SOUTH STREET SEAPORT: On January 11, 2023, Supreme Court Judge Arthur F. Engoron ruled in favor of the Seaport Coalition lawsuit to halt a billion-dollar project that would “overwhelm and dominate” the South street Seaport Historic District.
The legal challenge reveals the story of the actions that took place out of public view – among the LPC, the Mayor’s office and other city agencies, the Manhattan Borough President, and the local City Council representative – to advance the developer Howard Hughes Corp. (HHC)’s “political cover” agenda for a tower at 250 Water St, beginning with the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s approval of HHC’s 324 ft tower proposal as appropriate in the low-scale Historic District.
The lawsuit centers on the mandate, independence and integrity of the Landmarks Preservation Commission itself, the agency established with the specific purpose – to preserve and protect our special assets.
