Design: South Street Seaport Opens

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Nevertheless, the fresh blend of history and commerce has brought mixed reviews. The marketplace may "destroy the authentic character of this special place," complained Neighborhood Spokesman Iris Alex. South Street is picking up on traditional values "in a way that destroys history," asserted Historian Thomas Bender. The harrumphing seems a bit overstated. Would it have been more authentic to leave the special place to rats and rapists? Are the historic values better served if they are bulldozed for parking lots or office towers? What is wrong with turning a once rowdy commercial area into a less rowdy commercial area?

Moreover, from the first festivities, it was obvious that the developers and their principal architects, Benjamin Thompson & Associates, Inc., had overcome excessive commercialism with enterprising taste. Thompson is the creator of the festive markets in Boston, Baltimore and the Old Post Office Building in Washington, D.C., due to open in September. The success of these places derives mainly from the mix and quality of the products sold and the people who sell them. Says Thompson: "We try to make shopping pleasurable and personal again. People dealing with people, with smells, movement, things to touch and taste—a full and free exposure of foods, flowers, goods. For some that's almost a shock that brings the senses to a heightened awareness."

Like other celebrated markets, South Street Seaport is far more than a tourist attraction. In time it seems likely to become a habit for the region's residential and Manhattan's working populations, bringing a welcome new taste to the Big Apple.

—By Wolf Von Eckardt