Archived News -- November 2002

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November 27, 2002

On November 27, Torto Wheaton Research ran "Trophy Buildings in New York Fare Well One Year Later," which describes how trophy buildings still out-perform their competition and that fears of such buildings being terrorist targets are largely overstated.

Torto Wheaton Research: "Trophy Buildings In New York Fare Well One Year Later"



November 22, 2002

On November 22, President Randy Warner and several members of TTT, including Amanda Greene, Dave Kelly, and John Lictro, hoisted their tee-shirts bearing the "REBUILD" logo on the Today Show. Hundreds of people were in attendance. Many wanted our tee-shirts and buttons. We gave everything away that we had on us. We gave Today Show host Janice Huff a TTT tee-shirt and she posed for a picture with Amanda Greene.

On November 22, the NY Daily News also reported that the Port Authority will not be present at the LMDC's release of up to 12 plans for the WTC site in December. Instead, the agency which owns the WTC site is working on its own master plan to be unveiled in February.

ARCHIVED: NY Daily News: "PA will be MIA at WTC unveiling," by Maggie Haberman and Greg Gittrich



November 21, 2002

On November 21, the NY Post ran six letters to the editor in support of rebuilding the Twin Towers.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Letters: "Pols Must Step Up and Make Sure the Towers Rise Again"

On November 21, NY Newsday reported that Larry Silverstein unveiled his plans for rebuilding 7 WTC. The new parallelogram-shaped building will be five stories TALLER than the original, but thinner to accommodate restoring Greenwich St. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2005. The building's walls will be made out of reinforced concrete, and the structure will contain a greater amount of steel, double the required fireproofing materials, and wider stairwells than required by code.

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday: "Safety First in Designs for 7 WTC," by Katia Hetter

On November 21, the NY Times reported that planners want to double the amount of retail space that was previously at the WTC site.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Planners Want to Double Retail Space at Trade Center," by Edward Wyatt

On November 21, the NY Post also ran an editorial, "The Comeback Begins" supporting Larry Silverstein's unveiled plan to rebuild 7 WTC and urging that the LMDC follow suit in rebuilding the WTC site.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Editorials: "The Comeback Begins"



November 20, 2002

On November 20, the Washington Post ran a feature on Larry Silverstein and his views on rebuilding the WTC site. Silverstein had released his plans to rebuild 7 WTC. "New York lost 100,000 jobs in the Trade Center area, he says. 'It's had a devastating effect on the economy of the city. Lower Manhattan produced $47 billion of gross wages [in 2000]. That's 15 percent of the gross wages of the entire state of New York. . . . The only way you're going to put back that gross-income generation is by putting the jobs back, and the only way to put the jobs back is by putting the buildings back.' "

While Silverstein has been visited by victims' family members demanding that the site be left a necropolis, "there are those who have lost similarly who have come to me and said, 'You've got to rebuild and you've got to rebuild on that site.' "

ARCHIVED: Washington Post: "At Ground Zero: A Tall Order for the Developer -- Larry Silverstein Determined to fill a Very Empty Space," by Lynne Duke



November 19, 2002

On November 19, the NY Daily News reported that the LMDC is debating over how to release WTC site plans it had commissioned architect teams to design. One of the venues planned for release, the Museum of Modern Art was scrapped, because the release would conflict with another exhibit there. Further, the LMDC is debating whether to announce the plans themselves, or have each team announce its own plan.

ARCHIVED: NY Daily News: "Big Debut Sought for WTC Plans," by Maggie Haberman, Daily News Staff Writer

On November 19, NY Newsday reported that Larry Silverstein released his plans for a new 52-story 7 WTC to replace its 47-story predecessor which collapsed late in the afternoon of 9/11. The building housed two Con Edison substations, the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management, and offices. It was unoccupied at the time of collapse.

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday: "Developer to release plans for first rebuilt trade center tower" by Associated Press



November 16, 2002

On November 16, the NY Post ran an editorial, titled, "Rebels For Rebuilding," which spoke about Trevor Davis who plans to build a 90-story mixed use building at Broadway and Fulton St. The editorial also supported Jonathan Hakala who was profiled by Nicole Gelinas and who appeared on Your World with Neil Cavuto on November 14. "As for those who see folly in the idea of adding more office space in a sluggish economy, Davis says: 'I'm looking seven years in advance.' Adds one of his partners: 'Today, everyone is doomsday about downtown. You've got to look ahead 10 years.' Hakala wants the Twin Towers rebuilt and to locate his venture capital firm there. The editorial described how even the memorial's mission statement has been languishing in an LMDC committee, commissioned for that pupose.

"Any serious "mission statement" for the future of lower Manhattan need consist of just one word: Rebuild."

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Editorials: "Rebels for Rebuilding"



November 14, 2002

On November 14, Jonathan Hakala appeared on "Your World with Neil Cavuto," which broadcasts over the Fox News Channel. Jon debated with Robert Lenzner, National Manager, Forbes Magazine on whether it is economically practical to rebuild the Twin Towers. Robert argued against rebuilding, while Jon said that rebuilding would stimulate enough tourism to make the Twin Towers profitable. Jon is a venture capitalist who lost his best friend in the 9/11 attacks. His pro-rebuilding message was well-received at the LMDC's public hearings held in February, May and September.



November 13, 2002

On November 13, the NY Post ran a column, by Nicole Gelinas featuring Jonathan Hakala, the eloquent pro-rebuilder who has spoken at several LMDC public hearings. Hakala picked One WTC as his place of business, because he knew the importance of having a prestigious address. Depsite losing his best friend, he is strong advocate for rebuilding the Twin Towers.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Columnists: "Little Folks for Tall Towers" by Nicole Gelinas

On November 13, the NY Post also ran "Rebuilding Blues," also called for rebuilding the Lower Manhattan skyline. "Any city that can't build an outhouse isn't going to be able to rebuild the World Trade Center," he said referring the city's failed plan to install public street toilets, because it got mired in bureaucracy.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Columnists: "Rebuilding Blues" by William Tucker

On November 13, the NY Post reported that 9/11 attacks have cost New York City more than $33 billion. "The losses, estimated from October 2001 through June, include $7.8 billion the economists said the 2,795 people killed in the attacks would have earned had they lived, and $21.6 billion to clean up and replace the Twin Towers.

"The Sept. 11, 2001 attacks 'significantly reduced the productive potential of the New York City economy' and hit the airline, restaurant, hotel and financial-services industries especially hard, the report said." The Twin Towers alone would cost $11.2 billion to replace, according to the report.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Regional News: "Attacks Stole $33B From NYC" by Associated Press

On November 13, the NY Times reported that Port Authority officials unveiled early designs for a transit hub at the WTC site. The terminal would feature soaring atriums. The temporary PATH station is being reubilt where the original one stood and it is highly likely that the station will become permanent.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Designs Unveiled for Transit Hub at Ground Zero," by Edward Wyatt



November 12, 2002

On November 12, the NY Times reported that developer Trevor Davis is planning a new 90-story mixed-use building at Broadway and Fulton St., just one block from the WTC.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Tall Tower Near Ground Zero Is Proposed," by Charles V. Bagli



November 8, 2002

On November 8, the NY Post reported that designs by seven teams of architects hired by the LMDC will be placed on exhibit in two locations in mid-December. One site will be the Winter Garden of the World Financial Center and the other will be the Musuem of Modern Art's temporary Queens location. The Winter Garden exhibit will be free, but MoMA's normal $12 admission fee applies if viewing it there.

ARCHIVED: NY Post: "New WTC Ideas Going Public" by William Neuman

On November 8, the NY Times reported that NYS Governor Pataki will be taking a larger role in the Lower Manhattan rebuilding process. Changes being contemplated include giving New York City officials more influence over rebuilding.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Pataki Plans Larger Role for Downtown" by Edward Wyatt



November 7, 2002

On November 7, NY Newsday reported that the LMDC's future is unclear. Rumors are circulating about President Lou Tomson leaving next year; John Whitehead being asked to leave; and even questions as to whether the agency will continue to exist.

ARCHIVED: NY Newsday: "LMDC Faces Uncertain Future" by Katia Hetter, Staff Writer



November 6, 2002

On November 6, the NY Post ran "Done Dithering?" by Steve Cuozzo, in which he called for Governor Pataki, now re-elected to force the issue of rebuilding at the WTC site. "If, God forbid, a suicide attack were to destroy the Verrazano or Golden Gate Bridge, would we decline to rebuild it because the towers would stand in "hallowed" water? One expects calls for a 16-acre park from widows and anti-development ideologues. But from George Pataki?...How strange that he promotes an idea that, if carried out, would embolden an enemy to strike again." he said.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Columnists: "Done Dithering?" by Steve Cuozzo



November 3, 2002

On November 3, the NY Post ran three letters to the Editor in support of rebuilding commercial space at the WTC site.

ARCHIVED: NY Post Opinion Letters: "Ground Zero Stall: Will Anything Ever Rise Aain?"



November 2, 2002

On November 2, the NY Times ran, "Longing for a September 10 Skyline," by Edward Wyatt. TTT Founders Randy Warner and Ron Devito were interviewed in this article, as were other rebuild supporters. The article discussed how we represent a silent majority, having gathered thousands of signatures on petitions and generating enthusiastic repsonses at public hearings. It also confirmed the existence of a billboard on Lafayette Street, placed by an asset management firm which calls for rebuilding the Twin Towers and offers to relocate there.

ARCHIVED: NY Times: "Longing for a September 10 Skyline" by Edward Wyatt