Howard Hughes Corp. breaks ground on South Street Seaport redevelopment

New York -- The Howard Hughes Corp. on Thursday officially broke ground on the redevelopment of Manhattan’s South Street Seaport, with a ceremony at Pier 17.



The redeveloped Pier 17 is expected to open in 2016, with a mix of retail, dining and entertainment options highlighted by a one and a half-acre rooftop that will include a restaurant, two outdoor bars and an amphitheater that will hold up to 4,000 people for concerts and special events.



With 40% more open space, the pier will showcase spectacular views of the New York Harbor, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan. Along with the rooftop destination, the new Pier 17 building will feature a glass façade encompassing a compelling array of stores, restaurants and neighborhood shops. The contemporary design draws from the site’s history as a bustling marketplace and renowned maritime port with the goal of creating an unmatched New York experience with unparalleled waterfront access that is compelling to neighborhood residents, local workers and tourists.



“Today is an important step forward in the rejuvenation of our historic Seaport area as the redesign of Pier 17 maintains open space, view corridors and honors our maritime past by proudly docking nearby the Seaport Museum's historic vessels to create our signature skyline,” said Community Board 1 Chairwoman Catherine McVay Hughes.



"SHoP's design for the Seaport's Pier 17 combines the density needed to support active street life on the waterfront with intimately scaled retail corridors," said Gregg Pasquarelli, principal, SHoP Architects, the design firm. "The building's network of interior streets connects to its historic context as well as a series of public spaces designed with James Corner Field Operations, the landscape architect who envisioned New York's High Line. The new building will be a beautiful space for New Yorkers to connect to their iconic waterfront."