Businesses at Pier 17 are being evicted by their developer landlord before the summer season — a heavy blow as they struggle to recover from Hurricane Sandy.
Howard Hughes Corp., which plans to tear down the South Street Seaport-area mall, home to about 60 businesses, and replace it with a glittery new shopping mecca, sent lease-termination notices demanding tenants leave by May 1.
But mom-and-pops are questioning why the developer won’t let them stay through the summer — when the Seaport will get the highest traffic.
“Why are they not helping us? This is downright criminal,” said Sal Himani, whose family owns six restaurants including Seaport Cafe and Pacific Grill.
“After we’ve been killed by Hurricane Sandy, got no help from FEMA, no insurance and no support, you’d think they’d give us a couple of months to do business,” Himani said. “But they’re not even doing that!”
A city spokesman said a deal between the Economic Development Corp. and the developer requires construction to begin by July 1.
The city and landlord wouldn’t comment.
“It’s mystifying that [the city] and Howard Hughes have not responded,” said Tom Berton, owner of boat- tour company Manhattan By Sail. “This is completely against what the community needs right now.”
The City Planning Commission will vote on the megaproject this month before its fate ultimately lands before the City Council.