Move Over, High Line: Pier 57's Market Is Coming to Town

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Pier 57, the 375,000-square-foot waterfront spot that sits between West 15th Street and West Street, has been vacant since 2004, and—as WWD reminds—is kind of considered an "eyesore," what with its "decrepit lime green structure." But thanks to the explosive success of the High Line, architecture firm Lot-EK and Youngwoo & Associates is planning to turn it into an open-air market, complete with shops, cafes, and a two-acre rooftop park and marina. Also taking a cue from Brooklyn's new Dekalb Market, most of the retail destinations will be housed in recycled shipping containers, and are expected to open up by the end of 2012 or the beginning of 2013.

Details as to what vendors will be involved are still hush-hush, but we do know that the market will be run by Urban Space Management, who are the same folks behind the Grand Central Terminal and Union Square's markets. WWD also reports that executives from the company noted that the pier will be the city's "first large-scale concentration of year-round, affordable work and retail space for artisans and other small businesses." In contrast to the High Line, which—though we enjoy taking a good stroll by the Standard—hasn't really seemed to nab that concept quite yet.
· New York's Pier 57 Project Pushes Ahead [WWD, subscription req'd]