NEW YORK, NY January 28, 2008 —Hundreds of lower Manhattan residents rallied against a proposal to build a permanent entertainment complex on Pier 40.

REPORTER: A proposal by the Related Companies calls for a permanent Cirque de Soleil facility, but Doug Sherrod, who lives near the Houston Street pier, says that would overwhelm the area.

SHERROD: The West Side highway gets fairly backed up during rush hour, then it abates as rush hour subsides. If you had this as a destination, with the kind of vehicular traffic - it would be a bumper to bumper parking lot all the time.

REPORTER: The Related Companies has called for additional public transit in the area.

The Hudson River Park Trust will hold a meeting Thursday to discuss competing proposals, including a community plan to maintain open spaces.