Posted Jan 28, 2013, 8:56 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Borough of Jersey
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http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2013/0...he_seaport.php
Is This Proposed Pier 17 Signage a 'Blight' on the Seaport?
January 28, 2013
by Sara Polsky
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Developer Howard Hughes Corporation recently present its design for Pier 17's signage to the City Planning Commission—to, er, a less than ecstatic response. The commission's chair, Amanda Burden, said her "feeling is we will have blighted—it's a strong word, but I feel it—the Lower Manhattan waterfront environment forever" if the signage is allowed to go ahead. Other commissioners seemed no more inclined to support the design, on which City Planning will take its vote next month, the Tribeca Trib explains. While it's true that the Pepsi and Domino signs have their own special place in the urban design canon, "this is not an iconic sign," said commissioner Maria Del Toro. "So let's not put it in the same category." Oof. How's that feel, Howard Hughes?
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http://tribecatrib.com/content/propo...blight-seaport
By JESSICA TERRELL
Quote:
An 18-foot-high, 90-foot-long illuminated sign proposed to go atop the redeveloped Pier 17 mall was denounced last week as a potential eyesore by City Planning commissioners. They said they feared the sign would mar iconic views of the South Street Seaport.
Designers for developer Howard Hughes Corp. argue that the sign, proclaiming “SEAPORT” in giant letters, harkens back to historic riverfront signage and would help draw visitors to the area. But during a review session for the mall project on Jan. 22, all five City Planning commissioners said they opposed it.
“My feeling is we will have blighted—it’s a strong word, but I feel it—the Lower Manhattan waterfront environment forever,” said Commission Chair Amanda Burden. “I am really worried about it.”
The Planning Commission, which takes its official vote next month, must weigh in on several special permits, zoning amendments and special signage approvals as part of the city’s lengthy Uniform Land Use Review Process. The commission is expected to vote favorably on the project as a whole, with some modifications. Only signs in waterfront districts are under the purview of the commission.
Community Board 1 also opposed the sign after reviewing the mall plans in October.
“I think we can consider this to be a major victory for the efforts of this Community Board,” Michael Levine, CB1’s director of land use and planning, said of the commissioners’ views.
The commissioners’ opposition to the sign puts them at odds with the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), which approved it last October.
“I think [the sign] is excellent," LPC vice-chair Pablo Vengoechea said at the October meeting. “It does recall an industrial building, but at the same time it is appropriate to this use.”
Planning commissioners last week acknowledged the history of such illuminated industrial signs such as Pepsi and Domino, but said the concept did not translate for them.
“We really have to respect the integrity of the waterfront,” said Commissioner Maria Del Toro. “And I like the iconic signs, but this is not an iconic sign, so let’s not put it in the same category.”
Burden told fellow commissioners that her concerns about the sign came after spending numerous hours “studying how it feels to be on the East River at night.”
“The glory of the East River in this location is the Brooklyn Bridge,” Burden said. “It is beautiful, the skyline of Brooklyn from Manhattan, of Manhattan from Brooklyn and these twinkling lights on the water. It is really quite extraordinary.”
The Planning Commission is expected to vote on the project on Feb. 6. From there, it will go to the City Council for final approval. Howard Hughes Corp. plans to begin work on the project in June and reopen the area in 2015.
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