NEW YORK | 250 Water Street | 2 x 470 FT | 38 FLOORS

[giantSwan]

looks incredible - build!

[Visionist]

Build it.

[chris08876]

Former CB1 Chair Enters the Fray, Opposing a Tower on 250 Water Street

A prominent new voice has been added to the chorus of opposition against permitting the Howard Hughes Corp. to build a residential skyscraper at 250 Water Street, in the low-rise South Street Seaport Historic District.

Madelyn Wils, president and CEO of the Hudson River Park Trust, was the chair of Community Board 1 in 2003 when the board won its fight to downzone the lot, which is part of the historic district. At a June online Community Board 1 committee meeting, Wils spoke publicly for the first time against the undoing of that work.

“I’m taking a different role tonight. This is very unusual for me,” Wils told CB1’s Waterfront, Parks and Cultural Committee. “I felt that I needed to get into this conversation. I am here to just remind you of what this community board did 20 years ago, and the reason it did it.”

The Hughes Corp. proposes to provide millions of dollars in neighborhood improvements in exchange for the zoning approvals that could allow a nearly 100-story building. To make that happen, the developer needs to convince the city to remove restrictions, won by the efforts of Wils and others, that limits the building height to 120 feet. Along with changing the zoning for the site, Hughes Corp would need to transfer some 450,000 square feet of consolidated Seaport air rights, something that is now prohibited.

Chief among the incentives for those changes is a promised new building for the struggling South Street Seaport Museum.

CB1 is on record opposing changes to the current zoning, and Wils encouraged the committee to stick to that position, saying a “huge precedent” would be set if the board reversed itself and supported higher zoning in the landmark district. “You have to consider whether or not the amenities that you are being offered here are worth doing a process of upzoning this lot,” she told the committee. “And what it means for landmark districts around the city.”

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http://www.tribecatrib.com/content/former-cb1-chair-enters-fray-opposing-tower-250-water-street

[TK2001]

That petition is hilarious, as are the comments below. "Do we reeeally want more tall towers??" YES PLEASE, I really like this one

[CrazyCres]

Build it

[Busy Bee]

_

[NYguy]

Looks like they've decided to go with the tallest tower, or the two-tower plan. Not surprising. It wouldn't be surprising if they ultimately went with the two-tower plan.

Some results of the final stakeholder's meeting.

[Zapatan]

Two towers is nice but 770' seems lame for downtown, 990' is much better.

It wouldn't be surprising if they ultimately went with the two-tower plan

Why? NIMBYs and/or financial reasons I'm guessing.

[chris08876]

I like the reasons given for "B. Stepped tower".

The third point.... Because the tall tower would face too much opposition... At least they are honest.

Hopefully this ultimately is the Point Tower. Anything else seems like its catering to the NIMBYS. This area needs something that further puts it on the map. The Two Tower option sucks!

I would like to see more affordable housing on a side note.

[chris08876]

Checking In On SOM’s Proposed 89-Story Supertall At 250 Water Street In The South Street Seaport District

YIMBY went to take a look at 250 Water Street, the site of Howard Hughes‘ planned supertall in the South Street Seaport District. Early renderings from Skidmore Owings & Merrill show the mixed-use skyscraper rising nearly 1,052 feet tall. However, it may be a few years before any progress begins on the Financial District project, which would become the tallest residential building below Canal Street.

In its current state, the site is occupied by an active full-block LAZ Parking lot. 250 Water Street is bound by Pearl Street to the northwest, Peck Slip to the northeast, Water Street to the southeast, and Beekman Street to the southwest. Photographs below show the surrounding neighborhood and the skyline of the Financial District. The land gradually slopes downward towards the East River and is surrounded by a mix of historically landmarked and residential low- to mid-rise buildings. The Brooklyn Bridge is one block away to the north, while the East River waterfront and Pier 17 are both two blocks to the east by the FDR Drive.

250 Water Street is planned to rise 89 stories with 1,038,950 square feet divided between commercial, hotel, and residential components. The ground level will yield 47,820 square feet of commercial space, while the second through fifth floors will have a cumulative 179,370 square feet of commercial space. The hotel above is set to span 156,800 square feet from floors seven through 22. Residential units occupy 608,630 square feet from the 24th through the 87th floors. Mechanical levels will take up 46,330 square feet on floors six, 23, 88, and 89. It’s unclear as how many of the 550 to 700 units will be designated for affordable housing. See our previous article for more additional info. Below are the first batch of preliminary renderings that show a potential brick masonry podium.

A spokesperson from Howard Hughes Corporation recently informed YIMBY stating, “these renderings are outdated and do not depict designs under consideration for 250 Water Street.”

Hotel guests and residents will have panoramic views of the East River and the Lower Manhattan and Midtown skylines thanks to the skyscraper’s isolated position away from other tall buildings. The Fulton Street subway hub is a ten-minute walk from the site, with access to the 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, and Z trains.

A start and completion date for 250 Water Street not been disclosed.

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NYY

[Zerton]

"I live in lower Manhattan and I hate skyscrapers!"

Some people are nuts.

[Sky88]

Originally Posted by Zerton

"I love in lower Manhattan and I hate skyscrapers!"

Some people are nuts.

You are right, but I believe that it will be changed.

A spokesperson from Howard Hughes Corporation recently informed YIMBY stating, “these renderings are outdated and do not depict designs under consideration for 250 Water Street.

[NYguy]

Boooooo!!! Boooooo!!! Get off the stage!!!



https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/howard-hughe...n-development-near-nyc-seaport-1.1511728

Howard Hughes Pitches $1.4 Billion Development Near NYC Seaport

Natalie Wong, Bloomberg News

Howard Hughes Corp. is proposing a $1.4 billion development in Manhattan’s South Street Seaport District, the latest attempt to transform a lot that has been mired in controversy for decades.

The Texas-based real estate developer, whose chairman is hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, wants to turn a parking lot at 250 Water Street into two 470-foot towers with a mix of affordable rentals, offices and condo units, according to a statement Thursday.

Numerous plans for the Water Street lot have failed over the years, long before it was purchased by Howard Hughes. The current zoning allows for a roughly 12-story tower. The larger proposed buildings, at about 38 stories, require city approval.

To sweeten the deal, the company will enhance public spaces in the area and is offering to invest $50 million into the South Street Seaport Museum, which has taken a hit during the pandemic.
The project includes more than 100 affordable rentals, part of a city requirement to get approval for the proposed zoning change.
Households earning 40% of the median income in the area -- more than $150,000 -- can qualify for the apartments. The rest of the building will be condos, with about 260 units. A mix of offices and retail space will make up the lower levels.

[NYguy]

As boring as it sounds...


https://www.6sqft.com/1-4b-south-street-...-mixed-use-towers-with-affordable-units/

[Zapatan]

Nice, I like this one

Originally Posted by Zerton

"I live in lower Manhattan and I hate skyscrapers!"

Some people are nuts.

Better they go live in Kansas so they can hate cornfields

[Hudson11]

not a fan. I especially don't like the podium approach to the two towers. This is a very walkable neighborhood, and this is a huge lot, they should divide it somehow. Either an alleyway or a plaza. See the outrage at the Hudson Yards mall. If the towers need to be connected, a skybridge would be apt.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by Hudson11

not a fan. I especially don't like the podium approach to the two towers. This is a very walkable neighborhood, and this is a huge lot, they should divide it somehow. Either an alleyway or a plaza. See the outrage at the Hudson Yards mall. If the towers need to be connected, a skybridge would be apt.

Agreed, I just noticed that. A nice street level plaza would be better IMO.


Is this what's definitely being built here? I can't believe they didn't go higher in such a prime location.

[Hudson11]

Originally Posted by Zapatan

Agreed, I just noticed that. A nice street level plaza would be better IMO.


Is this what's definitely being built here? I can't believe they didn't go higher in such a prime location.

Its a historic neighborhood currently capped at a height of 120ft. A tall skyscraper was a non-starter with the community. Since a rezoning would be necessary, the ULURP process can lead to the death of the project, which is why the height was so dramatically decreased, to simply bring it to the table without a unanimous disapproval.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by Hudson11

Its a historic neighborhood currently capped at a height of 120ft. A tall skyscraper was a non-starter with the community. Since a rezoning would be necessary, the ULURP process can lead to the death of the project, which is why the height was so dramatically decreased, to simply bring it to the table without a unanimous disapproval.

Ah didn't know that. In that case we should expect even more height chops I'm assuming.

470' twins is still better than nothing but who knows if we'll even see that?

[SkyHigher]

Originally Posted by NYguy

Then we would have missed that!

The towers themselves aren't horrible to look at though. But from what was presented, actually all of them were preferable to this.

Yeh at least they ain't another set of shiny glass blue buildings.

Originally Posted by Zapatan

470' twins is still better than nothing but who knows if we'll even see that?

Knowing the NIMBY's it will end up 470ft underground instead.