Exploring Fulton Market Downtown and Pier 17 Pier 17, Benjamin Thompson & Associates, Architects, 1987-92

Photograph by Patrick Batchelder Fulton Seaport recently lost its famously pungent neighbor, ’s Fulton Fish Market. Founded in the early 19th century, the market occupied a ramshackle collection of buildings that came to life in the earliest hours of the morning. Some 180 years of fishmongering on these streets finally ended on November 14th, 2005, as the market—largest of its kind in the country—moved to 400,000 square feet of modern facilities in Hunts Point in . Pier 17 Pier 17 stretches out into the , a three-story glass and steel pavilion forming part of The Rouse Company’s original plans for the . General Growth Properties, which acquired the Seaport in 2004, is planning new residential and retail development, including restaurants, hotels, and a Courtesy of Phototest community center—as well as expanded open space Above: Joseph Mitchell described trading begins, the stands in the the scene in the early 1950s: “Every sheds are heaped high and spilling and water vistas. The rambling 1907 Tin Building now and then, seeking to rid my over with forty to sixty kinds of fin- mind of thoughts of death and fish and shellfish from the East from fish market days will be preserved and relocated doom, I get up early and go down to Coast, the West Coast, the Gulf Fulton Fish Market. I usually arrive Coast, and half a dozen foreign to the end of the Pier, perched at the water’s edge. around five-thirty, and take a walk countries. The smoky riverbank through the two huge open-fronted dawn, the racket the fish-mongers In nice weather, visitors can climb the Pier’s outside market sheds, the Old Market and make, the seaweedy smell, and the the New Market, whose fronts rest sight of this plentifulness always staircases to the upper level, stretch out on a deck on South Street and whose backs give me a feeling of well-being, and rest on piles in the East River. At sometimes they elate me.” chair, and feel like they’ve landed a berth on an that time, a little while before the —Up in the Old Hotel, 1952 ocean liner—enjoying Downtown’s famous silhouette, views of the bridges up river, the Brooklyn port down river, and Brooklyn Heights beckoning on the opposite shore. (841)

City Council Member Kathryn E. Freed, 1st Council District, Manhattan

The mission of the Alliance for Looking for more information about Also in the Neighborhood South Street Seaport Downtown New York is to be the Downtown? Stop by the visitor infor- South of Pier 17, the piers at the principal organization that provides mation kiosks at City Hall Park, the South Street Seaport host half-a- ’s historic financial Staten Island Ferry Terminal, the dozen historic boats, including the district with a premier physical and PATH station, and 1 World Financial Peking, a German-built four-masted economic environment, advocates for Center, and be sure to stop at our bark of 1811, and the Wavertree, an businesses and property owners and Heritage Site Markers located 1885 iron full-rigged ship, both open promotes the area as a world-class throughout the neighborhood. to visitors. destination for companies, workers, Also, don’t miss our FREE Wall Street residents and visitors. Walking Tour! This 90-minute guided North of Pier 17, South Street enjoys The Downtown Alliance manages the walking tour weaves together the a spectacular view of the world’s Downtown-Lower Manhattan history, events, architecture and most beautiful bridge, inspiration of Business Improvement District (BID), people of Downtown. The tour meets tributes by poets from Walt Whitman serving an area roughly from City every Thursday and Saturday at to Hart Crane, and by painters from For more information, refer to the Hall to the Battery, from the East noon at the front steps of the Joseph Stella to John Marin. World’s large map on the other side of River to West Street. Smithsonian National Museum of the longest suspension bridge when it this panel. Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc. American Indian, 1 Bowling Green. opened in 1883, John and Washington 120 Broadway, Suite 3340 For more information, please call Roebling’s engineering masterpiece New York, NY 10271 212.606.4064. spans almost 1,600 feet between its Tel 212.566.6700 Fax 212.566.6707 majestic, twin Gothic-arched towers. www.DowntownNY.com Text by Anthony Robins Design by Pentagram