Pier 17 owner proposes glass rooftop addition for year-round concerts

Live music could soon become a year-round staple at the Rooftop at Pier 17, as the venue’s operator seeks approval to install a glass addition to house concerts during the winter. In a presentation to the Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday, the Seaport Entertainment Group detailed plans for a seasonal heated structure on the rooftop of the South Street Seaport District venue to accommodate performances from November through mid-March. The structure would allow the venue to extend its rooftop concert series into the winter, a time when foot traffic in the Seaport drops significantly.

The proposal seeks to amend the 2018 master plan for the winter to allow a heated seasonal structure on the roof. The currently approved master plan includes an ice rink and skate shop, a warming hut, market stalls, and the existing open-air roof.

Under the plan, construction would begin in October and wrap up by late November, extending the outdoor concert season through winter. The structure would then be dismantled and removed by mid-March.

The enclosure would feature gable ends that start at 25 feet and a pitched roof that would reach 50 feet to help with snow accumulation.

Now in its seventh year, the summer concert series at the rooftop venue has been a success, with a 91 percent average sell-through rate since its debut, according to the presentation. But the winter continues to be slow.

“It’s no secret that visitation to the Seaport declines significantly in the winter months, particularly in January and March,” George Giaquinto, senior vice president of development at the Seaport Entertainment Group, said.

The group has tried several programs to spark interest, like skating rinks and other winter experiences (this winter, famed Irish pub The Dead Rabbit opened a pop-up sports bar next to the ice rink).

During Tuesday’s meeting, several commissioners expressed concerns over the design of the structure, its size and visibility, as well as its potential to block views of the historic district and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Commissioner Michael Goldblum said the structure will make the building significantly bigger than it currently stands, adding another 50 feet to the 77-foot-tall property.

“That’s a significant volume,” Goldblum said.”If we were to look at the building as it will be seen for most of this year, the aesthetic of this shed is not…recollective of the historic buildings because of its scale.”

LPC Vice Chair Frederick Bland was also critical of the design and said the structure should be more exciting. “Okay, it’s not going to be Sydney Harbor, but it could be something that really celebrates its moment on the shore.”

During the public testimony, Kaylee Johnson of the Historic Districts Council also raised concerns about the proposal, echoing earlier criticism regarding its impact on views of the Brooklyn Bridge.

“HDC finds this proposal to be inappropriate,” Johnson said. “We are concerned that the structure blocks important views of the city, Pier 17, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the historic district. Additionally, we assume that mechanicals will be needed for this installation, but do not see drawings for them in the presentation.”

LPC Chair Sarah Carroll said there is support for a seasonal structure, but said the owner should refine the design and think about how it can have a “dialogue” with the building below to make it more of a destination. No decision was made on the proposal, and the commission invited the Seaport Entertainment Group to come back with an updated design.

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