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The World Trade Center site destruction, 2001

The World Trade Center site is the 16 acre (65,000 m²) real estate on which the WTC complex stood in New York until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The site is in Lower Manhattan; most of it (where its buildings except 7 World Trade Center stood) is bounded to the north by Vesey Street, to the west by the West Side Highway, to the south by Liberty Street, and to the east by Church Street. In the northern portion of the site across Vesey Street, the former location of 7 World Trade Center is bounded to the west by Washington Street, to the north by Barclay Street, and to the east by West Broadway. Because the lease for the World Trade Center was purchased in July 2001 by Larry Silverstein and Silverstein Properties Inc. from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) for $3.2 billion, Silverstein controls the rebuilding on the site.

Debris

The "Pile" was the name used by the site rescue, recovery and removal workers to describe the colossal amount of debris after the attacks. The workers avoided using the name "Ground Zero," which describes the location on the ground where any explosion occurs, but it nonetheless became synonymous with the World Trade Center site.

The World Trade Center site debris, 2001

Debris smoldered for more than five months after the collapse, resisting attempts by firefighters to extinguish the ensuing chemical reactions until most of the debris was removed. The effects of smoke and other hazardous materials on site workers and search dogs are still being evaluated, remaining a subject of controversy.

Removal

The workers cleared the debris and recovered the remains of many people who died in the attacks. While the debris was searched at a special part of the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, New York for remains as small as a penny, some victims' families have asked for the debris to be reinterred at or near the WTC site. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg denied the request because of its cost and what he considered its impracticality; however, a small memorial is planned at the landfill.

The World Trade Center site debris cleared, 2002.

In December 2001, a temporary public viewing platform was set-up at Fulton Street, between Church Street and Broadway, near St. Paul's Chapel.[1][2] The presence of tourists at the site made many family members, local residents, and workers uneasy.[3]

A "Tribute In Light" was displayed at the site as an infrequent and temporary memorial since the site was cleared.

By the end of May 2002, the site was clear of debris, three months ahead of schedule. In a ceremony that took place on May 30, 2002, the last remaining piece of structural steel, which had come from the South Tower (2 WTC), was ceremoniously draped with the U.S. flag and carried out.[4] The term "Pile" hasn't been used since.[citation needed]

As work has continued on rebuilding the site, some additional remains have been found under temporary access roadways and in cavities and manholes under sidewalks as recently as October 2006.[5] Additional searches have been conducted of the site and the roof-tops of surrounding buildings.

Preserving and recycling

The last-piece of steel has been recycled as the bow of the new San Antonio-class amphibious assault ship USS New York[6] which was named after the state, not the city. In addition, Honeybee Robotics incorporated steel debris from the site into cable shields used in the Rock Abrasion Tools the company built for the Mars Exploration Rover mission.[7]

A few site relics, including the Vesey Street "Survivors' Staircase",[8] and a PATH station passageway to the Eighth Avenue subway-station platforms, remain. The cross was removed in October 2006.

Pieces of steel and other relics that were recovered there were preserved by the U.S. and other governments. These items include evidence from the planes, a U.S. flag, a Union Flag returned to the British government, a New Zealand Flag returned to the New Zealand government, a piece of steel later buried at the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan, pieces of steel later displayed as public art, the "last-piece" of steel, and personal and corporate effects exhibited at various museums.

The remaining 181,400 tons of steel were sold for $120 a ton to foundries in China, India, and South Korea, and later recycled as automobile parts, challenge coins, commemorative coins, commemorative crucifixes and Stars of David, commemorative knives, food cans, household appliances, paper clips, and rebar. [citation needed]

The owner of the International Agile Manufacturing (IAM) LLC foundry in Statesboro, Georgia purchased a 50-ton piece of steel and reforged it into one-pound (4.375-in x 3.5-in x 0.375-in) "World Trade Center Commemorative Medallions," giving many of them to victims' families and selling the remainder to the public, without profit, for $39.95 each.[citation needed] The medallions portray the former Manhattan skyline against the U.S. flag. After receiving complaints, the foundry stopped its reforging of the steel and returned the remainder to the site where it was resold for recycling.

Despite other recycling projects, only production of the medallions was stopped, and relatively few are in private collection.

Rebuilding

The World Trade Center site visitor and observation plaza, 2005
The World Trade Center site, 2002

Soon after the attacks, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Governor George Pataki, and President George W. Bush vowed to rebuild the site. On the day of the attacks, Giuliani proclaimed, "We will rebuild: We're going to come out of this stronger than before, politically stronger, economically stronger. The skyline will be made whole again."[9] In an address before Congress, Bush declared, "As a symbol of America's resolve, my administration will work with Congress, and these two leaders, to show the world that we will rebuild New York City."[10] The immediate response from leaseholder Larry Silverstein was that "It would be the tragedy of tragedies not to rebuild this part of New York. It would give the terrorists the victory they seek."[11]

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) was established in November 2001 by Governor Pataki, as an official commission to oversee the rebuilding process.[12] LMDC was set-up to handle Federal assistance, and work with the stakeholders including the Port Authority and Larry Silverstein, as well as family members, the local community, and businesses.[13]

In the months following the attacks, architects and urban planning experts held meetings and forums to discuss ideas for rebuilding the site.[14] New York, New Visions, put together by architecture, planning and design groups, was an early report put forward ideas.[15] Recommendations included improving transportation connections between the World Trade Center and New York City Subway lines at Fulton Street, and restoring Greenwich Street through the superblock.[16] In January 2002, New York City art dealer Max Protetch solicited 50 concepts and renderings from artists and architects, which were put on exhibit in his Chelsea art gallery.[17]

Silverstein hired architects David Childs and Alex Cooper, of Cooper Robertson & Partners, to draw up a preliminary master plan for rebuilding the site, which was made public in January 2002. These plans had six acres (24,000 m²) of space set aside, including the tower footprints, for a memorial, and a several towers ranging from 50 to 65 stories, and two cultural venues.[18][19][20] Child's master plan also included restoration of Greenwich Street through the site, and connect streets from Battery Park City to the east.[20] The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation released its preliminary proposal for the site in April 2002. Beyer Blinder Belle was selected as the urban planning consultant to work with the LMDC on the rebuilding.[21] Some groups of family members, including September's Mission led by Monica Iken, expressed opposition to building anything on the entire 16 acres (65,000 m²) site other than a memorial.[22]

A complete rebuilding of the Twin Towers on the site was rejected by Lower Manhattan Development Corporation staffers after Silverstein staffers described how new office buildings with more than 70 floors would create short- to medium-term vacancies while rebuilding the towers. Port Authority rebuilding guidelines required the replacement of all site commercial space and public streets, greatly limiting the possible land-use designs.

In July 2002, six plans were published to great public scorn. Chief Architect David Childs of Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill denounced the plan and described the towers and super block as out of place and lacking in public-space activity and aesthetics. The near-universal disapproval forced LMDC staffers to restart the design process nearly from scratch, but with the same guidelines. A popular element from the first designs was an open parkway connecting the site to Battery Park, with line of sight to the Statue of Liberty.

World Trade Center
Towers
Other elements
Artwork
History

Seven new designs were published and winnowed to two candidates: one from Studio Daniel Libeskind and one from THINK Design, which was championed by The New York Times architecture critic Herbert Muschamp. A poll sponsored by LMDC staffers showed that the public preferred "Neither" compared to the Libeskind or THINK plans. While the public preferred the Libeskind plan least (which repeated the earlier "Memorial Plaza" idea with more unusually shaped buildings), Mayor Bloomberg and New York Gov. George Pataki preferred the design and its approach to the guidelines. The Libeskind plan, which includes the requisite commercial space in four towers, was selected on February 26 2003 by LMDC staffers. The old tower footprints would be preserved as below-street-level "pits" where a "Wedge of Light" would honor the victims of the attacks by focusing sunlight on September 11 from 8:46 to 10:28 a.m. EST into the footprints. Other analysts doubt this, however, and deliberation about the plan continues with many citizen groups opposed to proceeding.

Memorial

Main article: World Trade Center Memorial

A memorial called "Reflecting Absence" is being built on the site, designed by Israeli architect Michael Arad. Arad won the World Trade Center Site Memorial Competition in January 2004. The 16 acre (65,000 m²) project consists of a forest of trees around two square pools with gaping holes in the center, where the Twin Towers once stood. Construction has begun and the project is scheduled for completion by 2010. [23]

Museum

LMDC staffers announced on October 12, 2004 the selection of Gehry Partners LLP and Snøhetta as architects for a site performing-arts and museum complex at Fulton and Greenwich Streets. An "International Freedom Center" and a "Drawing Center" were proposed for the complex.

Gov. Pataki withdrew his support for the complex centers on September 28, 2005 in response to criticism from victims' families and others. Snøhetta staffers redesigned the complex in January 2006. The new plan removed the centers and reduced the size of the building.

The museum is planned to "retell the events of the day, display powerful artifacts, and celebrate the lives of those who died."[24]

Towers

File:New wtc.jpg
The new World Trade Center, as it might look. The Memorial in the front center of the rendering is flanked by (from the left) Freedom Tower, 7 WTC, Tower 2, the PATH station, and Towers 3 and 4.

The Libeskind plan also includes a 1,776-foot (541-metre), 108-story tower. Its height refers to 1776, the year that the U.S. Declaration of Independence was signed.

Silverstein rejected the original tower design and convinced his staffers in July 2003 to hire Childs as a co-architect of the tower, which Gov. Pataki named the "Freedom Tower."

A new tower plan was published on December 19, 2003. It was heavily criticized.[25]

A thorough redesign of the tower was ordered in May 2005 after New York Police Department staffers discussed their concerns about public safety in the tower. A groundbreaking was held on April 27, 2006 for the tower.[26]

The designs of the other towers of the site were unveiled on September 7, 2006. Tower Two (200 Greenwich Street), designed by Norman Foster, will have a roof height of 1,254 feet (382 m) and an 85-foot (26 m) tripod spire. Tower Three (175 Greenwich Street), designed by Richard Rogers, will have a roof height of 1,155 feet (352 m) and an antennae height of 1,255 feet (383 m). Tower Four (150 Greenwich Street), designed by Fumihiko Maki, will have an overall height of 946 feet (288 m).[27]

On June 22, 2007, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that JP Morgan Chase will build Tower 5, a 42-story building on Site 5 currently occupied by the Deutsche Bank Building. [28] Kohn Pedersen Fox was officially chosen as the architect for the building on July 17, 2007[29]

Outside Liebskind's master plan is the new 7 World Trade Center, also designed by David Childs. Construction began in 2002, and the building opened for business on May 23, 2006.

The view of Ground Zero from the 45th Floor of the new 7 World Trade Center. Taken September 19, 2006.

Transit

Main article: World Trade Center (PATH station)

The site transportation hub reopened temporarily on November 23, 2003 and will be replaced by a permanent hub designed by Santiago Calatrava.

Some survivors and victims' families complain that the temporary hub uses the same track alignment as the old station by crossing the footprint of the South Tower.[30] It is unlikely that this will change when the permanent hub is completed.

Criticism

On 21 June 2005, radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh proclaimed on his show that "...New York's not doing anything about it. Four years later and it's still nothing but a hole in the ground. Four years!"[citation needed]

Episode 44 of the Showtime original series, Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, which originally aired on May 1, 2006, focused on the controversy surrounding the delays in rebuilding the Ground Zero area. [31]

On an August 27, 2006 airing of 60 Minutes, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin criticized the rebuilding efforts: "You guys in New York can't get a hole in the ground fixed, and it's five years later."[32]

On September 11, 2006, MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann, criticized the Bush administration: "[O]f all the things those of us who were here five years ago could have forecast...none of us could have predicted this: five years later this space is still empty..."[33]

Litigation

WTC site, 2007

The insurance policy on the World Trade Center was for $3.5 billion.[34] During the trial, Silverstein insisted that the destruction of the site was the result of two separate attacks and was entitled to double insurance payout.[35] At trial, the jurors agreed that most of the insurers were limited to a single insurance award, which is a maximum of $4.6 billion.[36] On May 23, 2007, the insurers agreed to pay out a remaining $2 billion, on top of the previously paid $2.55 billion.[34] Of the $2 billion, the Port Authority is to receive $870 million to use toward costs of building the Freedom Tower. Overall cost estimates for rebuilding the site range from $10 billion to $12 billion.[citation needed]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to World Trade Center site.

References

  1. ^ Martin, John P. (December 31, 2001). "View of Ground Zero creates spectacle". The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey).
  2. ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey (December 31, 2001). "Emotions Emerge as Public Gets Peek at Trade Center Site; Aftermath: The new observation deck gives visitors unobstructed, but fleeting, view of the buildings' remains". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ Kadison, Dan (December 31, 2001). "9/11 Kin Divided Over Visitors". The New York Post.
  4. ^ Usborne, David (May 30, 2002). "20,000 body parts and 1.8 m tonnes of rubble - but New York has completed its clear-up at Ground Zero". The Independent (London).
  5. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15345694/
  6. ^ Tom Baldwin, Warship built out of Twin Towers wreckage, Times Online, May 22, 2005.
  7. ^ Squires, Steve. 2005. Roving Mars.
  8. ^ WTC Staircase Leads Endangered Sites List
  9. ^ Taylor, Tess (September 26, 2001). "Rebuilding in New York". Architecture Week.
  10. ^ "Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People". The White House. September 20, 2001.
  11. ^ Litt, Steven (September 17, 2001). "In place of the Trade Center; Ideas range from building new towers to playground". Plain Dealer (Cleveland).
  12. ^ Perez-Pena, Richard (November 3, 2001). "State Plans Rebuilding Agency, Perhaps Led by Giuliani". The New York Times.
  13. ^ "A Corporation to Rebuild Ground Zero". The New York Times. November 4, 2001.
  14. ^ McGuigan, Cathleen (November 12, 2001). "Up From The Ashes". Newsweek.
  15. ^ "New York: New Visions". Retrieved 2007-05-16.
  16. ^ New York:New Visions (February 2002). New York: New Visions (PDF).
  17. ^ Wyatt, Edward (January 12, 2002). "Everyone Weighs In With Rebuilding Ideas". The New York Times.
  18. ^ Weiss, Lois (January 15, 2002). "WTC Owner Sets Aside Tower 'Footprints' for Memorial Site". The New York Post.
  19. ^ King, John (January 27, 2002). "As dust clears, countdown to rebuild ground zero begins". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  20. ^ a b Ouroussoff, Nicolai (February 1, 2002). "Plans Moving Ahead for Redeveloping Trade Center Site; Architecture: Proposal would combine some large-scale commercial endeavors with a variety of public components". Los Angeles Times.
  21. ^ Wyatt, Edward (May 23, 2002). "Design Firm Chosen to Oversee Rebuilding of Lower Manhattan". The New York Times.
  22. ^ Swanson, Stevenson (January 22, 2002). "N.Y. wrestles over trade center site; Some seek to slow push for memorial to honor victims". Chicago Tribune.
  23. ^ http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/925885.html
  24. ^ http://www.buildthememorial.org/site/PageServer?pagename=mem_memorial
  25. ^ Archinect: Discussion of Freedom Tower spire
  26. ^ Construction Begins at Ground Zero
  27. ^ Designs Unveiled for Freedom Tower’s Neighbors
  28. ^ JP Morgan releases WTC tower plans
  29. ^ Kohn Responds to WTC5 Criticisms.
  30. ^ http://www.hudsoncity.net/tubes/divideondowntownstation.html
  31. ^ [1]
  32. ^ [2]
  33. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14687895/#060911b
  34. ^ a b Bagli, Charles V. (May 23, 2007). "Insurers in Deal to Pay Billions at Ground Zero". The New York Times.
  35. ^ "Court Rules Against Silverstein WTC Claim, Orders Jury Trial". Insurance Journal. September 29, 2003.
  36. ^ "Let Ground Zero Rebuilding Begin: Spitzer Brokers Settlement with 7 Insurers". Insurance Journal. May 23, 2007.
  • Investigate 9/11 - Questioning the official explanation of the World Trade Center destruction on september 11, 2001]

Others

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