Ice Skating Rink, Winter Market Coming To Pier 17

FINANCIAL DISTRICT, NY — A winter wonderland is coming to the South Street Seaport's Pier 17.

The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission approved plans to install a seasonal ice skating rink and winter marketplace on the roof of Pier 17 Tuesday. The pop-up winter village falls within the South Street Seaport Historic District and needed approval from the commission to move forward.

The 30,000 square-foot-space would top the glassy four-story building off of South Street near Fulton Street, which was recently completed by the Howard Hughes Corporation.

Builders aim to erect an ice rink, a skate shop, a winter market and a "warming hut" between November and April, according to the Rockwell Group, which designed the seasonal addition.

Mock ups for the skating rink show that it would come in at roughly 5,400 square feet — the Rockefeller Center ice rink is 8,500 square feet.

The winter village is part of a drive to reinvigorate the historic Seaport District. The glitzy new Pier 17 debuted this summer with a resort-style bar overlooking the East River, a grab-and-go restaurant and a summer movie screening and concert series on the pier's roof.

Some 70 ESPN employees also work in the building, producing two television shows and a pair of radio shows. The sports network employees relocated to the building in April. The building's third floor will also house offices.

Images courtesy of Visualhouse