N.Y. Begins Construction of Freedom Tower

[AKA]

N.Y. Begins Construction of Freedom Tower

By Amy Westfeldt
The Associated Press

NEW YORK - A 20-ton slab of granite, inscribed to honor "the enduring spirit of freedom," was laid Sunday at the World Trade Center site as the cornerstone of the skyscraper that will replace the destroyed towers.

The ceremony marked the start of construction on the 1,776-foot Freedom Tower, designed as a twisting glass and steel tower that evokes the Statue of Liberty, including a 276-foot spire resembling her torch.

Gov. George E. Pataki said he chose July 4 to begin rebuilding to show that the terrorists who attacked New York on Sept. 11, 2001, didn't destroy America's faith in freedom.

"How badly our enemies underestimated the resiliency of this city and the resolve of these United States," Pataki said. "In less than three years, we have more than just plans on paper — we place here today the cornerstone, the foundation of a new tower."

The cornerstone put in place Sunday is garnet-flecked granite from the Adirondack Mountains. Garnet is the New York state gemstone.

It is inscribed: "To honor and remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 and as a tribute to the enduring spirit of freedom. — July Fourth, 2004."

Among the several hundred people at the ceremony were relatives of some of the people killed in the terrorist attack.

"It's a new beginning," said John Foy, whose mother-in-law was killed. "We all need to move on and rise above this."

Completion of the Freedom Tower is scheduled for 2009, and trade center leaseholder Larry Silverstein has plans to build four more towers between 2009 and 2015.

Also planned for the site are a rail hub, a memorial that transforms the twin towers' footprints into reflecting pools, and cultural space including several small theaters.

The Freedom Tower is set to rise in a corner of the site that still holds the ruins of a parking garage. At 1,776 feet, a height meant to evoke the year of America's independence, it will be the tallest skyscraper in the world, organizers say.

The current tallest building is the 1,676-foot-tall Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan, which includes a mall, office space and an observatory. It was completed in October with the installation of a pinnacle atop the 101-story building.

The Taipei building is about 165 feet taller than the world's former highest office building, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The highest freestanding tower remains the CN Tower, a 1,815-foot communications structure and outlook point in Toronto.

The 110-story World Trade Center towers were 1,350 feet tall.

Critics have questioned whether all five towers of the Trade Center complex will be built, especially after a jury verdict this year cut the insurance proceeds Silverstein is seeking to pay for the development from a possible $7 billion to a maximum of $4.5 billion.

Silverstein still hasn't signed an anchor tenant for the Freedom Tower, but said he has more than enough money to complete it with insurance proceeds. He has said he will use "traditional financing methods" to pay for the rest of the development.

[MandieR1980]

I don't like it at all. I think they should have just made a memorial garden or something better.

[Brent88]

I think they should have rebuilt both towers(with a memorial). Anything less makes it look like the terrorists won.

[*Marilyn Monroe*]

I like this. When I was there, it didn't seem like there was enough room for 5 buildings. Are they all going to be on that site?

[Mijada]

Sounds like it's going to be pretty amazing. Once it's completed I sure wouldn't want to be working at the top of the thing though.

[spunkygirl]

Originally posted by MandieR1980
I don't like it at all. I think they should have just made a memorial garden or something better.

I agree, I don't like the idea of them rebuilding on that site at all. To me it will always be a graveyard. I think they should have just put some kind of wall with all the victims' names on it.

I am just afraid that the terrorists might target the new building

[musicradio77]

I don't like that new tower since it is planning to be build. If I can see the view in the next 5 years, I'm moving to San Francisco.

[david&maddie4ever]

I always thought they should have rebuilt the Twin Towers with one more floor than they had before the attacks...ya know, to show that America came out stronger. Just my stupid opinion.

[vashti1999]

With it being such a nice day weather-wise here in NYC on Saturday, I spent the afternoon on the lower west side of Manhattan, near the water. From one angle, you could see the Statue of Liberty; another angle, you'd look up at the skyline and see where the towers used to stand and see that they're not there. It still takes some getting used to.

I however wouldn't want any building nearly as tall as the towers were. Though any place at this point could be considered "a target", the tallness of the building would make it more attractive for attack. I don't think height is necessary. And I'm not so sure that building them back as tall as they were would be sending a message to terrorists, they've done some damage already and they don't seem the type to be impressed enough to not try to knock our buildings down again.

[Janice]

It sounds appropriate to me. I hate the terrorists, the dirty bastards.

[Ian]

NO POLITICAL DISCUSSION

[Superstar]

I agree with Topanga and MandieR, they should have had a wall with victims names and a big garden or something

[Brent88]

Deleted

[vienna waits]

Originally posted by Ian
Now that we agree, we all hate the terrorists. Maybe we should start going after them...try...maybe...saudi arabia, for starters.

nah, you're right...too many business interests.

and kill more of our troops?

[EmoJoe]

I think the building looks OK, not that wonderful. It pretty nice though, IMO.