Port Authority “steeling” FiDi church site?

The Greek Archdiocese of New York’s plans to build a new church at 130 Liberty Street in the Financial District may be dashed to the wind, according to the New York Post. The church, which was intended to replace the archdiocese’s original structure destroyed during the Sept. 11 attacks at 155 Cedar Street, would have been built above the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey’s Vehicle Screening Center. But after months of contentious negotiations between the Port Authority and the archdiocese over the 130 Liberty Street site, sources say that design plans for the screening center will make building the church there impossible. Furthermore, the Port Authority has allegedly purchased steel for its screener that would be unable to support the church above it. Mark Cunha, a lawyer for the archdiocese, said that his client will still fight for the site. “It sounds like baloney,” Cunha said. “They didn’t order enough steel; order more steel.” [Post, 1st item]