As the city prepares for another anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, officials provide an optimistic outlook on Lower Manhattan’s rebuilding, centered around the site where the Twin Towers fell. NY1’s Jose Martinez filed the following report.
It’s at least $2 billion over budget and the 2015 arrival of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub will be years late.
The 104-story 1 World Trade Center is still months away from opening. At 3 World Trade, the wait on that 80-story skyscraper could extend until 2018.
That didn’t stop officials on Tuesday from taking a bow for the site’s rebuilding, though—nearly 13 years after 9/11.
“Of course, it didn’t happen all at once, certainly not overnight and there are plenty out there who doubted if it would ever succeed,” said Larry Silverstein of Silverstein Properties.
The site’s developer and its master planner were among those taking in the views from above and celebrating Lower Manhattan’s rebirth.
“This is a reality—that where we stand today is no longer a plan for the future, it is a real place. Not just in New York, but in the world. And I have to say that, personally, I am both humbled and inspired by the process,” said Daniel Libeskind.
One that’s been anything but smooth.
“It was never an easy process. And why should things be easy? This is New York City. There are so many stakeholders. There is so much to be done and so much to think about,” said Libeskind.
Like how to rebuild while honoring the nearly 3,000 victims of the terrorist attacks. Officials say the $30 billion project is finally shaping into a success story.
“We are on the verge of seeing the rebirth of Lower Manhattan. It will not be the Lower Manhattan of our parents and our grandparents, that opened at 9 and closed at 5. It will be a vibrant 24/7 downtown,” said Scott Rechler, Vice Chairman of the Port Authority.
“We’ve added three times the population of downtown, we’ve added schools here, parks, public spaces,” said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Officials say they’re attracting crowds, as is the 9/11 Museum, which has drawn more than 900,000 visitors since it opened in May.
On Thursday, for the first time on a 9/11 anniversary, the memorial will be open to the public from 6 p.m. to midnight.
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