Seaport Historic District : récits et mise en images d’un projet de redéveloppement du « plus ancien nouveau quartier de New York »

• Main Author: Sandra Guinand
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Métropoles 2021-01-01
• Series: Métropoles
• Subjects: image redevelopment; urban landscape; narrative; historic district
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/metropoles/7632

South Street Seaport, the historic commercial port of New York City located at the southern tip of Manhattan, is the subject of a major redevelopment project that has encountered resistance from local stakeholders – residents, associations, elected officials, etc. The main points of concern relate to the methods of intervention and the future uses and functions planned for this historical district. The real estate developer, Howard Hughes Corporation, is imposing its own agenda for the future development of this space, working very meticulously on its image and relying on an ordered and controlled communication system from start to finish. Drawing on the idea of the landscape of power (Olwig and Mitchell, 2009; Zukin 1991, 2009), this article aims at discussing how images and narratives influence users and audiences and guide the production of space.