaport Working Group and Manhattan Community Board One have strongly opposed inappropriate development at the historic Old Fish Market site. We echo their call to extend the South Street Seaport Historic District to include the New Market Building, that further there be no “tower” on that site, and ask for a Master Planning Process to find a way to re-use this unique structure and its location to honor its maritime history with a water dependent or enhancing use.”
David Sheldon of Save Our Seaport added: “there is a certain sense of promise as we see our years of advocacy for the South Street Seaport Historic District finally bearing fruit.”
Save Our Seaport, a grassroots organization developed by South Street Seaport Museum volunteers and former staff and joined by local concerned citizens, is fighting the Howard Hughes Corporation’s (“HHC”) proposed redevelopment plans at New York City’s historic port, which would otherwise result in debasement of the city’s only lasting tribute to the city’s seafaring heritage.
The NYC Economic Development Corporation had been charged with maintaining the New Market Building, since the relocation of the Fish Market to Hunters Point in 2005. The “Seaport Speaks” workshop attended by all stakeholders back then, made a series of recommendations; which fell on deaf ears during the Bloomberg Administration.
Unfortunately, the New Market Building has been allowed to fall into an extreme state of disrepair, post-Sandy. NYCEDC has just announced that they will make emergency repairs in November to stabilize and maintain the building and the pier infrastructure.
After emerging from Bankruptcy Court in 2010, the Howard Hughes Corporation was given a “sweetheart” lease deal by the NYCEDC to spearhead Seaport redevelopment. HHC pays the City less than $3.50 psf while demanding market rents from their retail tenants.
According to the New York Post article, “the original plan, which had at times called for a tower as tall as 50 stories, drew significant opposition from community and preservation groups who vowed to derail it. That may have worked.”
Save Our Seaport continues to call for a transparent and public planning process to find a new use for this iconic building and site. The Seaport should reclaim its history as NYC’s maritime market district, a place of exchange where the East River meets the Harbor – with the museum and its ships, its historic buildings and the water’s edges supported, reinvented and reconnected to other citywide efforts along the Harbor District. The South Street Seaport district is unique and irreplaceable and therefore must be valued in any city transaction as a cultural resource.
About Save Our Seaport
Seaport (SOS) is a grassroots organization that began primarily among South Street Seaport Museum volunteers and former staff, including its founding President, Peter Stanford. Since 2011, SOS has grown to include a broad array of citizens concerned with the preservation of the Museum, the Seaport Historic District, New York and American maritime history, the Museum ships and waterfront, and the District’s public markets.
SOS continues to defend the inherent character and public purpose of this neighborhood, seeks to ensure its revitalization, and opposes the imposition of development interests over those of residents and New Yorkers at large.
Visit our website: SaveOurSeaport.org On Twitter: @SaveOurSeaport and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SaveOurSeaport
MEDIA CONTACT:
Patricia Jones
Posted in General
Leave a comment
Join Save Our Seaport for our next meeting on October 29 at 6:30pm
Save Our Seaport will have its next meeting on Thursday, October 29, from 6:30 to 8:30, in St. Margaret’s House, 49 Fulton Street, conference rooms 2 & 3.
It’s been a while, and there will be a lot coming up, so respond to this e-mail if there is something in particular that you think will need to be added on the agenda. We’ll try to get through as much as we can.
Looking forward to our meeting on the 29th!
Download the meeting flyer:
SOS Meeting flyer 102915R
Posted in General
Leave a comment
The South Street Seaport Museum Needs Your Support Today!
Friends:
The South Street Seaport Museum needs your support today!
LMDC will hold a public forum starting at 4:30pm this afternoon to hear comments regarding potential projects to be supported with federal funds obtained through a settlement reached with Bovis Lendlease which made $50 million available for reallocation by LMDC. This includes the South Street Seaport Museum. Members of the public are invited to share their ideas and comments with LMDC at this public forum. Let’s show up to support the museum! If you can’t attend – please help spread the word!
Click here to learn more:
LMDC Seaport Museum – Water Street 9-2015 FINAL
The meeting is TODAY: Thursday, September 17, 2015 from 4:30 pm through 7:00 pm
The meeting will end promptly at 7:00 pm. If there are speakers present who have not been heard a second meeting may be held. Speakers must arrive and register to speak before 6:30 p.m.
Location:
Fiterman Hall/Borough of Manhattan Community College
245 Greenwich Street (Barclay Street – Side Entrance) 13th Floor New York, New York 10007
Click here for details: Renew NYC
Posted in General
Leave a comment
Listen to An Interview with Save Our Seaport on WBAI Radio
On September 3, Save Our Seaport spokesperson Michael Kramer was interviewed on WBAI’s morning show to discuss the latest news on our fight to Save Our Seaport. You can download an audio file and listen to the interview here: WBAI Interview with Save Our Seaport
Posted in General
Leave a comment
Tuesday’s Landmarks Preservation Commission Public Hearing is Open to All of Us!
Here’s what the Landmarks Preservation Commission had to say about the new design of Pier 17 back in 2012. It’s an example of the kinds of things that concern the LPC. It also shows how the first design of Pier 17 has been changing: LPC Report 129003 8-22-12
Remember that each speaker will have three minutes and three minutes only. Testimony can also be submitted in writing.
The South Street Seaport Historic District is important to us all: neighbors, New Yorkers, visitors, and friends the world over.
Tuesday’s public hearing is open to all of us.
Please help spread the word!
Posted in General
Leave a comment
Reminder! The Landmarks Preservation Commission Hearing is Tuesday, August 4
The Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing agenda for Tuesday, August 4 now shows the Seaport application as Item 13, final item:
Approximate Time: 3:30 – End
It is recommended to be there by 2:30
(ID REQUIRED for entry, and security can take some time.)
Location:
NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission
Municipal Building, South Entrance
1 Centre Street
9th Floor
Look for Save Our Seaport on the 9th Floor around 2:30PM.
The LPC website has put up a link to the full 52-page HHC Seaport presentation for the LPC Public Hearing on 08/04:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/presentation-materials/8_04_15/89%20South%20Street.pdf
Posted in General
Leave a comment
Update: Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) Public Hearing Postponed to August 4, 2015
Save Our Seaport met Wednesday evening for an orientation to the coming Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) public hearing on applications by the Howard Hughes Corporation for the South Street Seaport Historic District.
The first thing learned was that the hearing is now postponed to Tuesday, August 4. The hearing will be held in the Commission’s offices in the Municipal Building, 1 Centre Street, 9th floor. The time has not yet been determined but we understand that it will be last on the agenda.
Here is the item from the LPC August 4 Calendar:
89 South Street – South Street Seaport Historic District 16-2016- Block 73, Lot 10, Zoned C-2-8 Community District 1, Manhattan
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
A modern pier and retail structure approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2014. Application is to demolish the Link building, modify the facade and construct a rooftop pergola structure.
Stay tuned for updates!
Posted in General
Leave a comment
Join us on Wednesday, July 15 at 6:30 PM and Help Fight to Save Our Seaport
The next SOS meeting will be on Wednesday, July 15, 2015
In the St. Margaret’s House Meeting Wing
49 Fulton Street at 6:30 PM
The meeting will focus on preparing for the coming Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing, as well as on the latest developments in the fight to Save Our Seaport.
Please join us and help spread the word!
Posted in General
Leave a comment