[anniegetyourgun]

The city "owns" it, but there's a "lease" involved? Can you explain this further? After the 99 years does it go back to the Indians?

[newwahoo]

The Port Authority (the city) owns it but leased it to a developer. Its just a very long term lease, but I think it affects the whole process of what is to be done.

[Lurking Libertarian]

The city "owns" it, but there's a "lease" involved?

IIRC, it's owned by the New York Port Authority, an agency owned jointly by the State of New York and the State of New Jersey. The Port Authority regularly lost money on the Trade Center and, about 4 years ago, leased it for 99 years to a private real estate company.