By Matt Chaban 7/30/12 4:18pm

Tales of Retail

Turning and turning in the widening gyre. (MTA/Flickr)

Let the Great Downtown Mall Brawl Begin

So we already know Lower Manhattan is set to become a giant mall. No, we do not mean Canal Street, though that has been attracting big name investors, as well. This is instead Fulton Street, which will soon gain more than a million square feet of retail from (narrow) coast to coast: the World Financial Center, the World Trade Center, the Fulton Transit Center and the glittery new Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport (not to mention a vastly expanded Century 21—joy!).

The Journal wonders just who is going to fill all that retail space, particularly at a time when rents are up but the economy remains off? Read More

By Stephen Duffy 1/12/12 5:42pm

Anchors Away

Shiver me timbers, what of the tower? (SHoP)

“Over Pier, We Have A New Plan!” More Developments at South St. Seaport

Avast, downtown!

Howard Hughes Corp. is set to reveal its plans for the renovation of Pier 17 at South Street Seaport, according to Crain’s. The plans will first have to get the all clear from Landmarks Preservation Commission, which oversees the seaport historic district, and it is hoped the plans will be submitted sometime in the first half of 2012.

The bid faced opposition in the past from the commission when it was presented by General Growth three years ago, prior to the massive mall operator’s bankruptcy. Read More