PA alters WTC timeline to lure Merrill

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey voted to alter the World Trade Center’s construction schedule yesterday, giving developer Larry Silverstein time to negotiate with Merrill Lynch about moving to Tower 3. Merrill Lynch is looking for a big government subsidy, which could delay negotiations. The firm is considering moving to a 3 million square foot skyscraper at Cortlandt and Church streets. That would give it a place to put all of its 10,000 employees who are now at 2 and 4 World Financial Center and 222 Broadway.