Archived News -- July 2003

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July 28, 2003

On July 28, NY Newsday ran a Letter to the Editor from TTT Member, Cherie Fernandez calling for the Libeskind plan to be dumped and the Twin Towers Rebuilt

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday Letters to the Editor: "Two Towers, Please"



July 24, 2003

On July 24, NY Newsday covered the LMDC Environmental Impact Hearing on the Libeskind plan. Regarding replacing 10 million square feet, "it's a very tough problem when the only way you know how to build it outward," said Ron Devito, Vice President, TTT. The REBUILD message was strongly heard as several members of TTT, as well as individuals expressed their concerns with the Pataki-mandated Libeskind plan. Vehicular traffic on a re-opened street grid was a common concern with nearly everyone in the room. TTT Spokesperson Jon Hakala spoke twice....the first speech dealing with the plan's many failings, and the second decrying the LMDC's outreach efforts resulting in poor attendance at their hearings. TTT member, Alex Butziger flew in from Germany and spoke at both sessions of the hearing.

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday: "WTC Plans Draw Concerns," by Matt Donnelly



July 20, 2003

On July 20, the NY Daily News ran an article outlining the current status of the WTC rebuilding process.

NY Daily News: "Where the WTC Stands," by Maggie Haberman and Greg Gittrich



July 19, 2003

On July 19, the NY Post ran several letters to the editor calling for Libeskind's plan to be dumped and the Twin Towers to be rebuilt.

NY Post Opinion Letters: "Public Rejects Downtown Consensus"



July 18, 2003

On July 18, the NY Post reported that the Libeskinds received a pay increase as a result of their recently signed agreement with Silverstein.

NY Post: "Libeskind & Wife Hike Pay in New WTC Deal," by William Neuman

On July 18, the NY Post ran an editorial and a column by Steve Cuozzo criticizing the NY Times for its apparent conflict of interest in its reportage on the WTC rebuilding process. The NY Times has a financial interest in a midtown office building and has been editorializing since 9/11 about a non-existent "glut" of office space downtown.

NY Post Opinion Editorials: "The Times and Ground Zero"

NY Post Opinion Columnists: "Times' Tower of Conflict," by Steve Cuozzo



July 16, 2003

On July 16, the NY Post reported that an agreement had been reached between Libeskind and Silverstein allowing work to begin on "Freedom Tower." Silverstein's architect, David Childs will be the design architect and project planner for the building. Libeskind -- who passed the national architect's exam only last week -- will be a collaborating architect on the project.

NY Post: "Finally! A Deal Reached to Rebuild Ground Zero," by William Neuman

On July 16, the NY Post ran an editorial criticizing Libeskind, Silverstein and Pataki for their role in the delay of rebuilding the WTC site. The Post wrote: "Unfortunately, much of the lingering dispute is over the role of self-promoting architect Daniel Libeskind, who refuses to accept changes to his design concept, claiming it has a 'public mandate.'"..."The only "mandate" his plan enjoys is Pataki's - which the governor rammed through, despite substantial recommendations from within the real estate and architectural fields for its chief rival."..."Indeed, polls repeatedly showed that most New Yorkers wanted the Twin Towers restored to their original design."

NY Post Opinion Editorials: "Ground Zero Gridlock"



July 15, 2003

On July 15, the NY Post ran a column by Steve Cuozzo trashing the NY Times editorial, "Ground Zero Developments." The Times piece said, "Although there has been no official announcement, [Silverstein] appears to have been designated as the man who will bring to life the conceptual vision of the architect Daniel Libeskind..." Cuozzo wrote, "Silverstein does not need to be "designated" - he owns the leasehold. And since when does Silverstein work for Libeskind?"

He continued, "Lest anyone forget, it was one man - Gov. Pataki, a man of no known architectural or aesthetic credentials - who selected Libeskind over the rival Think team, whose design had the endorsement of the LMDC's planning committee, the Real Estate Board of New York and of the Times' own architectural critic." The Times had written, "Silverstein's 'idea of superb may not always coincide with the public's or with Mr. Libeskind's.'"

Cuozzo responded, "The language suggests that the public's idea of what Ground Zero needs is similar to Libeskind's. In fact, poll after poll has found that the public has no love whatsoever for Libeskind's design, and that in fact, half of all New Yorkers would like to see the Twin Towers rebuilt as they were."

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Columns: "Downtown Deceit," by Steve Cuozzo

On July 15, the NY Times reported that Twin Towers leasehold owner Larry Silverstein and Libeskind are in conflict over how the WTC site should be built and the role Libeskind should play in the process.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Architect and Developer Clash over Plans for Trade Center Site," by Edward Wyatt

On July 15, the NY Times reported that the Port Authority wants to acquire the Deutsche Bank property for use as part of the WTC site, because Libeskind's plan cannot accommodate 10 million sqaure feet of office space.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Officials Favor Larger Site for Trade Center Complex," by David W. Dunlap



July 11, 2003

On July 11, the NY Post reported that Port Authority officials are planning to cut the 10 million square feet of office space at the WTC down to 8 million. The Libeskind plan configuration cannot hold 10 million square feet.

NY Post: "WTC Space Debate"

Normally, TTT does not report off-WTC site news, but this one's a worthy exception: On July 11, the NY Post reported that a British financier bought the 76th and 77th floors of the south tower in AOL/Time Warner's 80-story twin-towered building at Columbus Circle. At $45 million, not including interior work, it was the most expensive apartment sale in NYC history. The AOL/Time Warner twin towers are somewhat offset and joined at the base. The complex is mixed use, consisting of AOL/Time Warner's headquarters, a 251-room Mandarin Orient Hotel, and 347,000 square feet of upscale restaurants and stores. What about unfounded fears of greater than 50 floors? We gather that fear mongers will still ply thier trades...

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "$45M AOL-Time Warner 2 Fl. Condo Sets Record," Braden Keil



July 7, 2003

On July 7, the NY Post printed two Letters to the Editor applauding the shelving of the WTC/airport land swap and calling for the Libeskind Plan to be dumped.

NY Post Opinion Letters: "Land Swap Salvation"