Once planned to open on September 11, 2009, now the NY Times reports constructions workers "will begin erecting the steel to frame" the World Trade Center Memorial. Mayor Bloomberg, who is the chairman of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, said, "We’ve worked hard to get the memorial back on track and on budget, and to raise necessary funding from many generous donors. Now we must all ensure it is our collective top priority,......

After months of financial concerns about constructing the transit hub at the World Trade Center as designed by Santiago Calatrava, the Port Authority appears to be giving up a "key element" of the design, according to the NY Times. Calatrava had designed a "vast underground mezzanine free of columns," but that is expensive and complex. The architect, who already revised the design, believes it can be built on budget, and his statement said, “It......

Kotaku feels it's "Too Soon" to see this art installation of classic arcade game Space Invaders showing the Space Invaders destroy the World Trade Center. Apparently the artist Douglas Edric Stanley was invited to show his "somewhat ambiguous juxtaposition of this mythical game and the historical events of September 11th" for the 30th anniversary of the game. Stanley thinks Space Invaders is "a social tale that can be related to historical tales without losing its......

The NYPD and Port Authority have finally worked out a plan on who will be in charge of the World Trade Center when it's developed (whenever that is), and it will be the NYPD. Mayor Bloomberg noted how the WTC is a big part of downtown security and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said, "Considering the history of this site and the ongoing threat of terrorism, it only makes sense that the N.Y.P.D. devote significant resources......

The NY Times reports that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention will give $30 million "to hospitals and clinics that monitor and treat residents, students and other so-called nonresponders who were exposed to dust and smoke at ground zero." The money will come in three installments of $10 million each, and hospitals and clinics can apply for grants. NY lawmakers are glad the money is coming, but think it's long overdue (it's true--it's going......

The Port Authority announced that families of 9/11 victims will be able to descend into "the Pit" of Ground Zero briefly during this year's September 11 anniversary. Last year, the state and city waged an emotional, public battle with victims' families, who were upset that the 2007 anniversary events would not be near the actual World Trade Center, but at nearby Zuccotti Park instead. Then-governor Spitzer and Mayor Bloomberg explained the construction prevented families from......

When questioned about troubled investment brokerage Merrill Lynch deciding not to move to Ground Zero (characterized as a "major setback" for development by the NY Times), Mayor Bloomberg struck an optimistic tone, "The properties that [developer Larry] Silverstein is building are very attractive. He can rent them at lower rents than midtown. He will have to do that to attract business." He added, "I'm assuming - I don't know for sure - their [Merrill's] current......

In August of 1974, a 24-year-old Frenchman named Philippe Petit snuck into the World Trade Center, reached the top, and walked across a wire cable that was strung between the Twin Towers. New York watched captivated below. Some fun facts: it took 6 years to plan the stunt, the gap between the towers was 140 feet, and even though it was illegal, charges were dropped and Petit was merely sentenced to entertaining kids in Central......

After months of discussions, Merrill Lynch has ended talks about moving its headquarters to one of the planned towers at the World Trade Center Site. The NY Times describes this as a "major setback for the Port Authority" and Silverstein Properties. Apparently "Concerns about stirring memories of 9/11 and the long-term noise and construction at the site" have been factors in the lack of strong interest in the site from companies. And developer Larry Silverstein......

While the Port Authority confirmed there will be many rebuilding delays at the World Trade Center site, executive director Christopher Ward told lower Manhattan residents the WTC memorial will be ready by 2011. The Daily News reports that at a Community Board 1 meeting, Ward said the memorial should be completed by the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, but "accomplishing this will very difficult...You cannot build a memorial by forgetting its interconnection to the......

The former executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, George Marlin, is urging federal investigators to look into WTC rebuilding delays, since seven years after the WTC attacks, Ground Zero is mostly still a giant hole. Marlin is recommending that the feds look into the delays as beyond a matter of bureaucratic wrangling and incompetence, but an issue of criminal wrongdoing that could include waste, fraud, abuse, and the the......

Photo of the Twin Towers in Beijing's World Park. Infinite emails (all from the same source) flooded inboxes citywide last night (following a Reuters photo that was published) with messages pondering "how Americans would feel if they knew that just before the Olympics start, a theme park in Beijing still shows the Twin Towers standing in a NYC exhibit of mini models?" With many Americans already protesting the Olympic Games, this might not help......

A federal judge ruled in favor for the city, saying the city is not "required to re-sift through debris" from the World Trade Center in hopes of finding more human remains. Some families felt the city should go back to Fresh Kills landfill--where almost 2 million tons of debris from the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks were dumped--and go through the tons of debris so they could recover remains for burial. The families,......

Late Thursday, right before the long July 4th weekend, it was announced the Bush administration had declined to keep on the World Trade Center health czar. Dr. John Howard was the director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health within the Center for Disease Control and had much support--last Wednesday, Governor David Paterson asked President Bush to extend Howard's term, noting his "pivotal role" in 9/11 health efforts. The NY Times reported that......

Now that everyone knows rebuilding efforts at the World Trade Center are over-budget and very delayed, Port Authority executive director Christopher Ward announced that the Santiago Calatrava-designed transit hub would undergo some changes. Namely, the hub's "wings" will no longer close and open. CityRoom notes Calatrava had previously said of the hub, "On a beautiful summer day, the building can work not as a greenhouse but as an open space,” on beautiful days and......

Now that the Port Authority doesn't want to give "unrealistic" or "phony" timelines about projects at Ground Zero, it's clear many projects won't be completed. Like the long-awaited 9/11 Memorial. Back in 2006, when construction started, it was thought the memorial would be completed by 2009, but then last fall, 2011 was given as a completion date, for the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Now it's more likely it'll be done around 2013 or 2014. One......

Photograph of the World Trade Center site, taken by Joe Woolhead, courtesy of Silverstein Properties The Port Authority released its status report of sorts about World Trade Center rebuilding, and it's a document (PDF) that grimly forecasts lots of patience and money--along with the difficulties--needed to see the whole thing through and. PA Executive Director Christopher Ward prefaces his assessment with a note that highlights how previous costs and rebuilding timeline estimates were not......

Photograph of the World Trade Center site, taken by Joe Woolhead, courtesy of Silverstein Properties The Port Authority is planning on giving Governor David Paterson a report explaining the status of projects at the World Trade Center site, and one sources says it's the "grim truth." According to the Post, "massive cost overruns and unrealistic construction timetables" will be outlined--here's how some projects are shaping up: - 9/11 Memorial: "Scheduled for 2009, now 2011."......

Photograph of the World Trade Center site, taken by Joe Woolhead, courtesy of Silverstein Properties Frustrated with the lack of progress at Ground Zero, Governor David Paterson asked the Port Authority to provide a timeline of work, noting, "Any new schedule must reflect an aggressive but realistic approach to completing these vitally important projects." Now, a few weeks later, the Port Authority is ready to present a report on Ground Zero activity, but the......

Actually, accusing Democrats of having September 10, 2001 attitudes about the war on terror dates back to the 2004 election, but Republican presidential contender John McCain's campaign's claim that Democratic rival Barack Obama has a "September 10 mindset" appears to be the first use of 9/10 in this election year. On Monday, Obama had made remarks ABC News' Jake Tapper, regarding the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision to allow Guantanamo Bay detainees the right to challenge......

The Port Authority says that a Beijing-based real estate developer will lease around 200,000 square feet at Freedom Tower (building on the far left). The news is notable because the only two other tenants are government agencies - the U.S. General Services Administration and the state office of General Services. Vantone Real Estate Company is planning on taking the 64th to 69th floors to build the China Center, described as a $90 million "combination chamber......

This installment of NY1’s Today in New York City History aired ten years ago today (a Tuesday for those keeping score at home). Now thanks to someone randomly taping this back then and YouTube it is preserved in digital amber. In the twenty five second piece there was room for only two historical tidbits - the cornerstone of City Hall being laid in 1803 (it is the oldest continuously used City Hall in the country)......

Though firefighter Kevin Prior died over six years ago when responding to the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center in 2001, a struggle over his FDNY pension has gone to court. Prior's parents do not think his then-fiancee Doreen Noone should be entitled to half the $75,000 annual pension. They tell the Post it's not really about money, but have the "truth" "acknowledged:The Priors concede that the young couple was engaged, with a......

A state appeals court was unconvinced by the Port Authority's arguments and upheld a ruling that leaves the agency 68% liable for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. In 2005, a State Supreme Court jury ruled the Port Authority's liability at 68%, with terrorists being liable for 32%. And since the PA was more than 50% liable, it would have to pay 100% of the lawsuits. The PA appealed, finding the decision "bizarre" and questioning......

The NY Times highlights how, in spite of being many years away from opening, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum does have one exhibit in place: The 62 foot by 64 foot foundation wall, aka the slurry wall, from the original World Trade Center. However, the big challenge now is securing it. The Port Authority and the memorial's builders are reinforcing it with "steel caisson cores," a "new concrete liner," and a "pilaster wall,"......

Photograph at Pope Benedict at Ground Zero by Kathy Willens/AP Pope Benedict XVI visited Ground Zero this morning, asking for "eternal light and peace to all who died here," with an audience of dignitaries and two dozen survivors, victims' family members, and rescue workers from the September 11 attacks. He lit a candle, blessed the site, and prayed. Here is an excerpt of his blessing:We ask you, in your compassion to bring healing to......

Proving that there's a market for oversize shredders, a homeless man discovered two copies of blueprints for Freedom Tower, aka World Trade Center Tower One, in the trash at Sullivan and Houston Streets. The Post puts Mike Fleming (a "homeless, recovering drug addict") on the cover and questions the security lapse, pointing out, "It's a good thing Osama wasn't walking through SoHo yesterday morning." Fleming had been looking for cardboard to sleep on when he......

Of course: Because of budget concerns that could be hundreds of millions in overruns, the Port Authority is looking at ways to save money on the World Trade Center transportation hub design. But while the NY Times initially frightens those of you (and us, frankly) who have fallen in love with Santiago Calatrava's design with the words "the Port Authority has begun preparing plans for a more modest alternative," there is this:In no case,......

RepresentativeDarrell Issa, a Republican from California, played the spoiler during the city's attempt to get federal money for sick first responders. Issa said the planes that flew into the World Trade Center weren't weapons like a dirty bomb, "It simply was an aircraft, residue of two aircraft, and residue from the materials used to build this building." To which NYC counsel Michael Cardozo said, "Congressman, this was I believe an attack on the United States......

Gorilla, by jenna bascom at flickrToday on the Gothamist Newsmap: A construction accident at 32 Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, shots fired over the air at Meeker Ave & Frost St in Brooklyn, and an evidence search at 50-30 Broadway and 50 St in Queens Brooklyn Heights Blog has a great picture of the front entrance The Moxie Spot, a still-to-be-opened establishment on Atlantic Ave. The door comes in three sizes: adult, child, and pet.......