PARTICIPANT GUIDE Remember and Rebuild
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PARTICIPANT GUIDE Remember and Rebuild Starting Out forum, also convened by the Civic Alliance to Rebuild Downtown New When New York City was attacked York, a coalition of more than 85 on September 11, 2001, it left a groups. This modern town meeting gaping hole in the ground where two brought together participants from all buildings once stood, destroyed bil- walks of life – downtown residents lions of dollars in public and private and workers, families of victims and property, and, most tragically, cut survivors, emergency and rescue short the lives of thousands of people. workers, business and property own- The physical damage that New York ers, interested citizens and community City sustained was devastating, and leaders – all committed to chart a the human toll was immeasurable. In vision for Lower Manhattan while the aftermath, the entire nation has honoring those who lost their lives on embraced New York, and we have September 11. responded by vowing to rebuild our City – not as it was, but better than This event was just one of dozens of before. Although we cannot replace efforts over the past year by various what was lost, we can remember groups, most of whom are also part- those who perished, rebuild what ners in the Civic Alliance. These was destroyed, and renew and revi- efforts include forums, workshops and talize Lower Manhattan as a symbol reports by New York New Visions, of our nation's resilience. Rebuild Downtown Our Town, Imagine New York, The Labor This historic gathering – called Community Advocacy Network, The "Listening to the City" – will give par- New York City Partnership, The ticipants an opportunity to provide Empire State Transportation Alliance, input on the redevelopment and revi- The Environmental Coalition for talization of Lower Manhattan, the Rebuilding Lower Manhattan, and city, and the region in the wake of other groups. 9/11. It will also start a conversation about establishing a process for the The Lower Manhattan Development creation of a permanent memorial to Corporation (LMDC) also consulted those who lost their lives on that terri- with a broad spectrum of individuals ble and sad day. Using the latest in and groups over the past several modern technology, participants months regarding the future of Lower today will have the opportunity to Manhattan. This consultation included provide input to the Lower Manhattan discussions with civic and planning Development Corporation (LMDC), groups; not-for-profit organizations; the Port Authority of New York and community groups; the LMDC New Jersey and others on different Advisory Councils; federal, state and site planning options for the World local public officials; and the general Trade Center and its adjacent sur- public through public events, public roundings, as well as on public poli- hearings, and the LMDC website. cy options for the area and city as a Following that consultation, the LMDC whole. developed a draft set of Principles and Preliminary Blueprint for Lower On February 7, 2002, more than Manhattan. The LMDC then released 600 concerned citizens, civic leaders these documents to the public for and public officials from throughout public review, engaged in an out- the metropolitan region came togeth- reach campaign, which included a er for the first "Listening to the City" well-attended public hearing in Lower 2 Manhattan should have a greater LMDC Principles for the Future of Lower Manhattan amount of parks, cultural institutions and beautiful streetscapes; and it • Make decisions based on an for the arts, culture, tourism, should be more accessible to and open and inclusive process. education, and recreation, com- from the waterfront. plemented with residential, • Create a memorial honoring commercial, retail and neigh- those who were lost while In short, the questions are how do we borhood amenities. reaffirming the democratic make Lower Manhattan a great ideals that came under attack • Develop a comprehensive, place, and how do we fit the redevel- on September 11th. coherent plan for transit access opment of the WTC site within that to Lower Manhattan that vision? How do we appropriately • Assist in the rapid revitaliza- expands regional and local remember and respect those who tion of Lower Manhattan in a connections and improves tran- died on 9/11? How do we make manner that does not preclude sit facilities. Lower Manhattan economically desirable future development robust, economically diverse, effi- plans. • Connect the neighborhoods of cient, pleasing to the eye and a sym- Lower Manhattan and improve • Coordinate and encourage the bol of opportunity and freedom? Can the pedestrian experience on infrastructure improvements we create a Lower Manhattan with its streets. that will trigger the private great transportation, good jobs, more investment needed to sustain • Expand and enhance public parks and cultural institutions? and enhance Lower open spaces. Manhattan. Some of these goals can be realized • Preserve the historic character simultaneously, but for some there will • Support the economic vitality of Lower Manhattan and the have to be trade-offs – that’s part of of Lower Manhattan as the existing civic and cultural value the discussion today. What are the financial capital of the world of its cityscape. choices that will allow us to get the with new office space. • Promote sustainability and best mix of all this input? The conver- • Develop Lower Manhattan as excellence in design, for envi- sations to take place today will form a diverse, mixed-use magnet ronmentally sensitive develop- another base for the ongoing conver- ment. sation to determine what becomes of this wounded section of the city, and what becomes of New York and the Manhattan, and received significant line should be considered; Lower region in the 21st century. comment from the public. These docu- Manhattan should become a place ments were revised and what has that is active 24 hours a day with emerged is a set of Principles that will more retail, residences for all income help guide the LMDC in developing, groups, and business; the transporta- coordinating and evaluating plans for tion system should be rebuilt both to Lower Manhattan, a Preliminary improve Lower Manhattan’s connec- Blueprint that articulates goals and tions to the rest of the region and to objectives for Lower Manhattan, and make it easier to get around within initial proposals to achieve those the district; the financial services goals. industry should be encouraged to remain in Lower Manhattan, but new Through these various efforts, some types of industry should be encour- major themes have emerged. In brief, aged to come in as well; some streets these themes include: some type of should be restored on the WTC site; memorial should be included in any the rebuilding effort and spending of building plans; a soaring monument public money should benefit New or building that repairs the city’s sky- Yorkers of all incomes; Lower 3 The World Trade Center: A History The Port Authority built the World Although it was not an immediate Trade Center in the late 1960’s after success upon its opening in 1970, almost three decades of debate and over the years the World Trade discussion. It was conceived largely Center filled up with financial, insur- as an economic development project ance, transportation, government and to revitalize the financial district, trade-related businesses. The complex which was already losing companies showed its first profit for the Port to midtown. Owned and operated by Authority in 1979, after numerous the Port Authority of New York and state offices were moved in, and New Jersey until its privatization in thereafter never operated at a loss. July 2001, the World Trade Center At the time of its destruction, its 10 took seven years to build and million square feet of Class-A office replaced 14 square blocks of the city, space was 97 percent occupied, and an area formerly occupied largely by its retail facilities made it one of the small radio and electronic stores. To most successful shopping centers in help gain New Jersey’s approval for the nation. Although the WTC had the project, the Port Authority accept- both fans and detractors, its impact ed responsibility for a failing transit on Lower Manhattan was undeniable system that was rehabilitated into – it helped spark a major revival in what is now the PATH system. the downtown office market, and Housing was prohibited from the site. Lower Manhattan: A Brief History To understand the possible futures of Lower Manhattan, it helps to understand its his- 1600’s tory, one that has always stressed two themes – commerce and diversity. Since a few sellers of “stocks” gathered outside a coffeehouse near Wall Street in the late 1700’s, this area has been the nation’s center of finance. Even in the first decades after the Dutch purchased the island from the Native Americans in the early 1600’s and founded New Amsterdam, the city that would become New York was built around buying and selling everything from coffee and sugar to slaves. It also has always been an international city, with a mix of different races, religions and nation- alities from all over the globe. Most of Manhattan is known for its numbered streets and avenues. But the streets of 1700’s Lower Manhattan are often skewed, narrow and follow no clear pattern. Many date back to simple paths and streets used by the Dutch and the English for walking and for carts. These early settlers could not have imagined a time when enormous sky- scrapers perched on those same thoroughfares, nor the fantastic system of tunnels and trains beneath them. In the 1600’s and 1700’s, the city was physically contained mostly within the rela- tively small tip of land, not much more than a square mile in size, that we now call 1800’s 4 made possible the building of Battery of hard labor.