Archived News -- August 2003

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August 27, 2003

On August 27, 2003, the NY Daily News reported that someone had thrown blueprints for the electrical and mechanical systems of the new 7 WTC in the trash outside a Bronx bagel store. The store owner turned them over to City Councilman Oliver Koppell (D-Bronx), who gave them to the NYPD. The NYPD is investigating the incident.

NY Daily News: "WTC Plans Got Trashed," by Ralph R. Ortega, Frank Lombardi, and Maggie Haberman

On August 27, NY Newsday reported that the quality of the steel used in the Twin Towers did NOT contribute to the building's collapse, according to engineers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The steel specified for the Twin Towers was required to bear 36,000 pounds per square inch. The steel used often was able to bear 42,000 pounds per square inch.

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday: "Preliminary Tests Show Steel Quality Did Not Contribute to Towers' Collapse," by Devlin Barrett, Associated Press



August 26, 2003

On August 26, 2003, the NY Times reported that two of Deutsche Bank's insurers, AXA and Allianz have issued statements that the bank is trying to capitalize on 9/11 to win an inflated insurance settlement. Deutsche Bank sued the two insurers to pay for their share of demolishing the Deutsche Bank building on Liberty St. which was damaged during the 9/11 attacks. The bank's position is that the building is too badly damaged to be cleaned and re-occupied, while AXA and Allianz say it can be cleaned. Two of the bank's other insurers have agreed to pay for demolition.

NY Times: "2 Insurers Say Bank's Suit Tries to Capitalize on 9/11," by Michael Slackman

On August 26, 2003, the NY Post reported that a cemetery reversed its ruling and will permit the Wachtler family to place a 29-inch replica of the Twin Towers by their son's headstone. Paul Wachtler, 25 died during the 9/11 attacks. "He was proud of working in them [the Twin Towers]," they had told the Post in a prior interview.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "Cemetery OKs WTC Headstone," by Ed Robinson



August 25, 2003

On August 25, 2003, NY Newsday reported that Larry Silverstein will be selecting internationally acclaimed architects next month to design the four office buildings that will be built with "Freedom Tower." Architect David Childs will be designing the "Freedom Tower" and Santiago Calatrava will be designing the transit terminal. The four buildings are slated to be built after "Freedom Tower."

ARCHIVED: LMDC: "Governor Breaks Ground on Vesy St. Pedestrian Bridge"

On August 25, 2003, the NY Times reported that unidentified remains of those who perished in the 9/11 attacks will be interred in the memorial section of the WTC site. Each of the nearly 13,000 unidentifiable remains will be dried and vacuum sealed in opaque white pouches. They will be interred in such a way as to permit easy exhuming when technology advances to the point that indentification is possible.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Memorial Space at Ground Zero will Hold Unidentified Remains," by Michael Slackman



August 21, 2003

On August 21, 2003, the LMDC reported that ground has been broken on a pedestrian bridge at Vesey St. to span West St. from the Verizon Building to the World Financial Center. This bridge will replace the one destroyed in the 9/11 attacks and is expected to open in November, 2003.

ARCHIVED: LMDC: "Governor Breaks Ground on Vesy St. Pedestrian Bridge"



August 15, 2003

On August 15, 2003, DefenseLINK reported that Pentagon officials signed the contract for its 9/11 memorial. Construction will take 20 months, and will be paid for via private funding. Some $125,000 of the $1.5 million needed to begin the work has been raised. NYC, meanwhile is still selecting a memorial.

DefenseLINK: "Officials Sign Contract for Pentagon Memorial," by K.L. Vantran, Armed Forces Press Service



August 14, 2003

On August 14, 2003, the NY Post ran a column by Steve Cuozzo in which he said it was "wildly irresponsible" to assume the Deutsche Bank building location is available for use in the WTC site, though the LMDC had been doing exactly that since last July. This was the first news column to also come out against NYS Governor Pataki's ban on building over the Twin Tower footprints. He wrote, "That has emboldened some victims' family members to plead, as one did Wednesday, for the entire bathtub - half of the site - to "be set aside from bedrock to infinity for memorial purposes." But if the terrorists had instead destroyed the George Washington Bridge with comparable loss of life, would we have had to rebuild it elsewhere so as not to tread upon 'hallowed' water?"

"Pataki could have chosen a better way to consecrate the towers' memory: erecting something wonderful and life-affirming where they once stood, integrating - rather than working around - a noble memorial."

"But he didn't - and so more unwelcome surprises like 130 Liberty St. may haunt us for a long time."

1010 WINS: "Deutsche Bank Sues to Try to Raze Tower"



August 11, 2003

On August 11, 2003, 1010 WINS reported that Deutsche Bank filed a lawsuit against insurers Allianz and AXA to force them to pay for tearing down and rebuilding the 40-story building damaged by the collapsing Twin Towers. While two other insurers agreed to pay for tear-down and rebuilding, Allianz and AXA have taken the position that the building can be repaired without having to be demolished. The Port Authority's plan to acquire the property is on hold while this lawsuit is pending.

1010 WINS: "Deutsche Bank Sues to Try to Raze Tower"



August 9, 2003

On August 9, the NY Post reported that an ongoing insurance dispute over the Deutsche Bank building could leave it looming over the WTC as a shrouded shell for years. The building was damaged when the collapsing Twin Towers tore a 24-story gash, exposing the interior to the elements. Subsequently, it was infested with a toxic mold. Two insurers: Chubb and Zurich gave the building's owner the go-ahead to tear down and rebuild. However, two other insurers, Allianz and AXA argue that the building should be repaired, not torn down and rebuilt. Deutsche Bank will sue on Monday if the dispute is not resolved by then. The Port Authority is considering buying the land on which the building sits to expand the WTC site.

NY Post: "Insurance War Over Ground Zero Building," by Lois Weiss



August 8, 2003

On August 8, the NY Daily News reported that Twin Towers leasehold owner, Larry Silverstein began negotiations with Westfield America to buy out their leasehold on the WTC mall. Westfield had filed a lawsuit against the Port Authority because of its dissatisfaction with how the Libeskind plan arranges retail space. The Related Company has also expressed interest in the retail lease. Though Westfield denied a desire for a buyout, it has approached several potential buyers.

NY Daily News: "Silverstein Wants WTC Stores, too," by Greg Gittrich and Maggie Haberman



August 7, 2003

On August 7, the NY Daily News reported that construction of "Freedom Tower" could be delayed if GMAC Commercial Mortgage Corp. is not bought out. The lender to Twin Towers leasehold owner Larry Silverstein has alleged that he misused insurance money to hire lobbyists and lawyers. Silverstein wants the lender bought out and the Port Authority to side with him in the dispute. While the construction timeline is still on schedule, Port Authority officials said "any major hold-ups could wreak havoc."

NY Daily News: "Fund Feud May Slow WTC Tower," by Maggie Haberman and Greg Gittrich



August 6, 2003

On August 6, New York Newsday reported that a revised WTC master plan would expand the site onto the Deutsche Bank property so that Libeskind's plan could accommodate 10 million square feet of office space.

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday: "New Master Plan Would Expand Space at Ground Zero," by Associated Press



August 1, 2003

On August 1, 1010 WINS reported that the Port Authority has arrived at an agreement to have the General Services Administration release its rights to the the former US Customs building at the WTC site. This leaves that sector open to build Libeskind's "Freedom Tower" where he had originally placed it in his site plan. Twin Towers leasehold owner Larry Silverstein had wanted to move the building 500 feet eastward.

1010 WINS: "WTC Developers Reach Key Site Agreements"

On August 1, the NY Post reported that NYC Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff has demanded that the "Freedom Tower" be built as Libeskind designed and not moved eastward as Silverstein wishes. He also said the WTC site cannot accommodate 10 million square feet of space, notwithstanding its ability to do do until September 10, 2001.

NY Post: "City's View on WTC Spire: Love at First Site," by Andy Soltis

On August 1, the NY Times reported that architect Santiago Calatrava will be designing the WTC site's transit hub. Calatrava, both an architect and engineer has designed bridges, train stations and airports.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "At Ground Zero, an Architectural Void No Longer," by Herbert Muschcamp

On August 1, the NY Times reported on three major developments in the rebuilding process: the agreement to leave "Freedom Tower" in its original spot on the site plan; the selection of Santiago Calatrava to design the transit terminal; and the Bloomberg administration's willingness to expand the WTC site outward rather than upward to accommodate the 10 million square feet of office space lost on 9/11.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Trade Center Arguments Fading and a Single Vision is Emerging," by Edward Wyatt