N.Y. to Begin Construction at Ground Zero

yahoo.com ^ | 7/4/04 | stillnoprotestsagainstmuslims

[stillnoprotestsagainstmuslims]

N.Y. to Begin Construction at Ground Zero

1 hour, 54 minutes ago

By AMY WESTFELDT, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK - A 20-ton slab of granite, inscribed to honor "the enduring spirit of freedom," was unveiled Sunday at the World Trade Center site as the cornerstone of the skyscraper replacing the destroyed towers.

The ceremony on Sunday marked the start of construction on the 1,776-foot Freedom Tower, designed as a twisting glass and steel tower that evokes the Statue of Liberty, including a 276-foot spire resembling her torch.

Gov. George E. Pataki said he chose July 4 to begin rebuilding to show that the terrorists who attacked New York on Sept. 11, 2001, didn't destroy America's faith in freedom.

"How badly our enemies underestimated the resiliency of this city and the resolve of these United States," Pataki said. "In less than three years, we have more than just plans on paper — we place here today the cornerstone, the foundation of a new tower."

The stone unveiled Sunday, to be put in place as a foundation stone later in the morning, is granite from the Adirondack Mountains, flecked with the New York state gemstone, garnet.

It is inscribed: "To honor and remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and as a tribute to the enduring spirit of freedom. — July Fourth, 2004."

The ceremony was included remarks by New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the reading of the Declaration of Independence by the 13-year-old son of a Port Authority police officer killed on Sept. 11.

Completion of the Freedom Tower is scheduled for 2009, and trade center leaseholder Larry Silverstein has plans to build four more towers between 2009 and 2015.

Also planned for the site are a rail hub, a memorial that transforms the twin towers' footprints into reflecting pools, and cultural space including several small theaters.

The Freedom Tower is set to rise in a corner of the site that still holds the ruins of a parking garage. At 1,776 feet, a height meant to evoke the year of America's independence, it will be the tallest skyscraper in the world, organizers say.

Critics have questioned whether all five towers will be built, especially after a jury verdict this year cut the insurance proceeds Silverstein is seeking to pay for the development from a possible $7 billion to a maximum of $4.5 billion.

Silverstein still hasn't signed an anchor tenant for the Freedom Tower, but said he has more than enough money to complete it with insurance proceeds. He has said he will use "traditional financing methods" to pay for the rest of the development.

(LEADS with 7 grafs to UPDATE with cornerstone unveiled, speeches given; correct "11th" to "11" in inscription. Picks up 8th graf pvs, `Completion of...'.)

[stillnoprotestsagainstmuslims]

I can`t believe they`re going ahead and building this thing. I don`t know, but as a resident of NYC, to me this thing is going to come across as nothing more than a giant trophy for Al Qaida. To me we should rebuild the WTC the way it was and add an extra floor just for spite, because as the years go on it will tell these terrorist thugs and their liberal emboldeners that they didn`t change anything. And as my father said there is plenty of space around the WTC where they can build a momument in memory of the victims. I even rememeber the day of 911 people were running around saying the same thing, we should rebuild it as soon as possible.

[stillnoprotestsagainstmuslims]

New York City R.I.N.O.Mayor Michael Bloomberg, third from right, touches the cornerstone for the Freedom Tower at Ground Zero at the World Trade Center site during an unveiling ceremony in New York Sunday, July 4, 2004. With him are New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, right, New York Gov. George Pataki, second from right, and site owner Larry Silverstein, behind. The cornerstone, with its inscription of the words, 'to honor and remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and as a tribute to the enduring spirit of freedom,' will be buried beneath the new tower. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

[stillnoprotestsagainstmuslims]

Plus why don`t they wait and see if Kerry wins the election? I mean if he wins then forget it, scrap all plans for construction because what`s the use of building it if it`s obviously is going to be blown up again?

[thoughtomator]

I agree... this "Freedom Tower" is an abomination and ought to be named the "Dhimmi Tower". Rebuilding the WTC two floors higher, with a built-in antiaircraft defense system, was the right idea.

[stillnoprotestsagainstmuslims]

That`s a great idea! I loved that building, it really was the most awesome building (in my opinion) in NYC. I can`t ever remember the skyline without it, now we`re going to have this giant trophy in it`s place. But on the other hand, being that NYC is the liberal sphincter of the east coast, that`s probably the whole point. This whole thing smells rotten to me, it just doesn`t feel right.

[Ciexyz]

gee it sounds like a great idea to me. Why is everybody so negative about it?

[freedumb2003]

I've said since 9/11 that skyscrapers need 1st strike capability. They should start with the Sears Tower and Library Tower...

[Let's Roll]

Other than it being another target, it's behind the times - thanks to technology, cities (i.e. companies) are now decentralizing. They are locating where their employees live - in this case, NJ, CT - out on Long Island. People don't have to spend hours commuting just so their company can have an extremely costly "presence" in lower Manhattan.

This will end as a white elephant - high dollar corps won't fill this one up the way they did the original WTC 30 years ago. Not surprised no anchor tenant has stepped up.

[Nowhere Man]

I can`t believe they`re going ahead and building this thing. I don`t know, but as a resident of NYC, to me this thing is going to come across as nothing more than a giant trophy for Al Qaida. To me we should rebuild the WTC the way it was and add an extra floor just for spite, because as the years go on it will tell these terrorist thugs and their liberal emboldeners that they didn`t change anything. And as my father said there is plenty of space around the WTC where they can build a momument in memory of the victims. I even rememeber the day of 911 people were running around saying the same thing, we should rebuild it as soon as possible.

I agree, build the WTC as it was for the most part. I really don't care for that new design though. The only thing is that it could backfire I mean, how much in demand will office space be in high-rises after 9-11, I mean if it were me, I'd be wary of locating my offices on top of a building where it could be a hazzard in escaping from fire or another terrorist attack.

A side note, being a radio buff, I wonder if any TV and radio station will put their antennae on top of the new tower?

[The Other Harry]

I can`t believe they`re going ahead and building this thing. I don`t know, but as a resident of NYC, to me this thing is going to come across as nothing more than a giant trophy for Al Qaida. To me we should rebuild the WTC the way it was and add an extra floor just for spite, because as the years go on it will tell these terrorist thugs and their liberal emboldeners that they didn`t change anything.

I like that.

Well, they did find a way to get our attention. If that was their goal, they may consider it accomplished.

[Dont Mention the War]

I can`t believe they`re going ahead and building this thing.

They're not. They don't have the money. They're keeping that part quiet.

It's time to get real and REBUILD.

June 28, 2004

TWIN TOWERS REBUILDING ORGANIZATIONS TO HOLD
JULY 4 PRESS CONFERENCES AT GROUND ZERO & IN LOS ANGELES

Team Twin Towers, the World Trade Center Restoration Movement, and All One, All Free will hold joint press conferences July 4 at Ground Zero in New York City, and Westwood Park in Los Angeles to explain why rebuilding the WTC's Twin Towers is necessary not just for New York and America but for the world - and how Governor Pataki's same-day "Freedom Stone" unveiling not only embraces an architectural atrocity but disgraces America in the eyes of the world and dishonors those who died when the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001.

The Ground Zero press conference takes place at 11 a.m. EDT at the World Trade Center sidewalk on Church Street between the N and R subway entrances. Speakers will include TTT, WTCRM and AOAF officials, along with former WTC workers and 9/11 survivors who will voice their personal reasons for wanting to see the Twins rise again. There will also be discussion of three Twin Towers-based rebuilding plans, one of which is the NYC-based Phoenix design by Herbert Belton and Ken Gardner, all of which are far superior to the "Twisted Sister" and its supporting chaos.

The Los Angeles press conference takes place at 12 noon PDT as part of a 11am-1pm free hotdog cookout for supporters (and media) and an unveiling of two West Coast-based Twin Towers designs: The All One, All Free design by Keith Edwards; and the People's Plan featured in the Lower Manhattan Development memorial design competition. Speakers will include TTT, WTCRM and AOAF officials, including TTT founder Randy Warner, AOAF designer Edwards and People's Plan synthesizer Robin Heid.

"We want to rebuild the world's pre-eminent symbol of world peace, freedom and human cooperation," says Heid. "Pataki and LMDC want to scam the world with a self-absorbed salute to America that's internationally ignorant and politically tone deaf to a monumental degree."

For more information, see:

www.teamtwintowers.org

www.put.com/wtc/

www.alloneallfree.com

www.tstonramp.com/~edi/wtc1001.htm

[Dont Mention the War]

Whatever eventually goes up there (and I hope it's not the Submission Tower) will have at least as many transmitters on top as before, if not more. TV signals in particular have been a mess throughout the NYC metro area since 9/11. There just isn't anywhere else for those things to go.

29 May, 2003 - The New York Times reports that the Metropolitan Television Alliance has signed a deal to put as many as 22 antennae on top of Freedom Tower. The World Trade Center was home to many of New York's television and radio transmitters until the attacks of September 11, 2001. The Freedom Tower will be the new home to TV channels 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 28, 30, 31, 36, 38, 40, 41, 44, 45, 47, 53, 56, 61, and 68.

[Dont Mention the War]

Not surprised no anchor tenant has stepped up.

Potential tenants don't usually want to legally bind themselves to locate in a building that can't even promise a move-in date anywhere within a five-year window. Or tell the tenant what the final product will look like. Or how much space they'll be allowed to have.

[cyborg]

I agree

[speedy]

Hi cy -- were you down there this morning for the Rebuild The Towers speakers? I was trying to figure out who there was a Freeper.

[cyborg]

I wish I was there. I had to work. However, I think all this is touchy feely fluff made to placate and smooth over that which can't be smoothed over.

[speedy]

The speakers were pretty hardcore in denouncing militant Islam and the new building plan and demanding that the towers be rebuilt as they were. I don't think there were ever more than about 50 people there at any one time.

[cyborg]

Really??? Wow now I know why it sucks to have another job on Sundays. fifty people!

[speedy]

Yeah, you need to get away from that Sunday job business. How do you have any energy left to hate Monday morning when it comes around?

[cyborg]

Having the second job, makes me appreciate my main job :)