Silverstein reflects on Ground Zero progress

Larry Silverstein and the WTC site

On the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, developer Larry Silverstein reflected on the progress made so far at Ground Zero. “Remarkable,” “extraordinary,” “spectacular,” and “phenomenal” is how Silverstein described the ongoing construction efforts, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. “God only knows enough people told me to stand aside, or cease and desist, or quit, or whatever,” said Silverstein, who pushed for a commercial office and shopping complex alongside a memorial and museum, a vision which eventually won out. He described the $20 billion project — which involves 19 government agencies, City Hall, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, the state governments of New York and New Jersey, as well as victims’ family groups, insurers, financiers and the federal government — as having “extreme complexities,” which may have accounted for the lengthy process. So far, the 1 World Trade Center building has 36 floors built, a third of the way up to its planned 1,776 feet. Tower Number 4, designed by Fumihiko Maki, is progressing as well. Next year, on the 10th anniversary of the attacks, a memorial plaza will be dedicated. Another two office towers will be added to the complex, as well as architect Santiago Calatrava’s new PATH transit hub, with construction slated for completion in 2014. [WSJ]