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