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PHILADELPHIA — Jan 28, 2016, 12:11 PM ET
A historic and speed record-breaking ocean liner that once hosted royalty and presidents has escaped the scrap heap and will undergo a rebirth.
Supporters of the SS United States announced Thursday they have an option agreement with a redevelopment partner. A spokesman for the ship's conservancy group says details won't be released until a news conference Feb. 4 at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York.
The defunct, rusty hulk was stripped of its interior years ago and has been moored in Philadelphia for nearly two decades.
The onetime luxury vessel is larger than the Titanic and still holds the record for the fastest trans-Atlantic crossing.
Preservationists feared running out of money before a ship-saving deal was reached. Last fall, they received a lifeline — $600,000 in donations — to keep it afloat while negotiations continued.
It looks as though the long-held calls of S.O.S for the SS United States have finally paid off, as the SS United States Conservancy has signed an option agreement with an unknown development partner for the redevelopment of the iconic ship, according to a media advisory issued by the Conservancy.
Plans will be made known at a press conference in New York City at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal’s Pier 88 on February 4th. “An exciting future for the ship will be revealed that envisions the SS United States again as an iconic symbol of America the world over,” reads the release. “An artist rendering of the redeveloped ocean liner will also be unveiled.”
The announcement means that it looks as though "America's Flagship" will not float its way to the scrap heap, which, due to the burdensome cost to maintain the ship, was becoming an all-too-real possibility for the imposing vessel docked near the IKEA in South Philadelphia.
Recently, there have been glimmers of hope that one-time luxury liner could be saved, with the Conservancy even stating it "had never been closer to saving the SS United States, nor close to losing her."
In October, a Brooklyn businessman named John Quadrozzi Jr. said he would let the rusting boat dock at his Gowanus Bay Terminal (adjacent to another IKEA) rent free while he hashed out redevelopment plans with the Conservancy. The plans, which included offices for start-ups, a gym, and all kinds of entertainment options, were estimated to cost between $50 million and $200 million, according to The Brooklyn Paper. As the calendar turned to November, the Conservancy-imposed deadline to "save" the ship passed without any concrete redevelopment plans announced, casting more doubt on its survival.
It's unclear if Quadrozzi is the development partner at this point. At the time the those plans made the news, a representative from the Conservancy said they were also considering an option at an undisclosed location in Manhattan. New York City, said the rep, had the most suitable locations for the redevelopment of the 990-foot long ship due to things like population density, activity on the waterfronts and investment capital.
Larger version
Passengers do not get the true feeling of sailing out of New York as our ancestors did. Passengers miss the thrill of sailing down the Hudson.
The bigger issue will be some of the regulation changes them self as they could or would force significant changes to the ship.
EPA on the other hand was being set up as the reason this could fail. Crystal mentioned it several times as their number one concern during the press event in NYC. The ship will require more remediation for potentially harmful substances far beyond just the lead paint.
Once you get past those issues there will still be significant issues with stability and the new regulations regarding this.
https://youtu.be/YUO-1apBC3E
It's important to note that these are NOT the final designs (fortunately!)
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