The Ground Zero reconstruction is proceeding slowly, it is supposedly a national disgrace

New York - The redevelopment of the site where the World Trade Center (WTC) stood until the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, continues only slowly. According to original plans, new buildings intended to replace the destroyed "twins" were supposed to be finished last year. However, an empty fenced hole still gapes at the site, which was recently criticized by the city's mayor, Michael Bloomberg. The project's developer, Larry Silverstein, even referred to the dismal state of the construction as a national disgrace.
    At the so-called Ground Zero, five new skyscrapers, a memorial, a theater, a museum, and a train station were supposed to be built. However, construction is complicated by a lack of funds and Silverstein's disputes with the property owner, the Port Authority of the States of New York and New Jersey. "It's hard to imagine the amount of time that has been wasted here, this tragic waste of time. Likewise, it's difficult to envision what could have been here instead of what is here now." said 78-year-old Silverstein, who has the site leased for 99 years.
    The competition for the redevelopment of the site after the fallen twins was originally won in 2003 by American architect Daniel Libeskind. The centerpiece of his project was the so-called Freedom Tower, which was to be located on the northern side. However, Silverstein found some parts of the project for the more than half-kilometer-high tower to be too commercial and insisted that a new architect modify it. In the end, he did get his way, yet the construction of the tower, now called One World Trade Center, and its four neighbors is still stagnating.
    According to CBS News, the construction is a victim of several circumstances. Silverstein, as a straightforward businessman, does not understand the construction of memorials that do not make much business sense. The Port Authority wants more private money for the project than Silverstein has offered. The agency also lacks employees and managers capable of handling such a large construction project. Moreover, as a state agency, Mayor Bloomberg can only monitor the project from a distance.
    Nevertheless, the Port Authority, which should prepare the site for construction, was recently called upon to advance the reconstruction now that building materials and labor are cheap due to the recession. "It's time to end this pervasive madness. We need to move forward." he said on Friday during his regular radio show. According to him, the construction should be completed within ten years. "They can't leave a hole in the ground at the site of the tragedy and slow down the development of southern Manhattan,” he stated regarding the Port Authority.
    Four executives have already cycled through the Port Authority on the project. The last of them is Chris Ward. He has set new deadlines for individual constructions and adjusted the individual budgets as well. Thus, according to him, the One World Trade Center tower should be finished by the end of 2013. For other buildings, however, the completion dates are mostly uncertain.
    In the World Trade Center buildings, 2,752 people perished when two hijacked commercial airliners piloted by terrorists crashed in 2001. Politicians quickly promised a swift rebuilding of the site after the coordinated attacks, which also affected the Pentagon in the capital city of Washington. However, the area has yet to fully recover from the attacks due to the uncertainty surrounding the reconstruction.