SHoP Architects showed up to their Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing yesterday with an extremely nifty scale model of their plan for the new Pier 17, complete with real lights, detailed model ships, and three dimensional scalies. It was, all in all, a very impressive and attractive presentation, and the LPC seemed pretty taken with it. There was, however, the issue of why the plans were being presented to the LPC in the first place.
In order to construct the new Pier 17, the old Pier 17, which was designed by AIA Gold Medalist Benjamin Thompson and is located just within the borders of the landmarked South Street Seaport Historic District, would have to be demolished. Several people, including representatives of Historical Districts Council, the Society for the Architecture of the City, and Benjamin Thompson and Associates, spoke on behalf of the existing building. Several more people delivered testimony on behalf of the new plans, however, including Community Board 1 and several residents of the area. Multiple LPC members claimed to be drawn strongly to both sides of the argument, but in the end the Commission seemed to be almost unanimously in favor of the new structure. Although voting on the issue was postponed, approval seems to be something of a forgone conclusion.
?Jeremiah Budin
· Pier 17 coverage [Curbed]
· Pier 15 coverage [Curbed]
· SHoP Architects coverage [Curbed]
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