On the Waterfront in New
York
During the month of October HDC will
present “On the Waterfront in New York,"a
fascinating series of programs exploring the history, preservation
and future of the South Street Seaport and other maritime neighborhoods
in New York City
Film Screening
and Discussion: Street of Ships
Thursday, October 1, 2009,
6:30pm
Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue at East 2nd Street, Manhattan
“Street of Ships” is a 1982 documentary by
Charles Richards that chronicles the efforts of
Peter Stanford and the early Friends of South Street to save from
destruction and preserve some of the city’s oldest and most
historically significant buildings. It concludes with the controversy
surrounding the goals of 1980s commercial developers versus those
wishing to maintain the area’s historical authenticity. The
film features archival footage of the Seaport that evokes its past
uses as a port and commercial district, along with interviews with
area stakeholders and policy experts.
The film will be followed by a presentation
by Robert LaValva, founder and director of New
Amsterdam Market, about the role of waterfront markets in sparking
urban revitalization. The program will conclude with a roundtable
discussion—reflecting new opportunities for the future of
the Seaport District.
The panelists for this program
include:
Peter Stanford, founder
and past president of South Street Seaport Museum.
Terry Walton, vice
chair of the Working Harbor Committee, a founder of the Seaport
Museum and founding editor of Seaport Magazine.
Carter Craft, a waterfront
enthusiast and co-founder of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance.
For the past ten years he has been pioneering new ways to design,
build and program the waterfront, from innovative buklhead treatments
on the Harlem River, to biodiesel-powered historic ships, to the
new Eco-dock on Governors Island. He teaches environmental politics
at Fordham University and serves as a consultant to a number of
groups ranging from the New York Harbor School to NYC Swim.
On the Waterfront
in New York:
A Lecture
Wednesday, October 14, 2009,
6:30pm
The Seamen’s Church Institute, 241 Water Street,
Manhattan
This panel will examine the history and future of the waterfront
through different lenses, from
the commercial past of its wharves and docks to the adaptive reuse
of structures still lining its edges. Richard A. Greenwald,
professor of history and dean of graduate studies at Drew University
will discuss the commercial aspects of New York City’s waterfront
development from the mid-19th century up to the
1950s as depicted in the film, “On the Waterfront.”
Roland Lewis, president and CEO of the Metropolitan
Waterfront Alliance, will examine the reuse of industrial structures
along New York City’s waterfront. The third speaker, Kevin
Bone, an architect and editor of several books on the waterfront,
will address the history and development of Manhattan’s historic
seawall, a gargantuan structure which encircles the whole island
and has literally shaped how the city has grown.
From the Ferries
to the Fish Market:
A Walking Tour of the South Street Seaport
Sunday, October 18, 2009, 11:00am
With Robert LaValva, founder and director of
New Amsterdam Market
The series will conclude with an in-depth
tour of the South Street Seaport, examining such noted landmarks
as the South Street Seaport Museum, the WPA-era New Market Building,
and historic local businesses. Tour attendees will hear about the
South Street Seaport’s diverse past from its beginnings up
to the current day as a commercial, retail and residential district.
Mr. LaValva will also discuss the role of public markets in shaping
the East River waterfront. More recent history and plans for the
future, including the massive redevelopment proposal by General
Growth Properties will also be addressed by special guest Madeline
Rogers. Due in part to this proposed development, in 2009
the Historic Districts Council successfully nominated the Seaport
to the Preservation League of New York State's “Seven to Save”
listing of places to preserve in New York State. The tour will end
at Acqua, a noted Seaport establishment for a complimentary drink.
The exact location for the tour will be announced upon registration.
Please contact Simeon Bankoff
at 646-942-7354 for details and tour meeting place!
Advance reservations are required.
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