Newsday from New York, New York • 32

1 I. 1 I 9 A i i f. i 4 1 9 -I a 25 Terminals Rich Past, Foggy Future ringing the waterfront with expensive, high-rise developments. The City Club of New York protested that the building would cut off views of the harbor and sky in the densely built south end of Manhattan, which is dominated by 40-to-70-story skyscrapers east of Whitehall Street. Unlike some of the other designs, however, the South Ferry Plaza is not designed to be built over the water, and would not block the so-called view corridor over Battery Park, although it is expected to throw a long shadow.

The project has been temporarily shelved because of the recession. By George E. Jordan 8T AFT WHITER A blaze that ripped through the Staten Island ferry terminal yesterday threatened a history-filled building that is the lone surviving structure from the Hudson River ferrys heyday. The Battery Maritime Building, erected in 1909, was at one time the center of ferry service when the line was an essential part of life in early Manhattan. It is adjacent to the terminal that caught fire and now houses city offices and the Coast Guard.

Once, there were 17 ferry lines that ran between terminals in Manhattan terminal. The high-rise would include a hotel, museum, public hall and a television studio. Three nonprofit arts groups were picked to renovate the maritime building into a 30, 000-square foot center to be called the South Ferry Center for the Arts. Early plans call for relocating the citys Childrens Museum there from midtown Manhattan. The plans were part of a push to develop Manhattan waterfront property, much like the South Street Seaport and Battery Park City.

The ferry terminal project, and others like it, have been criticized by parks and civics groups for and Brooklyn. Today, only the city runs ferry service from the site to Staten and Governors Islands. Since 1987, the city has been planning a $400-million renovation of the terminal and maritime building. A Koch administration advisory panel selected William Zeckendorf who has developed a dozen mqjor city projects, and KG New York Land a Japanese concern, as prime developers of South Ferry Plaza. The renovation plan includes a 60-story office tower directly above the current terminal, a waterfront esplanade and public plaza, and a new ferry Ferry Terminal Fire Disrupts Commute FERRY from Page 5 of the asbestos is, said Albert F.

Appleton, commissioner of the city Department of Environmental Protection. Three fire boats shot water at the terminals roof from adjacent boat Blips and from anchor in the bay 100 feet south. The fire was declared under control at 11:45 a.m., but firefighters continued throughout the day to rip off the green-colored glass and metal panels covering the buildings exterior to extinguish the flames within. Nicholas Guagliardo, a New York Telephone Co. switchman, was on his way home to Staten Island after work when he stopped inside the terminal for coffee yesterday morning.

At 7:35, it was slightly hazy inside, Guagliardo said. I thought somebody threw a cigarette in the trash. At 7:40, it got a little smoky, and then at 7:50 the smoke got heavy. You saw sparks in the ceiling vents. The workers were slow to respond, he said.

"In rush hour, there would have been a panic. Housepainter Ismet Krqja of Ridgewood, Queens, said he smelled smoke when he entered the terminal at 7:45 to get some breakfast. Krqja was on his way to Staten Island mid planned to catch the 8:30 a.m. ferry. I was scared, to tell you the truth, Knu'a said.

Smoke was inside and nobody was saying nothing. Siva Wignarqjah said he smelled a bad smell, like a garbage can burning when he got to work at 8 a.m., at a newsstand in the middle of the terminal. There were no police officers in the terminal then, but at 8:15 I saw 10 or 15 officers running inside evacuating people, he said. At that time I saw the back side of the ceiling falling down. We were afraid, but we had to save our lives.

With the ferry terminal out of commission, the weekday Staten Island-Manhat-tan commute could be slow in returning to normal. Two of the three ferry slips may be able to be used as early as today, depending on the Department of Environmental Protections asbestos assessment. The South Ferry subway station, adjacent to the terminal, also was out of commission because it was filled with water, so the IRT No. 1 trains may not atop at that station this morning. But Riccio said the and trains, at the Whitehall Street- South Ferry station, will operate as usual.

Transportation Commissioner Lucius Riccio said the 50-year-old, three-story building remains structurally sound, although the roof caved in in several places. Riccio said renovation of the building had been planned, but added, It will take us quite a while, months, maybe years, before we get this back to normal. NmdsrftaNii) DETOUR. Ferry passengers exit at the Coast Guard terminal. Passengers Have Their Patience Tested RIDERS from Page 4 that comment, saying passengers took it in stride.

building. He said homeless people often sleep in the deserted offices on the terminals top floor and he wouldnt be surprised if one of them had started the fire. But Devro said the offices on the floor whore the fire started can be reached onjy hy spiral staircase that is locked. And for the past couple of years, the cops have chased the homeless out of the terminal late at night, he said Devro said the top floor is a "mess, strewn with turbines and electrical the Sunday newspaper, unaware of the terminal fire. I imagine the fere will go up pretty soon to pay for the new terminal, Hewett said Standing on the bow, Staten Island resident Don Vandergrift, 57, scanned the approaching Manhattan skyline with a pair of binoculars.

A farmer night city editor far the New York Journal American who now works fen' Vandergrift and his wife, Joan, originally had been intending to spend the morning visiting the St. George Library on Staten Island When they heard about the fire, the Around midship, Judith Phillips, 34, chatted with her new acquaintance, Wanda Krefta of Brooklyn, who was on her way to visit her brother in a Staten Island nursing home. The two women had been told that ferry service had been discontinued; then Phillips spotted the Noble, and told Krefta. As they boarded, an official told them the ride was free, courtesy of the city, Phillips said. Also on board were ferry agents Dan Devro, 35, and Edward Hudson, 51, who were reporting to work in Staten Island.

Hudson, who was left with half a lung by cancer, had just been treated for smoke inhalation after breathing New YORK NEWSOAY, MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 9, 1991 More officers were assigned to the ferry because they thought it would be crazy, but it wasnt at all, thank God, Martinez said. If this had been rush hour, forget about it, he said. Nathaniel Robinson, 22, sat on the lower deck looking at the glistening water, dressed in his Sunday best. The Jamaica, Queens, bus driver was on his way to religious services on Staten Island, where he is the church organist The fire caused him to miss the 11 equipment.

It looked like a problem area, he said There was a lot of electrical stuff up there. On the return trip, Cynthia Hewett and her friend Marimuthu read couple headed for the ferry. I still chase fire engines, said a.m. service, but he said, Everybody1! goipg to have an excuse. lergrift.

I go where I dont belong. i 1 1 I ft -V ji- i yj white, smoke, terminal 1 1 i li'T'Jli trV i i 4 -i i I ViV liinl HI i it t' .11.