Pier 17 Shops May Be Able to Capitalize on the Summer After All

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

The storefronts along the South Street Seaport's Pier 17 haven't had it easy over the past few months. After Hurricane Sandy, the pier itself was closed until the beginning of December while damages to its structure were assessed. To make matters worse, a massive renovation is planned for the spring, meaning that the businesses not only missed out on a lot of holiday shopping, but they'll also miss out on the busy summer season.

However, they just might get to see those warm weather shoppers after all. Yesterday, the City Planning Commission OKed the Howard Hughes Corp.'s plans for the new Pier 17 mall, but with some modifications.

The Downtown Express reports:

Michelle de la Uz, a Commission member appointed by Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, urged City Planning to ask the Economic Development Corp., owner of the pier, to negotiate with Howard Hughes to extend the Pier 17 tenants' leases until the fall. At the present time, under a Letter of Intent between E.D.C. and Howard Hughes, construction on the pier would have to begin on July 1, 2013 at the latest.

The article adds that City Planning can't have the last word on whether or not the leases are extended, "because it has no legal authority to weigh in on this issue." Michael Levine, the director of planning and land use for Community Board 1, did add, though, that "the fact that one member did mention it is good."

On another note, the Howard Hughes Corp. was denied a big ugly sign that they hoped to plant on the rooftop of the new glassy structure—so that's a win. From here, the entire plan will go before the City Council, which has fifty days to yay, nay, or alter it. If they do none of those, the "resolution as currently written would become law."
· City Planning OKs Pier 17 plan with modifications [Downtown Express]
· The Seaport's Pier 17 Mall Is Still Unable to Reopen After Sandy [Racked NY]
· Developer Hoping to Gut the Seaport's "Tourist Trap" Mall [Racked NY]