Eminent Domain at Ground Zero

Could the rebuilding of the World Trade Center be any more...weird? NY1 reports that Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg might try to wrest control of the WTC site from developer Larry Silverstein by claiming eminent domain. (Eminent domain, according to Wikipedia, "is the power of the state to appropriate private property for its own use without the owner's consent.") What's interesting is that Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg's greater political goals (national office and a second term as mayor, respectively) might be making Silverstein look like an attractive and necessary thing to step on in order to get things rolling. The Mayor, however, emphasized that Freedom Tower, the centerpiece of the development plan, must be built in as safe a manner as possible. Funny, you don't hear the Mayor trying to take time with the West Side Stadium. There's also the thought that the 10 million square feet of projected office space is too much and the Governor and Mayor should get Silverstein to lower that amount.

In the meantime, officials involving with the rebuilding claim that the resignation of Lower Manhattan Development Corporation President Kevin Rampe won't slow things down. Gothamist believes that if "won't slow things down" means "it'll just take five years longer."

And one more WTC-related tidbit: A study shows that NYC public school children suffer from post-September 11 mental disorders, such as agoraphobia, separation anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Photograph of Mayor Bloomberg and Larry Silverstein from the 7 WTC topping out ceremony

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on May 3, 2005 7:56 AM

Comments [rss]

Rose

Look! Up in the air!

jenny

I don't care who is in charge as long as they start building something. I've walked by that hole on my way to work for the past eight months and it doesn't look like they've started building anything let alone the Freedom Tower. Why not get this over with? It's been over three years and I know it's a big project but are you telling me they haven't figured this out in three years? What was the point of laying the corner stone last July if no one is going to build on it?

S.D.

Well, if they do pull it from Larry Silverstein , What Campaign Contributer, I mean, honest company gets the lucrative Construction Contract?

Even if they pull an "Eminent domain", someone has to build it. The City/State Gov't doesn't have the resources, so who'd the Contract?

Also, Would Larry Silverstein have to Fork over the Insurance Money??

Ben Mung

"In the meantime, officials involving with the rebuilding claim..."

I think that should be "involved", yeah?

dhex

eminent domain isn't about getting grandpa real estate out, it's about fucking over everyone for sweetheart deals between politicians and anyone with the cash. just look at any public stadium project built with public funds, and how badly they screw the taxpayers.

Brian Van Nieuwenhoven

You know what? Forget giving Silverstein a fair deal. Just get him the hell out of Ground Zero, once and for all. Let him manage his WTC7, and let the state/PA finally build something on the site. Tell him to pack up his ugly office towers and his stubborn attitude and get the f*ck out, now!

Eminent domain is fine by me. As far as I'm concerned, any abuse of that privilege to get Grandpa Real Estate out of the picture is not an abuse at all.

Tim N.

Huh. Good point, KH.

Silverstein makes a convenient villain. Mostly because he's conveneient and he's a villain. But won't the city/state have to pay Silverstein "fair market value" to get him to clear out?

Actually, won't they have to settle with him after he sues the hell out of NYC and NYS, thus delaying the process still further?

Pataki could f*** up a wet dream, I swear.

King Hippo

I would find it ironic if the "Freedom Tower" were to be built through Eminent Domain.

S.D.

Not sure if this is an abuse in this case, but Eminent domain gets abused all the time:

School district sells 24.7 acres to Home Depot for $30 million

"Eminent domain abuse"

IMO, They'll do this to Larry Silverstein for their political Ambitions.

Kojak

But is it right that Eminent domain can only be used for the public good? Such as building highways or public works projects? I can see the WTC memorial as such a thing but what about the planned office buildings and shopping mall?

They seem to really want to rush things to boost their own pitiful political careers. And in the process they might destroy the perfect opportunity to build something grand for NYC. Selfish