NEW YORK | 200 Greenwich - 2 WTC | 1,226 FT | 55 FLOORS

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by meh_cd

I hope you're right. I like both designs, but Tower 2 is much more distinctive from than 3 from most angles. The only other building I can think of that is similar in the US is the Smurfit-Stone Building in Chicago.

I find it just the opposite. I see tower 2 as besing mostly distinctive from the harbor side, while tower 3 remains it's distinctive design from all angles...

[NYguy]

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2010/02/bloomberg-stop-this-craziness.html

Bloomberg: 'Stop This Craziness' On Ground Zero

By Elizabeth Benjamin
February 19, 2010


Mayor Bloomberg today defended developer Larry Silverstein, ripped into the Port Authority and vowed to keep "beating the drums every day" as long as rebuilding at Ground Zero remains stalled, the DN's Kate Lucadamo reports.

"It’s time to stop this craziness of everything and we just have to move forward here...I’m not going to leave this world with a hole in the ground 10 years from now,” the mayor told WOR's John Gambling.

“This is the time to do it," Bloomberg continued. "We can still sign contracts with low prices for steel and concrete and labor. If we wait, it will cost us a lot more money. People aren’t going to move downtown...This was the project that makes sense to everybody.”

Bloomberg said Silverstein "had a very rationale plan" and said the Port Authority has to "come back with something that is rationally doable, and doable now." The mayor said it's up to governors David Paterson and Chris Christie to put the heat on their respective appointees to step up the pace.

"They either should do it or just get out of the way," the mayor said. "The city offered to take this whole thing over back when if you remember. We could not have done a worse job."

"...They cannot leave a hole in the ground where this tragedy took place. It will slow down development of all Southern Manhattan. I don’t always agree with (Assembly Speaker) Shelly (Silver), but boy is he right on this one. We’ve got to get this going."

[OneWorldTradeCenter]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

I really LOVE this design, I hope to death it works out.

I AGREE!

[Dac150]

Bloomberg could technically privately fund the construction of Tower 2; his estimated fortune is some 20-25 billion dollars. Not saying that any one person should be responsible for something like that, but a combined donation from New York’s high society would prove they mean what they preach.

[NYguy]

"They either should do it or just get out of the way," the mayor said. "The city offered to take this whole thing over back when if you remember. We could not have done a worse job."

Bloomberg should outline how he thinks the job can get completed now. Silverstein has given in and come back to the table to make a deal. The Port Authority, feeling emboldened by their last arbitration victory, doesn't want any part of it. The problem is, those Mo Rons that run the Port won't be around in a couple of years, as the heads are constantly changing. So if whoever is running the PA a few years from now has to sit up in their offices (tower 4) overlooking the holes in the ground, they couldn't care less. And the governors of NY and NJ couldn't be any further removed from "hands on" handling of this mess.

[meh_cd]

Originally Posted by Dac150

Bloomberg could technically privately fund the construction of Tower 2; his estimated fortune is some 20-25 billion dollars. Not saying that any one person should be responsible for something like that, but a combined donation from New York’s high society would prove they mean what they preach.

My feelings exactly. You'd think the positive press he would receive from that alone would make it worth it.

@NYGuy regarding Tower 2. We'll have to agree to disagree. As I said, though, I like both designs and hope they are both built.

[Crawford]

The stupid news articles are totally misleading.

There is no news on Tower 2. Silverstein is only saying he can fund 3 and 4, not 2.

Before, he said he could only build 4. Now he wants to compromise, and do 3 too.

The Port Authority rejects his plan to fund 3 and 4 though.

So this is all just political posturing.

The only real story on Tower 2 is that it will be built last, but we already knew that (it's the most expensive of the remaining towers).

[Zapatan]

Well if Tower 2 is cancelled, hopefully that would mean a height increase for Tower 3... that would be nice.

Someone has to put something there eventually

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by Crawford

The stupid news articles are totally misleading.

There is no news on Tower 2. Silverstein is only saying he can fund 3 and 4, not 2.

The only real story on Tower 2 is that it will be built last, but we already knew that (it's the most expensive of the remaining towers).

That's the problem with the way these things are reported. People are too lazy to read, and too stupid to understand what they do read. I like what Silverstein has done here. Rather than put off Tower 3 until he can get normal financing, he'll build that now (less expensive) and put off Tower 2.

The other big problem is, the Port Authority really couldn't give a damn. They've already redesigned the PATH terminal in a way that could leave holes in the ground - yet the $2 billion plus station to nowhere would be built. And what incentive does the PA have? Silverstein has to pay the rent regardless. Meanwhile, the PA likes to point to the progress being made with the Freedom Tower, nevermind that it was Silverstein who got that one together also.

http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/150503

Developer Larry Silverstein Proposes New Plan for Ground Zero

by Matthew Schuerman
February 19, 2010

Negotiations are resuming over when and what to build at Ground Zero.

A source familiar with the negotiations says developer Larry Silverstein wants to focus all of his money on the two smallest towers proposed for the site, and push off indefinitely the construction of the third and tallest tower. But in return, he wants the Port Authority to guarantee the loans he'll take out.

Port Authority spokesman Steve Sigmund says Silverstein's latest offer still amounts to a public bailout but the Port Authority intends to make a counter-offer. He says the only part of the site that's not moving forward are the developer's office towers.

The other developers around town don't want these office towers built. Look at the long line of massive midtown office towers that are waiting for financing and tenants. The WTC was always supposed to be rebuilt as "spec" space. But it's basically been Silverstein on his own fighting for the rebuild, although Bloomberg finally seems to be awakening from his coma.

[meh_cd]

You'd almost think Vornado was trying to sink Silverstein since they lost the bid to the Towers in 2001? Naaahhh.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by meh_cd

You'd almost think Vornado was trying to sink Silverstein since they lost the bid to the Towers in 2001? Naaahhh.

Nothing personal, it's just business... Some developers (Bank of America's Durst) went so far as to repeat the attacks that were taken against planning of the original WTC by taking out full page ads against this one. I have a copy around somewhere.

[SkyscrapersOfNewYork]

so wait...he doesnt want to build tower 2 anymore he just wants to build tower 3?

[NYCLuver]

2 Billion Dollars plus for the Path terminal... I would rather have the skyline restored than the Path terminal. As pretty as it is, its ridiculous that its THAT expensive.

[fleonzo]

I've been saying this for the past two years (and NYGuy you've been critical of my comments- though I appreciate your contributions, tremendously, to these WTC threads!); Larry S. should have focused all his efforts (especially the minute he knew that the PA was going to stonewall him and right after they decided to take over the construction of WTC 1) on combining Towers 2 and 3 and making it even "grander" than the Freedom Tower. Once they (PA) made it clear that they were going to "change" the deal....he had every justification to change the designs and build a super tower instead of WTC 2 and 3! Now he'll end up basically doing the same thing except with two years having gone by and which have eaten up the funds he could have used to truly build a "super" tower!

[Dac150]

Silverstein is doing the right thing now, and has done the right thing all along. He’s right in focusing his efforts into what makes the most financial sense at this time, and that’s funding Tower 3. Tower 2 can use some time to hopefully pick up some tenant interest.

[Duffstuff129]

Originally Posted by fleonzo

I've been saying this for the past two years (and NYGuy you've been critical of my comments- though I appreciate your contributions, tremendously, to these WTC threads!); Larry S. should have focused all his efforts (especially the minute he knew that the PA was going to stonewall him and right after they decided to take over the construction of WTC 1) on combining Towers 2 and 3 and making it even "grander" than the Freedom Tower. Once they (PA) made it clear that they were going to "change" the deal....he had every justification to change the designs and build a super tower instead of WTC 2 and 3! Now he'll end up basically doing the same thing except with two years having gone by and which have eaten up the funds he could have used to truly build a "super" tower!

So he should spend 4 billion dollars on 1 tower that destroys the spiral and plan instead of 4 billion on 2 towers that work perfectly in context?

Cool idea, bro.

[uaarkson]

Originally Posted by fleonzo

I've been saying this for the past two years (and NYGuy you've been critical of my comments- though I appreciate your contributions, tremendously, to these WTC threads!); Larry S. should have focused all his efforts (especially the minute he knew that the PA was going to stonewall him and right after they decided to take over the construction of WTC 1) on combining Towers 2 and 3 and making it even "grander" than the Freedom Tower. Once they (PA) made it clear that they were going to "change" the deal....he had every justification to change the designs and build a super tower instead of WTC 2 and 3! Now he'll end up basically doing the same thing except with two years having gone by and which have eaten up the funds he could have used to truly build a "super" tower!

Yeah, no. That is a horrible idea.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by fleonzo

I've been saying this for the past two years (and NYGuy you've been critical of my comments- though I appreciate your contributions, tremendously, to these WTC threads!); Larry S. should have focused all his efforts (especially the minute he knew that the PA was going to stonewall him and right after they decided to take over the construction of WTC 1) on combining Towers 2 and 3 and making it even "grander" than the Freedom Tower.

A non-starter. Silverstein can't get a lease for the towers the size they are now - nevermind the financing. There is a site plan to follow, and there is a reason the office floors aren't going to go beyond a certain height. Forget the grand schemes, which could probably work elsewhere, and focus on practical solutions to this site.

I find Silverstein's offer to delay this tower until he can get financing, and put all he can into towers 3 & 4 a good start. Let's see what the Port Authority has to say about it. Chris Ward didn't look good at all in the 60 minutes piece.

[Rail>Auto]

I wish he would have put all his money and efforts into towers 1 and 2 and left 3 and 4 for later. They're nothing special and quite frankly I could live without them.

[JSsocal]

Well 1 WTC was built because it already had financing all lined up, but tower 4 is being built because that's the building where the Port Authority is going to move in when it's finished, (remember they used to be in the North tower of the original complex).