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What WTC Towers 2 And 3 Look Like As Low-Rises

2009_05_wtclow.jpg
At left, renderings of Tower 2 (top left) and Tower 3 as low-rise buildings; at right, rendering of the World Trade Center site with four skyscrapers

A week and a half ago, it was revealed that the Port Authority was considering scrapping three of the planned towers at the World Trade Center site. Towers 2 and 3, designed by Sir Norman Foster and Sir Richard Rogers respectively, would instead be transformed into 4-5 story "stumps" (Tower 5 would be abandoned for now). Today, the Post shows renderings of the stumps, which are given the more marketing friendly term "retail podiums."

The Post explains, "Fearful that [WTC developer Larry] Silverstein won't be able to finance construction of the towers during a recession, PA officials are pushing for a temporary plan to create retail podiums between Church and Greenwich streets to fill the space and restore the streetscape... The retail podiums would anchor as much as 600,000 square feet of shopping space that would extend below street level into every WTC building and through the massive Calatrava transit hub. By building podiums in place of towers, PA officials expect to increase the amount of retail space from the currently planned 500,000 square feet -- roughly what existed in the World Trade Center before 9/11." However, Silverstein doesn't want the podiums! Today's summit about the state of the World Trade Center re-building at Gracie Mansion, which will include Silverstein, the Port Authority, NY Governor Paterson, NJ Governor Corzine, and Mayor Bloomberg, should be FUN!

As for the WTC Transportation Hub, the Daily News reports that it may cost another $1.1 billion to build the Santiago Calatrava-designed structure. While the PA estimated it would cost $3.2 billion (already overbudget), the Federal Trade Administration thinks it'll be way more: "Add in overall project costs, like the Hub's below-grade, octupuslike infrastructure, and the tab is 90% certain to exceed $4.4 billion, the FTA report estimates. There's a 90% certainty that building the grandiose train hall and its infrastructure - largely to benefit New Jersey's PATH commuters - will cost three times the $1.5 billion spent for the original World Trade Center."

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By Jen Chung in on May 21, 2009 9:55 AM

Comments [rss]

  • cmdrogogov

    @23; Not retarded, just lots of people quietly dipping in and lining their own pockets.



    Plus, let's face it - labor costs in 1930 were far lower and there weren't nearly the same insurance considerations on site safety.

  • MrCow

    the empire state building took 18 months to build in 1930-31... what are we, retarded now? let's get with the program.

  • Spirit of 76

    I said all along that the Calatrava design would be a load of trouble. It looks good, but any structural engineer would tell you it's a nightmare, even without the moving roof.

  • Snoopy

    When they were building the cathedrals in Europe in the Gothic era I am sure some people, perhaps your ancestors, were saying the same thing.



    Might I ask who died and made you the new Lewis Mumford?

  • everyAframe

    Why bother rebuilding it at all --we got our ass kicked EIGHT years ago; much as I hate to admit it, if there's still nothing but a hole in the ground, they won and we lost.

  • NannyState

    Maybe some nice vinyl victorian low income housing for that neglected proerty...and a Duane Reade.

  • Snoopy

    Get real. No way is vinyl siding going to be accepted by the Building's department in that area. The FDNY would not allow it.

  • Brooklynbobby

    I stopped caring what happens there years ago.

  • nyorker555

    I wouldnt mind the "stumps" if the WTC "freedom" tower were cool-looking. But its not. It is 1/3rd radio antennas at the top. Disappointing all around unfortunately.

  • Snoopy

    If podia is he plural for podium, what is the plural for poo poo?



    Stumps has an edgier sound to it, they should reconsider what they are calling those things.

  • tingo

    Hacks.

    Doesn't anyone have a soul or is it all about money? Silverstein couln't even put up with a little bit of symbolism, selfish man.



    What a fiasco that whole project is. We really should claim imminent domain and just stick in a nice park, a cultural center, and a memorial. Connect it to battery park and build a tunnel for cars underneath. Call it South Park.

  • MyrtleWilloughby

    I like the stumps. Fewer skyscrapers = more sunshine, and with Century 21 nearby it could be a lively shopping hub. I particularly like the trees on the roof in one of the sketches. Could this actually be a viable roof top green space? With green roofs on those things and they look like a good compromise between green space and commerce.

  • evanberkowitz

    What you are all really missing is that the proper pluralization of podium is podia. No wonder Silverstein doesn't want podiums.

  • NYCSniper

    Why not scrap the buildings and reconnect Greenwich street as thoroughfare? (which is what many downtown residents would prefer)

  • mocanlagunas

    Why? Because nobody cares what the people want...

    This whole thing is so pathetic.

  • dr zippy

    wouldn't it be better to build towers 2 or 3 but not build the Pataki tower, leaving that footprint as public space?

  • colonelcasey

    How underwhelming.



    At this rate, just turn the whole darn place into a park.

  • GoToHell

    The high rise version of Tower 2 is so fugly, i've always hated it. I'll be very happy if it never gets built.

  • nicemarmot

    Or they could just, you know, leave it empty. Instead of building retail that no one wants.

  • Think2wice

    "The walls in the mall are, like, totally, totally tall!" — Babs Bunny

  • FJF

    I miss Tiny Toons.

  • FJF

    I miss Tiny Toons.

  • jibbly

    I sadly know exactly what you're referencing.



    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFwPlsUzMFA

  • Atomische

    Is a "retail podium" like a strip mall?

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