From December 1986 through September 1987, I worked in NYC, all but the
last month at 150 Nassau Street in Lower Manhattan; we often went to South
Street Seaport for lunch or after work. I haven't been there since 1988. I
read the 1983 article with interest, since it describes the creation of the
place as I saw it. I later read a description of the museum written in the
70s, which showed me how it had been changed. I've also seen Quincy Market
in Boston, and I was living in Baltimore when Harborplace was built (the
city held a referendum for the public to decide whether it should be
built--I voted against because I preferred the open space by the water to
another commercial development--but it was overwhelmingly carried). A
couple of years ago, I was in New Orleans and saw the Rouse waterfront
development there, which looked like a series of tunnels connected together
above ground. 

I too would have liked the South Street Seaport to retain more of its
original character--which I missed seeing, except in the hints that
remained. The cost of gentrification tends to be the loss of
personality--every place ends up looking like a suburban shopping mall.
But, as JRR Tolkien wrote in 1944, "At least it ought to cut down travel.
There will be nowhere to go." 

DW