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Photo courtesy of Robert Hope
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The SS United States: A 20th-century ship
creating 21st-century opportunities
In our last few e-Updates, we've reported major momentum and a surge of publicity surrounding the possible return of "America's Flagship" to her original home port of New York as a mixed-use museum and development project. While the components of a deal are coalescing, and support for the ship has been building, we face a looming deadline at the end of the month. At that time, if an agreement is not reached, the Conservancy will be compelled to make some hard decisions about the ship's future.
As the Conservancy's redevelopment team works to finalize negotiations with interested developers and secure support from key public officials, we must continue to raise awareness about the ship to take full advantage of Jim Pollin's generous $100,000 matching grant opportunity.
Securing the SS United States' long-term future is a three-part challenge. The first is to find a credible development team that is fully committed to the project. The second is to attract sufficient financing to implement the project. The third is to secure a suitable berth for the 990-foot-long ship.
Over this past month, we've achieved significant progress on all three fronts.
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Rendering of proposed Ballroom Foyer by Schopfer Associates, LLC
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Last week during a meeting with the Conservancy and an experienced development team that had submitted a proposal for returning the ship to New York as a permanently-moored vessel, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) expressed its firm interest in the project and willingness to champion it with other New York officials. City officials are increasingly recognizing the economic development potential for New York. The project will create thousands of jobs, generate significant tax revenues, offer unique, world-class amenities, enhance open space in a resilient and sustainable fashion, and offer an exciting new museum and educational center dedicated to technology, design and innovation.
While powerful momentum is building and there is much cause for optimism, the ship remains at risk. The clock continues to tick toward the end of September, and the ship's monthly expenses are daunting. Unless the Conservancy has entered into an option with a developer or has attracted major new philanthropic support by the end of the month, we will confront the scenario that we've been fighting so hard to prevent.
We are now at a pivotal stage where your efforts count the most. Please consider making a contribution and encouraging others to support the cause.
Now is the time to make this vision a reality. Now is the time to Save the United States.
Support our efforts now to help save and
redevelop the SS United States --
and have your donation matched dollar-for-dollar!
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On Wednesday, we launched our #10Kin10 Campaign to help us spread awareness of the SS United States and to meet the amount of donations Jim Pollin has pledged to match. To kick off the campaign, supporters on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Google+ changed their profile pictures and banners to an image that includes one of Big U's propellers, drawn by renowned author and illustrator David Macaulay.
Each day of the campaign, fans of the ship continue to show support by posting and retweeting our campaign messages and including the hashtags #10Kin10, #SavetheUnitedStates, #SSUnitedStates, and #PropelledByChampions. And, everyone who reposts or retweets using the hashtag #10Kin10 automatically is entered to win a print of the propeller image, personally signed by David Macaulay!
After 5 days, supporters have generously donated $5,684 toward our $10,000 goal! As we head into the new week, let's keep that momentum going! We ask everyone to give what you can, whether it's $5 or $50, knowing that every single dollar is being matched by Jim Pollin. With nearly 10,000 subscribers to our e-updates and over 12,000 on social media, we can easily meet Jim's challenge of $100,000 in donations and help secure Big U's future while a suitable location for her is found and negotiated.
Continue to watch your inbox and social media feeds for news as specific milestones are reached and partnerships are announced. We truly are grateful for your ongoing support - the ship wouldn't still be afloat without it - and thank you for donating generously, whether through individual gifts or monthly recurring amounts.
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New York Chapter Day of Outreach
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In support of the growing interest in redeveloping the SS United States in New York, members of four Conservancy chapters rallied in various locations throughout the city on Thursday, September 4, to communicate directly with relevant officials and the public.
A letter-writing campaign is ongoing, as are phone calls to local and state office-holders. Chapter members also disseminated flyers about the SS United States at several key locations, including City Hall, Times Square, Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal, and South Street Seaport.
New York Chapter Co-Chair Carl Weber shared that they were met with great enthusiasm as they described the cause to diverse New Yorkers across the city. He stated: "We've always believed that New Yorkers will support the return of the Big U as they become more informed."
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David Hackert, owner of the
Lexington
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Fellow-co-chair Paul Stipkovich agreed and said the project is something all New Yorkers can rally around. He added: "We can create jobs and introduce valuable public and private amenities by returning the SS United States to her original homeport."
Mid-day, Conservancy members took a break from their outreach efforts to enjoy food and drinks aboard the Lexington during a reception hosted by David Hackert, owner of the charter yacht and a strong Conservancy supporter. The reception offered the opportunity to learn of the latest developments and plan further outreach to government officials and others.
"We are making real and steady progress, and what's left now is securing the berth which the ship will occupy in New York," said Dan McSweeney, managing director of the Conservancy's Redevelopment Project. "This meeting at the EDC was a major milestone in our years-long effort to not only preserve the SS United States, but also ensure the vessel has a dignified and useful second career. To be advancing in a dynamic market like New York is exciting and offers great opportunity for long-term success."
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Dan McSweeney, managing director of the SS United States Redevelopment Project, holds up one of the postcards distributed during the NY Day of Outreach while SS United States Conservancy Executive Director Susan Gibbs and Roland Lewis, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, look on.
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Roland Lewis, president of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, attended the reception aboard the Lexington and underscored his ongoing commitment to supporting the effort to find a permanent home for the SS United States in New York.
Conservancy Executive Director Susan Gibbs discussed the dedication and determination of all who are working to ensure the success of the project. "We will continue to do everything humanly possible to clinch this deal." She added: "We will update our supporters on developments as we're able. This continues to be the challenge of a lifetime."
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Help us to reach more people
in our quest to save America's Flagship.
Thanks to your support, we are now at over 12,000 followers on our
Facebook page! Remember to follow us on the following social media platforms, and encourage your friends, colleagues and family members to do the same!
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SS United States Conservancy
P.O. Box 32115
Washington, DC 20007
(888)-488-7787
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