WTC Memorial Pavilion - Visitors Center - by Snohetta

[czsz]

In this case the Times is adamantly anti-"NIMBY". I'm not sure what your problem is, Billy. Are you angry with the Times for disagreeing with the families (in which case you'd be pro-"NIMBY"), or angry at the families, in which case you would agree with the Times?

[americasroof]

It would appear the battle has at least temporary resolution. The Center has been put on hold until funds can be raised for the memorial. That will probably take a few years (and allow a proper debate on its merits -- or lack thereof).

Buried in the article it notes 4 family members on the Foundation approve the center and 3 are against. Despites protests to the contrary the Foundation also adopted a code of conduct aimed at pushing out dissenters.

It was always an interesting battle when Foundation members who were supposed to be raising cash took their battle public.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wi...gion-apnewyork

[BPC]

The Snohetta design is a good one. Perhaps we can find a use for the building less insipid than the "Freedom Center," and less third-rate than the "Drawing Center."

[lofter1]

The Snohetta design is a good one. Perhaps we can find a use for the building less insipid than the "Freedom Center," and less third-rate than the "Drawing Center."

Curious: Why do you find the Drawing Center to be "third-rate"?

[ASchwarz]

It would appear the battle has at least temporary resolution. The Center has been put on hold until funds can be raised for the memorial. That will probably take a few years (and allow a proper debate on its merits -- or lack thereof).

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wi...gion-apnewyork

What are you talking about? The Cultural Center has not been put on hold. Your linked article contradicts what you write. No media source or public official has even hinted at your claim.

[americasroof]

The wriggle room would be for LMDC to build the center (and from a logistical point of view the WTC Foundation should never have been involved in the Freedom Center anwyay). Anyway here are some other citations:


At Tuesday's meeting, the board passed a resolution saying it would direct the first contributions it received solely to the memorial and a memorial museum separate from the cultural center
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wi...gion-apnewyork

The board, meeting for the third time, agreed that its "first fund-raising responsibility will be devoted to the completion of the memorial," Whitehead said.
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/sto...p-279992c.html

Fund-raising for the memorial has been thrown into some confusion recently by a controversy over the two cultural organizations chosen to occupy a building in the memorial precinct. Trying to clarify matters, the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation board passed a resolution yesterday declaring that its "first fund-raising responsibilities will be devoted to the completion of the memorial" and memorial museum.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/13/nyregion/13wtc.html

[americasroof]

And I should also add that if LMDC takes over the Freedom Center from the Foundation it will just fan the flames even worse.

The irony of this of course is that it's the Republican controlled LMDC that is doing this while the Take Back The Memorial folks are objecting to the Center as a left wing conspiracy.

[americasroof]

For the record here's the full press release from the WTC Foundation Meeting. With them seeking formal approval of national memorial status and talking exclusively about raising funds for the Arad/Walker memorial, it sure sounds like a Foundation/Freedom Center divorce. The NPS sure as heck ain't gonna want to walk into that chain saw. On the other hand that's LMDC's favorite position.
--------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, July 12, 2005


WORLD TRADE CENTER MEMORIAL FOUNDATION HOLDS
BOARD MEETING

Foundation Renews Priority Fundraising Mission to Memorial,
Memorial Museum, and Endowment;
Board Directors to go to Washington, DC and Albany to Meet With Elected Officials to Raise Awareness About Importance of Memorial;
Four New Directors Elected to Board


The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation today held its third board meeting and first with staff, and passed a resolution renewing its priority mission to fundraise for the World Trade Center Memorial, as well as the Memorial Museum. The Board also announced plans for Board members to travel to Washington, DC and Albany to call for Federal and State legislation which would create a tax check-off in support of a fund for the World Trade Center Memorial.

The Board passed a resolution which clearly stated that the Foundation’s first fundraising responsibilities will be devoted to the completion of the Memorial, “Reflecting Absence” designed by Michael Arad and Peter Walker, and the Memorial Museum, which will be dedicated to exhibiting September 11th artifacts and communicating the events of the day as well as honoring those who died and those who helped. The first dollars contributed to the Foundation will be directed to the Memorial and the Memorial Museum, as well as to the creation of a substantial endowment to ensure their maintenance. The Foundation’s fundraising efforts will be focused on this priority mission until the Foundation determines that completion of the Memorial and the Memorial Museum can be assured.

The Board also announced plans this fall to send a delegation of Board directors to Washington, DC and Albany to meet with elected officials to raise awareness about the Foundation’s mission and garner support for the construction of the World Trade Center Memorial. The Directors will call for Federal and New York State Tax Check-off legislation supporting the funds for the World Trade Center Memorial.

The Board announced support for Congressman Jerrold Nadler’s resolution which recognizes the importance of establishing the memorial at the World Trade Center site as a national memorial. Members of the Board intend to meet with Congressman Nadler and members of the New York Congressional delegation to discuss Foundation fundraising efforts for the Memorial and Memorial Museum this fall in Washington, DC.

At the meeting, four new directors were elected to the Foundation Board. The new board directors include Samuel A. DiPiazza, Jr, Global Chief Executive Officer of Pricewaterhouse Coopers International; Peter M. Lehrer, Chief Executive Officer of Bovis, Inc.; Judith Rodin, President of the Rockefeller Foundation; and Daniel R. Tishman, Chairman & CEO of Tishman Construction Corporation and President of Tishman Realty & Construction Co., Inc.

The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation established to honor the innocent men, women and children murdered in the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993 through the creation of a permanent memorial, “Reflecting Absence,” at the World Trade Center site. The Foundation is committed to raising funds and constructing the Memorial and the Memorial Museum, which will be dedicated to telling the story of the events of February 26th, 1993 and September 11th, 2001, and honoring and remembering the lives lost as well as those involved in the response and recovery.

For more information on the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, please visit www.wtcmemorialfoundation.org.

###

Contact: 212-312-8814

[lofter1]

...it sure sounds like a Foundation/Freedom Center divorce. The NPS sure as heck ain't gonna want to walk into that chain saw.

Could you please tell me what NPS is? I checked the forum but didn't find a reference.

[americasroof]

Could you please tell me what NPS is? I checked the forum but didn't find a reference.

National Park Service

Here's your trivia for the day. There's various flavors of national parks -- national parks (ala Grand Canyon), national monuments (ala Mount Rushmore), national battlefields (ala Gettysburg), national recreation areas, national historic sites, etc. Believe it or not New York State does not have a national park!!! Although it does have several national monuments (e.g., Statue of Liberty) and recreation areas.

Anyway inviting the NPS in was what everybody thought was going to happen from the get go (and they are handling Shanksville). But there was resistance because New York thought the feds would bungle it. Hmmmm.

[NewYorkYankee]

So, the WTC is supposed to have the Freedom Center (Cultural Center), Performing Arts Center, AND the Meusem of 9/11? All 3?

[americasroof]

Upon further pondering the apparent Freedom Center/WTC Memorial Foundation breakup:

If the Take Back crowd is correct and George Soros is the "evil mastermind" behind the Center, then now with the break up George can pull a couple hundred mil out of petty cash and build it himself (and it might get built before the memorial!)

If you thought the debate was ugly so far the main course may be well ahead.

[BrooklynRider]

I wonder if WTC will be designated a National Battlefield. Seems it could earn that for the 9/11 event as well as the politics that lead to the building of anything on the site.

[americasroof]

I wonder if WTC will be designated a National Battlefield. Seems it could earn that for the 9/11 event as well as the politics that lead to the building of anything on the site.

I personally feel they should have viewed the site as a national battlefield from the start. It would have more clearly defined how they handled the space.

None the less the formal request is for a National Memorial which is in the same category as the Lincoln Memorial and U.S.S. Arizona.

[ZippyTheChimp]

This thread is for the WTC Cultural Center. Post info relating to the WTC Memorial here.