September 6, 2007
Ground Zero Development News
- The rebuilding process at Ground Zero took another small step forward today as final plans for Towers 2, 3, and 4 were unveiled. Larry Silverstein and a group of architects unveiled updated designs for the buildings, which are supposed to start construction in January. These plans are more detailed than the initial designs released last year, with more information on the lobbies, public spaces, and building facades. Silverstein says the buildings will be environmentally friendly and use the the latest safety innovations.
The three buildings are scheduled to be completed by 2012 (Towers 3 and 4) and 2013 (Tower 2) and the Port Authority has already issued $1.8 billion in construction contracts. Officials also said that $300 million of the $350 million for the memorial and museum has already been raised.
- Despite rising costs, the World Trade Center transit hub will still have the roof wings that Santiago Calatrava designed. Originally estimated to cost $2.2 billion, projected costs have already increased $500 million to $1 billion. The wings can open and close to allow light into the terminal. The Port Authority says, "Our goal is to bring it as close to the $2.2 billion figure that we can." With the federal government picking up $1.9 billion of the cost, we wouldn't be surprised if the total figure came out to $2.9 billion.
- If you want an estimate on cleanup costs, do not turn to the Environmental Protection Agency. The fed's General Accounting Office calls the EPA's cleanup efforts lacking. The EPA is currently cleaning 272 residences and 25 buildings, but the budget they have for the project isn't based on what it actually costs, but on how much money was left in the budget from cleaning in 2002 and 2003. The GAO also says that the EPA misled people about the contaminant levels found while cleaning, saying the EPA used results from after residences were cleaned to say a "very small" sample of apartments had unsafe levels of asbestos.
- The EPA and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation are also in a disagreement - this one is over how to proceed at the Deutsche Bank building. The EPA says the LMDC's #1 priority should be re-sealing the building. The LMDC says that the building needs to be stabilized before any other work can be done.
Above right photo of Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, left, and developer Larry Silverstein by AP/Mark Lennihan
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Unsalvagable. A bunch of boring buildings cowering from those fucking footprints. Yes, the terrorists won this one. I'm just glad I'm never in that area anyway.
The design is a far sight better than the ones they initially proposed. I however wouldve liked for a more phallic design.
Enough with the crap architecture from hacks.
Rebuild what was once there (albeit a bit taller) and be done with it.
It solves the problem of what to build, serves as a memorial, and restores the broken skyline.
They should just make the space a memorial park. It's just going to be another target for terrorists in the future.
Too boring for terrorists to bother with.
THE FREEDOM TOWER.
IT'S GOING TO BE CALLED THE GODDAMNED FREEDOM TOWER.
Actually, adding "goddamned" might make me like it a little more.
Just look at their greedy smirking faces. Like they really give a shit about making downtown better? Two idiots that shouldn't have anything to do with rebuilding or building.
So much silver
Gotta give props to this decrepit ol' jew, for spending his remaining years building a legacy - literally.
The picture of Silver and Silverstein disgusts me, but, I have to admit, they make a good couple.
Right on Toby
this is all so sad. the name "freedom tower" is just so dumb. the buildings are so bland. here was an opportunity to do something unique and to make a statement. we can't even make a memorial in this country without some corporate entity having it's dumb and bland influence on the outcome. it's really sad. i still can't get over the stupidity of calling it the "freedom tower". it's like the mass-marketing tactics that ad agencies use to cater to the lowest common denominator.
Why are these buildings sooooo LAME? Especially the two the the right. This is the best they could come up with? Why don't the four buildings have a cohesive look that make some sort of statement? They're just drab, random office buidlings. It's simply an embarrassment for New York City
Money money money money.... money!! This will probably be the last big hoorah for Silverstein...
i think they're OK - nothing special though.