Silverstein wants to move 'Freedom Tower'

[NYguy]

Daily News...

An in-spired shift at WTC
Developer wants architect's skyscraper relocated

By MAGGIE HABERMAN

Developer Larry Silverstein wants to move the 1,776-foot Freedom Tower envisioned for Ground Zero to a different corner of the site, sources told the Daily News.

According to architect Daniel Libeskind's plans, the skyscraping spire is supposed to be built at the northwest part of the 16-acre site, near the corner of West and Vesey Sts.

But Silverstein's architect, David Childs, has drawn plans moving the tower east, close to Church St. and north of the new PATH terminal site, sources said.

Silverstein, who holds a 99-year lease on the property from the Port Authority, could not be reached for comment.

Silverstein's pitch to shift the plan's landscape comes as fighting among players involved in the rebuilding has reached a heated pitch, four months after officials unveiled the new site design.

"No one is agreeing on anything," one source said.

The debate has raised questions about how quickly the project can move forward. Gov. Pataki, who has the most influence over what is ultimately built, has put it on a fast track.

The PA has said Libeskind's role is to identify locations of key projects, such as the tower, although they've made clear he won't design them all. Sources said that it's unlikely Silverstein will be successful in getting the tower moved, but called it an example of the battles that have plagued the process.

Others have said they would like any proposed modifications made public.

"No one knows what goes on behind closed doors," said Jack Lynch, who lost his firefighter son, Michael, in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center.

"With any project of this magnitude, there are bound to be issues to be worked out," said Lower Manhattan Development Corp. chief operating officer Matthew Higgins. "However, we have met every single deadline Gov. Pataki has set for us, and we will continue to do so."

Nearly every stakeholder has taken issue with some aspect of the plan, while Libeskind has pushed for control over the design of key projects.

Silverstein has been battling with Libeskind over the Freedom Tower design, and the number of office buildings.

The PA has also been at odds with Libeskind over what role he will have in the PATH terminal.

[Fabb]

Does he just want to give the illusion that he controls the redevelopment ?

[ZippyTheChimp]

Yes, what's the point? Since he's a Philistine, it can't be aesthetics.

[NoyokA]

Aesthetically speaking this could be a better arrangement. I agree with Childs that the tower should be closer to the center of lower-manhattan in that its out of the water.... but I reserve judgement until Silverstein releases his plans to the public.

[ZippyTheChimp]

So much for the spiral element.

[Harmonicaman]

Why not just built the damn thing on huge rollers and then they can drag it around to a different location every few days - problem solved! *Unfortunately the Post Office might have a problem with this idea...

"Delay always breeds danger and to protract a great design is often to ruin it."
- Miguel de Cervantes (1547 - 1616)

[Agglomeration]

This will leave the fate of the 2-acre northwestern site undetermined. Let's hope that the victims' families don't call for that area to be hijacked for a mega-memorial.

[Fabb]

Quote: from ZippyTheChimp on 11:38 am on June 29, 2003
So much for the spiral element.

That's right.
But there's already one formed by Reuters, Ernst&Young... at Times square.
I was not very fond of this idea anyway.

[Kris]

But what would it be replaced with? Nothing?

Silverstein probably stands more of a chance of being "moved" than the tower.

[NYguy]

Quote: from Kris on 12:53 pm on June 29, 2003
Silverstein probably stands more of a chance of being "moved" than the tower.

LOL, that's true.

Everyone makes good points though:

-Victims families see an opening for a larger memorial (I won't even get into that - Guiliani himself was recently in a video presentation calling for the entire site to be a memorial - and asking the feds to step in).

-Childs always wanted the tower east of Greenwich, and at the southern end of the site (why have they held back the plans?)

They could please everyone by just building 2 "Freedom Towers", one for each location...

[Fabb]

No.
Too many spires. We need at least a flat roof. Above a 110th floor, for instance.

[JMGarcia]

Larry makes me laugh.

Moving the tower farther east will move the mid-day shadows from falling on West St. to falling on Tribeca. Someone is bound to complain.

You've got to wonder why Lar wants to do this. It can't have anything to do with aesthetics.

(Edited by JMGarcia at 6:36 pm on June 29, 2003)

[NYguy]

Quote: from Fabb on 5:29 pm on June 29, 2003
No.
Too many spires. We need at least a flat roof. Above a 110th floor, for instance.

Don't worry, I wasn't serious. *But the twin tower crowd would salivate...

[NyC MaNiAc]

You're totally right, NYguy!

If they were to plant 2 freedom towers, that whole crowd would be pleased for the most part...

Kidding aside, I'd like that. It's a stupid thing, yes, but I Feel the site should have 2 big Towers, side by side.

[TLOZ Link5]

Methinks this sounds like a revision of Silverstein's proposal to add a fifth tower to the site.