Costco may be coming to Riverside South; Community Board 1 approves plans for the new Seaport and a new building but would rather drown than look at another bike rack.
Extell Development is in negotiations with the Costco retail chain to lease part of its planned 3.3-million-square-foot project at the south end of Riverside South, according to the New York Observer. The surrounding community is concerned about vehicular traffic as a result of the retail giant, but at least they no longer have to worry about Donald Trump.

Community Board 1 gave the thumbs-up to the Preservation Commission on plans for Pier 15 and Pier 17 in the South Street Seaport Historic District; In language that only architects and preservation buffs could understand, it was agreed that the proposed plans take into account the unique needs of the neighborhood.

Community Board 1 has recommended that the Landmarks Preservation Commission approve a plan to restore a 1905 coffee warehouse at 401-411 Washington Street for residential use and integrate it with a new 7-story building next door. The new building will be fronted by cast marine grade aluminum, stainless steel and zinc and will be virtually identical to detailing to the existing warehouse building in a "photographic negative" effect.

In addition, Community Board 1 unanimously passed a resolution opposing a flood mitigation project involving six-inch-high subway air-vent gratings with perch seats and bicycle racks along sections of West Broadway in TriBeCa. Board members felt the grate's design was "ridiculous" and otherwise inappropriate for the Historic District. Whether flooding was appropriate was not discussed.