Archived News -- April 2003

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April 24, 2003

On April 24, 1010 WINS reported to NY Governor Pataki announced his timeline for re-construction of the WTC site. He wants Libeskind's "tower," which he dubbed, "Freedom Tower" finished by September 11, 2006 and ready for occupancy by 2008. He also described plans for a transit hub similar to Grand Central Terminal that will link commuter trains to subways; a tree-lined promenade; new parks; and 3,000 new housing units. Pataki believes Libeskind's shaft will restore the NYC skyline.

1010 WINS: "Pataki's Plan to Transform Lower Manhattan"

On April 24, the NY Post reported that the Pataki Administration is moving to outlaw all forms of peddling in the vicinity of the WTC site. As TTT predicted early on, street vendors are taking advantage of the 9/11 attacks to sell counterfeit merchandise related to the WTC site. The proposed ban would also include food vendors.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "State Bill Would Prohibit Peddlers at Ground Zero," by Kenneth Lovett



April 23, 2003

On April 23, 1010 WINS reported that the engineering firm Silverstein hired to analyze the collapse of the Twin Towers regarded the attack as two separate events. The firm said that it was the Tower cores that weakened from the fires, not the floor trusses. The firm also concluded that Tower 2, which was hit second but collapsed first had no bearing on the collapse of Tower 1. Silverstein had been using the "two events" theory to double his insurance settlement, which is being battled in court.

1010 WINS: "Twin Towers Collapse Called Two Separate Events"

On April 23, NY Post columnist Steve Cuozzo lambasted Mayor Bloomberg for failing to ameliorate problems such as barricaded streets, security checkpoints and endless construction which is plaguing Lower Manhattan in the vicinity of the WTC site.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Columnists: "Deadly Neglect," by Steve Cuozzo



April 16, 2003

On April 16, the NY Post reported that LMDC Vice President, Alexander Garvin abruptly resigned his position. He had played a crucial role in choosing the Libeskind plan.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "WTC Rebuilding-Panel Veep Quits," by William Neuman



April 9, 2003

Taipei 101, due to be completed October 2003 will be the new World's Tallest Building and will also have the world's fastest elevators. It will stand at 101 occupied stories and 1667 feet tall. Its elevators will travel at 1 kilometer per minute, zooming passengers from the first to the 90th floor in 39 seconds. The $1.7 billion office tower will feature a shopping mall and an observation deck. It will be able to withstand the strongest earthquakes and typhoon winds up to 134 miles per hour.

ARCHIVED: CNN/Money: "Taiwan Getting Tallest Building, Fastest Elevators," Reuters



April 5, 2003

On April 5, the NY Post reported that lower Manhattan is in a depression. "More than a dozen streets in lower Manhattan and the Financial District remain barricaded for security and construction reasons - impeding commerce and discouraging development, according to those who live and work there."

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Downtown in a Depression," by Sam Smith



April 4, 2003

On April 4, the NY Post reported that Host Marriott, which owned the Marriott WTC wrote a letter to the Port Authority asserting its right to rebuild a hotel as large as the 600,000-square foot facility destroyed in the 9/11 attacks. Libeskind's plan calls for a 360,000 - 560,000- square foot hotel. The Marriott letter was brought to light after excerpts of the Westfield America letter were published.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Marriott Demands More Inn-put on WTC Rebuilding Plans," by William Neuman

On April 4, the NY Times ran its article reporting on the breakdown between Westfield America and Libeskind over retail space.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Retail-Space Developer Balks at the Design for Ground Zero," by Edward Wyatt

On April 4, NY Newsday reported that the Millennium Hilton will re-open on May 5 following a $32 million renovation. The Millennium stands directly across thre street from the WTC site and miraculously suffered no structural damage from the 9/11 attack. Over the past 18 months, the hotel was completely gutted inside, leaving only the concrete floors and steel framework. The hotel's interior was then rebuilt.

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday: "Millennium Hilton Near Ground Zero Set to Re-open," by Vera Haller



April 3, 2003

On April 3, the NY Post reported that Westfield America which has the right to rebuild the WTC shopping mall has rejected Libeskind's plan as unacceptable for retail. "unless we are able to quickly resolve our differences, we will be forced to take appropriate steps to protect our interests." Westfield said that Libeskind's plan is incompatible with retail no matter how much space there is.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Ground Zero Snag," by William Neuman



April 2, 2003

On April 2, the NY Post reported that New Jersey Governor McGreevey will not permit any WTC/airport land swap unless it can be shown to benefit New Jersey. "'The Port Authority is a bistate agency and as of yet only one state has been actively involved in the negotiations involving a swap,' said PA chairman Jack Sinagra, a New Jersey appointee."

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Jersey Barrier to WTC Land Swap," by William Neuman

On April 2, NY Newsday reported that the Port Authority relieved Stanton Eckstut of his services, since the agency has endorsed the Libeskind plan. Eckstut was hired to work on the Port's own controversial plan which was being developed secretly and concurrently with the nine LMDC plans.

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday: "WTC Site's Master Planner Let Go; PA: He's no longer needed after selection of Libeskind," by Katia Hetter



April 1, 2003

On April 1, the NY Times reported that the Bloomberg administration and the Port Authority are closer to reaching an accord on the much discussed "land swap" deal. Under the currently negotiated terms, the Port would give NYC the 16-acre WTC site and between $700 and $800 million. The city would give the Port the 5,610 acres on which JFK and LGA airports sit. The city would only have an advisory function as regards the airports. If the deal is closed, it would go into effect on July 1, 2003. The implications to rebuilding from such a land swap remain unclear.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Bloomberg Administration and Port Authority Get Closer on Possible Land Swap Deal," by Charles V. Bagli