Cleanup is ‘poison’ for kids
Lower Manhattan parents are feverishly fighting the Howard Hughes Corp. over its plans to dig up and develop the site of an 1800s thermometer factory — possibly exposing schoolkids across the street to long-buried mercury.
They’re worried that work at the 400-space parking lot (above) on Water Street near the South Street Seaport could release poisons into the air around public Peck Slip School and the private Blue School.
“This is the mother lode of mercury in here,” said area resident and activist Elaine Kennedy, who joined a protest (below) in front of the Howard Hughes offices at the Seaport Thursday.
“We are not going to surrender the health of our children,” said city Comptroller Scott Stringer, whose son attended Peck Slip School, also known as PS 343.43.
Elemental mercury can cause lungg damage, memory problemslems and neurological issues.ssues.
The Howard Hughes Corp. plunked downn $180 million for thee park-parking lot last year,year, but insists it doesn’t knowow what it willll build there.
“I don’t believe for a second that they don’t have a very clear picture of what it is they want to do here,” said Matt Cowan, who has two children at PS 343. Megan Malvern, co-president of the school PTA, said a Howard Hughes executive acknowledged in a meeting with school officials last year that it wanted to erect a 60- to 70-story skyscraper. In its application for the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s brownfield cleanup program, which would grant tax credits for remediating the site, the corporation said the project is likely “a mixed-use residential and commercial development, and may include affordable housing.” The DEC said it was evaluating more than 200 public comments before deciding whether to include the cleanup in the program. Residents don’t want any approvals before Howard Hughes comes cclean with its intent io intentions. They also want ththe company to stick to the zoning at the sitesite, which only allows 12 stories. The company told The Post it would “engaengage the communmunity” in plannining and “ensure ... a safe and comprehensive environmental remediation.”