http://www.planNYC.org/ PlanNYC | New York City Planning Information Portal en-us ja3n@earthlink.net http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4573 In a project that has been going over costs, some changes may be made to the interior of the new transit hub at the World Trade Center in order to lower costs. Since the original design featured a large expanse with no support beams some are proposing other alternatives which may be less labor intensive and therefore cheaper to complete in a timely fashion. 2008-08-27 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4558 A team of investigators have cited dozens of problems during demolition of the Deutsche Bank where two firefighters were killed. Among the problems were that contractors working on site lacked a permit for demolition and communication problems once the fire broke out last August. The inquiry was done at the request of the Fire Department and the results will be given to Manhattan’s District Attorney for further review. 2008-08-20 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4551 The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced a $195 million cap on its contribution to the 9/11 memorial planned for the World Trade Center site. The greatest financial commitment to the 8-acre memorial, $530 million, will come from the memorial’s foundation, which is directed by Mayor Bloomberg. 2008-08-15 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4538 A new plan has been proposed to increase security surrounding the World Trade Center site and Lower Manhattan by placing license plate scanners on all crossings to Manhattan. Each license plate would be scanned and sent to an NYPD database. The plan is currently being debated. 2008-08-13 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4502 HSBC may be close to signing a lease to rent almost 300,000 square feet in 7 World Trade Center. The New York Post reported that the bank is still in negotiations with developer Larry Silverstein but could be reaching an agreement very soon. HSBC would lease the top most seven floors of the building at a cost of $75 per square foot on the lower floors and increasing to $85 per square foot on the highest floor, according to the Post. If the bank signs the lease, it may sell its building at 452 Fifth Avenue. 2008-07-29 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4500 Anthony Coscia, Chairman of the Board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), has called for monthly meetings to closely monitor the agency’s progress on the World Trade Center (WTC) site. The monthly meetings are intended to give staff more direction on policy issues and provide additional oversight on construction and finance issues. The new meetings are in addition to the monthly meetings of the Board and will provide a venue to focus solely on WTC issues. 2008-07-28 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4498 Fiterman Hall, located on the north side of the World Trade Center (WTC) site and owned by the City University of New York (CUNY), has still not been rebuilt. The rebuilding has been slow because of financial concerns and lingering environmental concerns. Meanwhile costs have skyrocketed. An additional $71.2 million in funding was denied by Mayor Bloomberg in June of this year. Mold and toxin removal started in March of this year and CUNY has no plan to continue the demolition until the funding situation is resolved 2008-07-26 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4483 The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) agreed to a security plan for the former World Trade Center site. The agreement stipulates that 600 NYPD officers will be on site and control the screening of vehicles while the PANYNJ police officers will be responsible for security at the PATH station. The PANYNJ will install all security measures, according to the agreement. Officials are hopeful that the redevelopment efforts will accelerate because of this new agreement. 2008-07-24 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4487 The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s (PANYNJ) Board is expected to consider a proposal on Thursday, in which the PANYNJ would pay $10 million and another $10 million would come from J.P. Morgan Chase and Company for the land currently occupied by St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at the World Trade Center site. If the bank decided to withdraw from the agreement, the Port Authority would pay the full $20 million. The Port Authority is eager to settle the land dispute with St. Nicholas as other elements of the rebuilding plan are contingent on the land the church owns. 2008-07-24 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4467 A staircase at the original World Trade Center, originally used by survivors of the 9/11 attacks to escape, will moved out of public view for at least four years. The staircase is being relocated to a temporary holding area. It will eventually be placed in the memorial that is planned at the site. 2008-07-18 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4463 Merrill Lynch has ended discussions with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and developer Larry Silverstein regarding the company's location to the World Trade Center site. This is the second time that Merrill Lynch has opened and closed discussions. Their current lease, at the World Financial Center, expires in 2013. Informal discussions between the sides have continued according to those involved, in hopes that the company may decide to move in 2018. 2008-07-17 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4452 Port Authority chief Christopher Ward told attendees at a Community Board 1 meeting on Thursday that the Ground Zero Memorial would indeed be ready by the 10th anniversary of the attacks in 2011. The museum, he noted, would not be ready. The announcement came on the same day that family members of September 11 victims released a letter criticizing Ward’s earlier admission of overly ambitious deadlines and cost overruns. Ward warned that the 2011 deadline for the memorial will be a difficult one to meet. 2008-07-11 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4430 15 family members involved in the planning of the September 11th Memorial wrote a letter on Thursday saying that they “do not accept” the fact that it will not be built in time to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attacks. The families sent the letter to officials who are responsible for the rebuilding of the site. 2008-07-10 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4427 A lawsuit brought on by family members of 9/11 victims to relocate excavation dust from Fresh Kills to a nearby cemetery was turned down by a judge yesterday. The thought is that this dust contains human remains and should be located in a cemetery and not in the dump on Staten Island. The court has supported the relief and excavation efforts the City has made thus far and the case will not be heard. 2008-07-09 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=40#4425 George Marlin, the former executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is recommending that federal investigations take place to uncover the reasons for the construction delays of the World Trade Center site. Marlin believes that the delays may be a result of criminal activity such as fraud and deception to investors. However, one source informed the New York Sun that these accusations are false and claimed that the criminal activity described by Marlin would not benefit anyone involved with the redevelopment of this site. 2008-07-08 00:00:00