The SS United States was originally scheduled to be towed to its final resting place at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico last week after its sale to Okaloosa County, Florida. However, “a tropical disturbance” in the Gulf delayed the voyage. With this delay, a Brooklyn concrete magnate is making a last-gasp effort to save the last fastest ocean liner and convert it into office space.
A dispute over $800,000 in back rent resulted in the SS United States being evicted from Pier 82 in Philadelphia, the ship’s home since 1996. The ocean liner can no longer move under its own power with no other place to remain docked long-term, effectively forcing the ship’s conservatory to sell the vessel. Okaloosa County in Florida’s Panhandle bought the SS United States with a vision of sinking the ship off the coast, turning it into a tourist attraction for divers.
John Quadrozzi Jr., head of Quadrozzi Concrete, wants to bring the SS United States to New York City with the support of a conservatory co-founder. The Big Apple was previously floated as a potential destination with the ocean liner becoming affordable housing in West Harlem. However, Quadrozzi has more ambitious plans and owns Gowanus Bay Terminal on the waterfront in Red Hook. Gothamist spoke with him about his vision for the ship:
He envisioned the ship as a “floating ecosystem” revolving around sustainability.
“Coworking space, incubators. Preferably things that are more maritime and environmentally focused…The vessel is just filled with small spaces in it, which would be ideal for that type of use,” Quadrozzi said.
“It gets built up in increments. There are residences. There are commercial spaces. There are industrial spaces.”
Quadrozzi says he’s got a 1,300-foot parking space ready for the ship near the mouth of the Gowanus Canal. His backers include Dan McSweeney, co-founder of a conservancy dedicated to the S.S. United States, who last month pitched a West Harlem community board on turning the ship into a floating affordable housing complex docked on the Hudson River.
Office space, retail space and residences seem far better suited for a high-rise building than a rusting ocean liner. While Quadrozzi might have the means to save the SS United States, the ship has already been sold. His plans are contingent on Okaloosa County changing its mind and selling the ship to him. He believes the county can be convinced that the 72-year-old ocean liner wouldn’t survive the trip from Philadelphia to Mobile, Alabama. If that’s the case, the county wouldn’t have bought the ship.