The "Special Lower Manhattan District" established in this Resolution is designed to promote and protect public health, safety, general welfare and amenity. These general goals include, among others, the following specific purposes:

(a)        encourage development of a 24-hour community through the conversion of older commercial buildings to residential use;

(b)        facilitate maximum design flexibility of buildings and enhance the distinctive skyline and streetscape of Lower Manhattan;

(c)        improve public use and enjoyment of the East River waterfront by creating a better physical and visual relationship between development along the East River and the waterfront area, public access areas and the adjoining upland community;

(d)        enhance the pedestrian environment by relieving sidewalk congestion and providing pedestrian amenities;

(e)        restore, preserve and assure the use of the South Street Seaport Subdistrict as an area of small historic and restored buildings, open to the waterfront and having a high proportion of public spaces and amenities, including a South Street Seaport Environmental Museum, with associated cultural, recreational and retail activities;

(f)        establish the Historic and Commercial Core to protect the existing character of this landmarked area by promoting development that is harmonious with the existing scale and street configuration;

(g)        establish the Water Street Subdistrict to improve the urban design relationship between existing buildings and open areas by promoting retail activities and the enhancement of existing public spaces with new amenities in this area; and

(h)        promote the most desirable use of land and thus conserve and enhance the value of land and buildings, and thereby protect the City's tax revenues.