Tego's DGEIS Comments:Comments on WTC Memorial and Redevelopment Plan / DGEIS
Comments on the DGEIS document
This is in regard of the DGEIS document. I am pleased to know that you recognize that in Chapter 23 you say that “The Proposed Action is not, however, the only option considered by or open to LMDC." The absolutely best way to rebuild the WTC site, is the original WTC plan or the “Restoration Alternative”. I’ll give many reasons why the Libeskind/Child plan is simply environmentally wrong for the WTC site . You the LMDC, must not ignore the real hazards of the “ Proposed Action” even though there is a very visible bias towards the Libeskind plan.
The overcrowding of streets
You intend to construct too many buildings, and to put too many streets into a small area. This will create many dangers, and will not help at all the WTC site. Since cars will pass through the WTC site, this means there will be more dangerous car fumes around the area. As if NYC needed more polluted, congested streets. This will also cause hazards like car accidents, some potentially fatal, especially during the winter months. I also notice that unchecked trucks will be allowed to pass. What if one of these trucks has bomb? By opening more streets, you are only creating more opportunities for the terrorists to use car bombs. The noise pollution will be extreme, all the cars honking and the engine of trucks, this will surely make the WTC site miserable. All of the car fumes , since car-fumes are heavier than air, will settle around the streets. Since to many buildings are put one street, some of the buildings facade will never be touched by the sun, thus guaranteeing the worst air and light conditions in all of Manhattan. The re-opened streets will also create headaches for pedestrians, what was once an easy thing to do, like crossing the WTC site, will now be risky. There is always the potential that a pedestrian might get run-over. With so many buildings in such a small space, the sidewalks will be very narrow. This will create nightmares for pedestrians, the pushing and shoving will be incredible. Can you imagine what it will look like at 5 pm, when all the tenants from the Freedom Tower coming out at the same time, with such a narrow sidewalk! The street will be extremely congested, there would no space for thousands of people to walk. This was never a problem with the original WTC. When taxi and buses drop-off people, they will have no where to stop, so each time they would have to drop-off someone, they will to stop and block the street. Try that during rush-hour! In simple terms, there is not enough space for so many buildings, and so many streets. The super-block made the are feel much different than others, it was special in its own way. There was only one WTC site, and the super-block was part of the WTC. It was one-of-a-kind, it was unique. By opening streets, you take that character that existed there for 28 years, and make it plain and boring like the surrounding areas. How is that supposed to “integrate the site into the surrounding neighborhood"? Integrating does not mean you have to make it monotonous like the surrounding areas!
Street level shopping nightmare
As if it wasn’t enough with polluted, traffic congested, crowded streets, you still intend on putting street level shops? That’s ridiculous, there will be absolutely no space for people to shop, and most will be discouraged. Who will come to shop when the air is dirty, it’s to noisy from all the cars, and there is no space to walk? Certainly I wouldn’t. Also during inclement weather, no one will come when its freezing cold or raining heavily, or when the humidity in July is unbearable. The underground mall is the only way to go. An underground mall will be cleaner, safer, and no one will worry about snow, rain or heat.
The memorial is a toxic waste
The memorial you have chosen is a wasteland for toxic fumes. Since car fumes are heaver-than-air pollutants, the fumes will settle in the pit memorial. The water from the pools will be infested from fumes, thus the air-conditions in the memorial will be horrendous. Also it has been said that the memorial generators will burn more energy than the Empire State Building, why would anyone burn valuable electricity on waterfalls, when that same energy can be saved, We all learned how valuable energy is during the August black-out. Also how would you clean out the areas after a blizzard? There is no possible way to shovel 3 feet of snow. How would the waterfalls work when its -10 below zero weather? The waterfall feature is useless in winter, since water freezes at 32 degrees, that’s the average temperature for winter. Big, unattractive fences , would have to be built in order to protect people from falling over the Pit and waterfalls. People at risk are children, accidental fall, or even suicides. The fences would detract from value and appeal of the memorial. The waterfalls will also create a mist clouds that will be a nuisance for drivers and pedestrians. A street memorial will be preferred.
The Slurry Wall danger
Even though the exposure of the slurry wall has been reduced, it still presents an enormous danger. The slurry all was never intended to be exposed to heat, cold, snow, or rain. Also, the slurry wall was built to hold the Twin Towers weight. A good push from the Hudson River, or stress from inclement weather, might make the slurry wall crumble. If this happens, the World Financial Center will collapse, since it will have no weight support from the WTC site. Not to mention that toxic dust might escape from the slurry wall. By leaving the slurry wall exposed, even partially, presents a massive danger.
The skyline will never be repaired
How do you, the LMDC, actually believe it can restore the once great NYC skyline, with a pathetic excuse for a building? To begin with, on September 11, we lost two “skyline elements”, as you have called them. You are only planning on one tall skyscraper, although it is supposed to only measure 70 stories. I don’t know how you intend to replace the majestic Twin Towers, twin as in two buildings, with one needle-like building. The spire on the Freedom Tower is very thin, and won’t be visible from various spots in, even as close as New Jersey, Brooklyn, and Mid-Town. Also Mr.Childs has said the he wants a spire that will “fade”, fade as in disappearing? The spire antennae of the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building are completely lost from the previously mentioned spots, the suns intense glare makes the spires of most buildings nearly invisible. Also the darkness of the night makes the spires disappear. This is very sad as this means the skyline will never be repaired. The 70 story-building will barely pierce the skyline. Think of this, replacing two 110 story buildings with one 70 story building, well isn’t that cowardice. I was taught America was home of the free and the brave. The Twin Towers were clearly visible from far way places, it was visible from nearly 20 miles away! The Freedom Towers cage work wont be visible from 7 miles away. Is there a need for more comparison? I think not, plain and simple the Freedom Tower wont fix the hole the terrorists left in our beloved skyline.
There is no need to copy other landmarks
Mr.Libeskind has said that he got his inspiration for the Freedom Tower from the Statue of Liberty. The Freedom Tower is supposed mimic the Statue, but why? Why should we copy the Lady liberty, she is there for all of us to see. There is no need to have a giant headless, legless version of the Statue. The Twin Towers were beautiful in their own way, take a look a at any poster or postcard! The WFC was built around the Twin Towers, they go well together. New York was known world-wide for the Twin Towers, they were in movies and pictures for 28 years. Just tell me, is there really a need to have two Statues of Liberty? Like the Port Authority brochures said in the 80’s “New York begins at the World Trade Center.” WTC as in Twin Towers.
Wedge of Light farce
Why do you keep lying to the citizens of New York? Mr. Libeskind has said that every September 11th, there will be some type of light effect on a plaza. This a lie! Eli Attia, architect of the Millennium Hilton Hotel across the street of the WTC site, has said and proved that the Hilton Hotel will create shadows over the plaza. Mr.Libeskind “light effect” will never come true. Also Santiago Calatrava’s transit hub will create shadows over the plaza. Anyway, who guarantees a sunny morning every September 11th, no one controls the weather. I would appreciate if you made the Wedge of Light farce public, as many New Yorkers are still not aware of this
The wind farm is a complete idiocy
When I heard the news the Mr.Childs intends to put a “wind farm” on the top the Freedom Tower, I didn’t whether to laugh or cry. It still doesn’t fit in my head, how is NYC supposed enter the new millennium using technology invented in Europe about 300 years ago? This will make the Freedom Tower look very clumsy, also it will subjects of controversy over usefulness for years to come. To mention that a lot of funds will be wasted on the wind farm, especially during wind storms and other dangerous weather occurrences, since it looks like it will be very fragile. A powerful wind-storm might knock it down. Asian cities are building taller skyscrapers, they are not using wind farms for power. Birds wont be able to tell the cage work, and will slam into the bars. A deep freeze, or ice and snow, might weaken the cage thus making it collapse. Think of this, what is the point of saving electricity on the Freedom Tower when the waterfall memorial is going to burn more electricity than the Empire State Building? It boggles the mind!
The “Worlds Tallest Building” farce
The building itself will only have 70 stories, pathetic since its supposed replace two 110 story buildings, then why do you call this “The Worlds Tallest Building?”. It’s a farce, if I put a 2,100 ft spire full of cage work and wind mills, on top of my two story house, will that count as the “Worlds Tallest Building?” It wont classify as the “Worlds Tallest Building”. Building mean structures that measure from ground level to highest habitable space, thus the cage work wont count as a “building.” The cage is basically useless, it’s just that, a cage.
The LMDC has never held a poll for the “Restoration Alternative”
Since the destruction of the Towers in 2001, you the LMDC, have never conducted any poll nor has never given the chance to vote on whether we want the Twin Towers back or not. This should have been the first choice. It’s not to late, please, give the Twin Towers a second chance. Make an open poll and let New Yorkers make the final call. Its up to New Yorkers to reject the Twin Towers, not you the LMDC. Make it a true democratic competition between the “Restoration Alternative” and the “Proposed Action”.
The advantages of the Restoration Alternative
The Twin Towers were beloved by many around the world. There is a whole generation of people, including me, who knew nothing else but the Towers. I was born in the early 80‘s. Poll after poll prove NYC wants them rebuilt. Here are the advantages of rebuilding the Twin Towers.
1.- The Towers, if rebuilt, don’t have to be built exactly over the footprints. They can be built anywhere in the 16 acre site. The pit memorial can still be built.
2.- Rebuilding the Twin Towers doesn’t necessarily mean the Greenwich Street can’t be opened, if the Towers are moved to the east, you can accommodate streets.
3.- The Twin Towers were NYC crown jewel, they were recognized world-wide. As famous as the Egyptian Pyramids, the Eiffel Tower, and the Great Wall Of China. It would only be fair that at least you seriously consider the “Restoration Alternative”. An NYC with no Twin Towers is similar to Paris with no Eiffel Tower or London with no Big Ben Tower, it makes no sense.
4.- The tourists flocked to the WTC for 28 years. More postcards of the WTC were sent around the world than any other building in the world. Tourists would love the new Twin Towers, this will greatly influence the local economy. It’s no secret, the WTC made 15% of all NY state economy, more successful than any other skyscraper in the country! Also the beauty of the WTC was the simple fact that there were two 110 story buildings, not just one.
5.- The familiar skyline that millions around the world knew would be made complete only if the towers are rebuilt. Two ramrod straight, one acre thick, skyscrapers that dwarfed all other surrounding, that’s the skyline that was seen in pictures, movies and posters for 28 years. The only true to restore the skyline to the September 10th glory, would be with new Twin Towers. The Twin Towers were huge and visible, it was visible for nearly 20 miles away!
6.-You say the no one would work on the 110th floor, that’s not true. Many people still work on the top floors of the Empire State Building, the Sears Tower, and the Petronas Towers in Malaysia. Can you explain to me why do people work there, but no one else would work at the WTC towers? Of course its false, many including me, would love to work on the 110th floor of the new Twin Towers. Here are some examples, Jonathan Hakala worked on the 74th floor of 1WTC, he has promised to return to work only if the towers are rebuilt. Another example is Artie Vignapiano, he worked on the 74th floor of 1WTC as a Port Authority landscaper, he is also willing to work in the new WTC only if it means new Twin Towers. Of course this is just a small example. Many have suggested that a worldwide auction for space above the 85th floor would fill the high floors of the new Twin Towers.
7.- Rebuilding the Twin Towers doesn’t mean that open space is in danger. In fact, taller buildings means less building footprint. This means that it leaves more open space. Also the rebuilding the towers doesn’t mean you have to rebuild the old WTC plaza buildings. Consolidating the office space into 110 floor Twin Towers would on the contrary leave more land for other uses, like open space for plazas and so forth.
8.- Rebuilding the Twin Towers would be “spit in the eyes of terrorists”. Many news services like CNN and MSNBC have reported that when US special services capture terrorists, it’s common to find at least one picture or videos of the Twin Towers burning. Recently, many posters were found in Iraq with drawings of planes hitting
he Twin Towers saying the phrase “Victory” and “God is Great”. Terrorists are now using this attack as their crowning jewel, and surely be used as propaganda to recruit new terrorists. Rebuilding the Twin Towers would make the terrorists future attacks futile. Not rebuilding them would make them feel invincible.
9.- Think of this, if the Twin Towers are not rebuilt, this will be the first time in US history that a major landmark is destroyed by opposing forces that wont be rebuilt!
10.- You, the LMDC, have accepted that the “Restoration Alternative” would be no worse than the Proposed Action, environmentally speaking. We already know all of the environmental hazards of the Twin Towers, that saves a lot of time in rebuilding! If rebuilt with today’s technology, the Towers would be the most secure buildings in the world!
Lets not make terrorists happy, but New Yorkers happy.
The Final GEIS must not diminish the environmental hazards of the Proposed action. Also the “Proposed Action” must not have a biased endorsement, it must be fair. The “Restoration Alternative” must also be judged fairly and not be treated as a bad example or an inconvenient plan. It must be treated as a reasonable and feasible plan for the WTC site.
In conclusion, rebuilding the Twin Towers can effortlessly be made into something so grand that the Libeskind plan will pale in every size, shape and form!
Amended GPP CommentsComments on WTC Memorial and Redevelopment plan/ Amended General Project Plan
Amended General Project Plan comments
This letter is in regard of the comments on the Amended General Project Plan. I have read the document and I have found many flaws in the current project plan. The current plan is simply not worthy of replacing the Twin Towers.
The Amended GPP document has many errors, but by far the most shameful, shocking, and appalling mistake I found is, the Amended GPP does not call for the rebuilding of two 110+ heroic scale skyscrapers. The current Amended GPP allows for inappropriate and irresponsible rebuilding. It literally allows, for what was once “The Center of the World” as the Port Authority once called it, to be turned into a monotonous, common park full of short crowded buildings. A park that can be found in any place of the world, San Francisco, Boston or Miami, but how many two 110 story towers are there in there in the world? Not even the Petronas Towers can count, they only measure 88 floors. It is very obvious that the Libeskind plan looks like the Beyer Bindell Bell plan of 2002, which was rejected by the public. Many said that the BBB plan “looked like Albany”. The current plan certainly isn’t breathtaking as were the Twin Towers, that’s why the Libeskind plan was last on all public polls. Another flaw, you firmly believe that shorter, duller buildings will be more profitable than tall scale skyscrapers, but that is false. It’s true, shorter buildings fill up faster with tenants, but suffer greatly in the long run. In the long term, in 50 years, those boring, stout skyscrapers will simply disappear in the landscape of Manhattan. The diminutive buildings won’t attract tourists or new potential for businesses. Soon they will be forgotten like the short-rises in mid-town, while the tall skyscrapers like the Empire State or Chrysler Building are never forgotten. The Empire and Chrysler are nearly 100 years old, yet the tourists never tire of these buildings. The same would have happened with the Twin Towers. So in conclusion, small dull buildings will be forgotten fast, this includes the Freedom Tower, which will only measure 70 stores. Even though the observation deck will be at a tall height, the building won’t create the confidence that Americans want. By reducing two 110 story towers to a pathetic 70 story building, which needs a “cage” to make up for height, will make most people feel empty. In a form, Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda truly will have the last laugh. The Amended GPP should state that at least in some form two 110+story towers have to be rebuilt, maybe not carbon copies, but they have to be rebuilt. In fact they should be rebuilt taller and stronger using today’s newest technology. This will be a true step forward for NYC. Also, since people never tire of tall skyscrapers, the memorial should be built at the highest floor of the new Twin Towers. This way, the memorial will never be forgotten. By far, the rebuilding of the Twin Towers should be the most important requirement in the Amended GPP. Not rebuilding the Twins will be the best way to bow down to terrorism.
Another disturbing item I read is that the Amended GPP states that not all the office space that was destroyed or damaged, on 9/11, has to rebuilt. How can that be called “rebuilding”? It’s surprising to know that even if the Southern Site is added, it still wont have the same office space that was there with the previous WTC plan. It still makes me think whether with the “Proposed Action” is NYC taking a step forward or a step backwards? By not rebuilding all of the office space, it’s taking a significant step backwards. Forcing street level retail is a mistake, the underground mall was the most profitable mall in Manhattan because it has many advantages compared to street level shopping. With the underground mall, shoppers don’t have to worry about weather, crowded streets, and street noise. Running Greenwich street through the site will hurt more than help. The plaza and super-block were the “personality” of the Financial District, but by running streets, this “personality” is destroyed. The WTC site will be turned into a boring and dull community, like the countless that already exist. Also street noise and pollution from car fumes won’t help at all.
Rebuilding the Towers would be the best way to defy terrorism and to inspire confidence in all Americans. . To build a “cage” to make up for lost height is simply pathetic and shows that America fears Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda. Rebuilding the Twin Towers will discourage future terrorists, as they will feel that any attempt on any landmark will be futile. No matter how many times it’s destroyed, Americans will rebuild. Already terrorists are using images of 9/11 to recruit potential bombers, they feel proud the towers fell. How would they feel when they see it rise again? They will feel very disappointed.
The biggest proof that the Libeskind plan is a mistake comes from it’s competitors. Brookfield Properties wants the Libeskind plan built with quickness. Why would the owner of surrounding buildings, where competition might hurt
Brookfield’s profits for office space, want the Libeskind plan built fast? The answer is simple, Brookfield knows that the Libeskind plan is a failure, that it presents no danger to its business. They know that it is doomed to fail and future tenants will prefer their property over the WTC buildings. Why replace the most profitable buildings in Manhattan, the Twin Towers, with plan that will fail in the future. Businesses don’t like competiton, and Brookfield knows that the Libeskind plan presents no risk at all to their business. Proof enough that shows the Libeskind plan is simply a failure.
The Amended GPP document obviously states that there a common public view that the a memorial should be the focus of the plan and that everything must revolve around the memorial. Nothing could be farther from the truth. There those who say that the footprints should not be preserved, some say that the whole 16-acres should be a park, and finally those who say a memorial should be inside the new Twin Towers. There is no single common view, but Governor Pataki single-handedly crushed all other views, in a dictator fashion, and called that nothing be built on the footprints of the Towers. Even tough the Towers footprints might be off-limits for now, the Twin Towers can still be rebuilt on the other extreme of the site, a mere 300 feet to the east. No matter how big or beautiful a memorial might be, it will only be a “tourist hotspot” as long as the tragedy is still fresh in our minds. I guarantee that there won’t be the same number of visitors in 2009 than in 2019. It’s the common pattern with all memorials like Grant’s Tomb, the Titanic memorial, and the General Slocum memorial. Some of the mentioned memorials are not even familiar with some New Yorkers. All memorials sooner or later are forgotten. I’m not an insensitive person, I do agree that a memorial should be built, but it should not be the focus of the site. Even today, more people are concerned about jobs and the new skyscrapers on the site, than on the memorial. The most anticipated of the skyscrapers is whether the Twin Towers will make a heroic return.
I read a part that truly frightens me, its called “condemning”, or the forceful confiscating of properties the authorities cannot buy. I never though that NYC authorities will be doing this in today’s age. These are tactics used by communist China or Cuba, not in America, especially modern day New York. It’s not right or honest to steal property for a plan, the “Proposed Action”, that failed on all public polls. If an owner doesn’t want to sell his property, respect their wishes. Would you like it if someone came and kicked you out of your house to build something the public opposes? Think about it!
Any plan that resembles the “Restoration Alternative” will be the only plan worthy of being built. The icons that terrorists hated, must be rebuilt, if only to defy them. There are many advantages of rebuilding the Twin Towers, simply to many to list. Just look at the profit records since its birth in the 70’s, or the pleasant experiences that people had with them, and how they defined the Lower Manhattan skyline for 28 years. It’s proof that the Twin Towers were a complete success, more of a success than anyone expected. The most important comment I can make on the Amended GPP, is that it would be wiser to write a new one, one that includes the rebuilding of New York’s twin icons, the Twin Towers. That will be a true, responsible, and heroic way to, renew, rebuild, and remember.
Section 106This in regard of the Section 106 Process. It is important to say that the money given to the LMDC and further authorities that will be spent on slurry walls, destroyed tower pieces, and the examining of such items should be rather spent in what truly matters. The correct way to expend the money will be by courageously rebuilding the Twin Towers. The rebuilding of the Towers would be the single greatest act against terrorism. The money should not be spend on cataloging and documenting terrorism but should be spent on rebuilding the Twin Towers and defying terrorism!
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thanks Tego! :D
p.s. Anyone can submit comments by mail or online here until May 24:
http://www.renewnyc.com/plan_des_dev/frm_comments.aspThe LMDC accepts multiple subsmissions, so comment early and often!
