This is a characteristic which runs through all of them, as well as that of including a large memorial park surrounded by a group of skyscrapers between 32 and 85 storeys, therefore lower than the 110 storeys of the towers destroyed 11 September.
“It is only a hypothesis and not a definite plan, to be put forward for public opinion”, emphasised John Whitehead, president of the LMDC, describing the six proposals as “an important moment for our city and for our nation”.
On the drawing board are in fact a number of alternatives which differ above all for a question of traffic management, the layout of the blocks and the position of the buildings. Four proposals out of the six leave free the space previously occupied by the Twin Towers, whilst all of them connect Greenwich Street from north to south across the area of the WTC, and five include a residential area south of Liberty Street.
Aside from the design differences, the New York Port Authority, owner of the land, has as its overall aim the rebuilding of 1,022,000 square metres of office space, 56,000 square metres of retail and as much again for hotels, as well as an underground station and new cultural spaces.
By mid September the three of the six schemes will be selected, the choice of a single project will then be made by the end of the year. And the time for building works? Not to be finished before 2005.
A separate discussion is that of including a memorial, which will be the subject of an international competition open not only to architects but to anyone who wishes to take part.
http://www.renewnyc.org/concepts.htm
