On May 10, New York Governor George T. Pataki released a statement reporting that during a recent meeting with rebuilding officials, security weaknesses would require a new design for the Freedom Tower Memorial. The meeting was attended by Pataki, Mayor Bloomberg, the Lower Manhattan Development Corp., the Port Authority, New York City Police Department (NYPD), and Developer Larry Silverstein. The meeting was proclaimed as productive and resulted in what Pataki called “a renewed commitment to realization of the Freedom Tower as a bold symbol of the rebuilding.”
Silverstein’s team will work in the coming weeks with the NYPD to ensure that the new design meets NYPD security standards while remaining consistent with Daniel Libeskind's Master Site Plan. “I have no doubt that David Childs will come up with yet another magnificent design that will once again inspire the nation and serve as a fitting tribute to freedom,” says Pataki.
Despite news of the Freedom Tower’s redesign, rebuilding at Ground Zero is progressing as scheduled. According to Pataki, “Construction of the memorial, which remains the centerpiece of our efforts, is scheduled to begin in early 2006. Michael Arad and Peter Walker's design for a moving memorial is being taken from concept to construction. Designs for a vibrant cultural center at the site are nearing completion. The Memorial Foundation is continuing its impressive fundraising in order to support the construction of the memorial and two new cultural buildings.”
To find out more about the progress of rebuilding efforts at Ground Zero, visit the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. website (www.renewnyc.com).
