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Uh-oh. The Santiago Calatrava-designed World Trade Center PATH transit hub is now estimated to be $1.2 billion over budget by the construction company's contractor. Previous estimates pegged building the critically-praised "bird-like" structure at $2.2 billion in 2005, after the Port Authority approved a revised design. Why the high estimate? Labor costs and materials.
The Port Authority's executive director Anthony Shorris wrote in a letter to PA Chairman Anthony Coscia (hello, CYA paper trail), "We have notified Phoenix that costs so substantially above the original budget for the hub are simply unacceptable, and we will need to consider a range of options for completing the project." Calatrava released a statement saying, “I am confident" that he can maintain the design while keeping in mind the cost. Shorris said that the PA will first look to cut costs on things "that are not visible" versus removing some of the design's signature elements, like a retractable roof and two 150-feet-tall canopies.
Here's the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation's information on the transit hub.
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i'm guessing it's going to be around $1.7 billion over by the time it starts to be built.
"I am confidant. We will use a lot of caulk."
if we hired 1000 illegal immigrants we could squash 1.2B to 200,000K
Bunch of idoits ! They can't even manage the construction of a building without confusion .
can't we just replace it with a david childs glass box?
"Bunch of idoits ! They can't even manage the construction of a building without confusion ."
Maybe you're the "idoit" Shmurf. Constructing a building is one thing. Constructing a global landmark with the entire New York federal, state and city political delegation constantly dipping their fingers into it and trying to make political hay with it is quite another. With all the myriad parties with interests in the site - financial, political, social and sentimental - it's amazing that the project has not fallen apart completely.
can't we just get more trains more often especially late nights?
Con. costs are going thru the roof thanks to China's demand in the macro and the huge spike in construction in the metro area (Atlantic yards, the Meadowlands, etc etc) in the micro. It is next to impossible to stay ahead of rising costs of materials nowadays.
Still- Billions? Wow
Your response reeks of displaced sympathy "ntpopo" . Before you decide to respond to a comment it would be best if you knew what, & how to respond to constructive commontary . This is about "Money" nothing else ! The company contracted to do the actual building are playing there hand in milking the city, & state for additional funds . Ok, So the design is complicated, Just think of the term "Complicated" . It equates to additional dollars . Learn the facts before commenting dummy !
gee whiz, shmurf sure does know lots of stuff.
he doesn't know how to use "their" properly though.
I thought his first comment was sarcasm too. It is a pretty complicated thing to build a soaring building over a working transportation hub.
The city and state aren't funding the project at all, actually. The FTA and the Port Authority are. The bottom line is that this is not the final word in any way. This is one estimate from the only entity on the job that stands to gain if the cost increases. I'm sure it reflects to some degree the reality on the ground in the labor and materials markets right now in New York, where jobs and demand for materials and labor are plentiful. But there is no small component of financial posturing here. I agree with that Shmurf. But this is not the final word, by any means. Their estimate wil be torn apart by experts. Some of it may be justified. But some of it may not. In the end, after a realistic estimate is delivered, and after the resulting cost cutting efforts, my bet is that the project will be over budget, but not by anything to the tune of $1.2 billion. But I think it will be worth it. The design is really something special. New York will have yet another landmark to look at and feel pride.
You really need to get your facts in order . All that money may be comming from different sections of goverment . In reality, It's all the same "ntpopo", I don't care if it's the FTA, Port Authority, or any other agency . The monies going into a project that in the long run will "Look" good (For viewing purposes" but will be "Viewed" as an expensive, "ugly betty" !(You smart folks can tell the difference between the terms ""Look"" &""Viewed"" with regards to this parr.) There, Their now!!!