2005, Year in Action

In 2005, The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation doled out its first round of grants to cultural and community groups. A design was unveiled for what would become known as the W.T.C. Performing Arts Center and a push began to lure cultural groups Downtown. Charlie Maikish was named Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center director. A heated debate arose on programming content at the Freedom Center, with some 9/11 families protesting the potential political content of future exhibits. Governor Pataki tossed the Freedom Center from W.T.C. plans, claiming that “Freedom should unify us: this center has not.”

A report was released that showed that the Lower Manhattan office market was rebounding, and official talks commenced on the design of the 9/11 Museum.

Construction began on the new Goldman Sachs headquarters at 200 West St. The 43-story building occupies 2.1 million square feet. Goldman was awarded $1.65 billion in Liberty bonds to cover part of the building’s $2.1 billion cost, in addition to other city subsidies.

As the death toll from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan increased, the year’s anniversary of 9/11 was marked by anti-war protestors.

The Headlines of 2004 tell the story:

Wils: tunnel extension will push costs to $1 billion • Preservation has improved the W.T.C. development plan • W.T.C. Memorial group’s first meeting • C.B. 1 comments on W.T.C. memorial adjustments • Damaged landmark Beaux-Arts building, 90 West St., readies to reopen as apartments • Charles Maikish named Downtown building coordinator • W.T.C. memorial for ‘93 victims unveiled • Mayor expected to sign compromise for Park Row • Debate over Downtown money: Weighing W.T.C. construction against other projects • Olive Leaf Wholeness Center in Gramercy Park area offers spa for people still traumatized by 9/11 • House resolution introduced on W.T.C. memorial plan • Overlooking the site where a father recovered his son’s body, after a three-month search • Park Row buses likely to return next month • West St. tunnel money debate begins • W.T.C. vending law prohibits souvenir sales in Ground Zero area; One year later: Sales still down, vendors mad, residents still wary • Lease signed for W.T.C. Tribute Center E.P.A.’s new testing plan has holes, critics say • Work begins on Downtown’s British Memorial Garden • Transportation and W.T.C. site are top priorities • Pataki unveils Downtown spending plan; $1.4 billion in 9/11 aid left to spend • Chinatown included in final pieces of L.M.D.C. spending plan • W.T.C. Cultural Center design unveiled • Trying to move from here to a rebuilt W.T.C. • Kicking up dust over new air testing plan • Struggling to put on a show near Ground Zero: Eric Brown organizes Lower Manhattan Arts Festival and Variety Show to breathe life back into the area • Cultural building receives good reviews from C.B. 1  • More streets will make the Freedom Tower less secure • ‘Liquid Assets’ outdoor cafe opens across from the W.T.C. • Photographer Danny Lyon’s new book “The Destruction of Lower Manhattan” shows Downtown before the W.T.C.  • Tower of fear, not freedom for some Downtowners • B.P.C. dog run to be named after Sirius, the canine killed on 9/11 • Critics say E.P.A. plan leaves out some workers • “Serving Those Who Serve” offers herbal supplements for 9/11 health problems • Changes for the worse at the Freedom Tower • Art groups back Drawing Center at the W.T.C. site • Racist postcard taped to W.T.C. fence door • Small Downtown arts groups move plans forward with new 9/11 grants • Freedom requires standing up to 9/11 family leaders • StoryCorps revisits Ground Zero to record 9/11 tales, oral histories • Do security guards need more training? • One more victim of the World Trade Center’; Slain writer’s battles Downtown and in Iraq • Residents and 9/11 families share common ground • Recalling Berenthia (Berry) Berenson Perkins, one of the thousands killed on 9/11 • 9/11 anniversary events scheduled in Lower Manhattan: “What Comes After: Cities, Art and Recovery” Summit; Congressional 9/11 Hearing; 9/11 Fourth Anniversary Observance at the World Trade Center Site; “Manhattan Remembers” Sunrise Ceremony in B.P.C.; the September Concerts at B.P.C. • Arabic lessons to begin near Ground Zero at Stuyvesant high school • “Hope for the future” film documents post-9/11 student trauma Downtown • Remembering 2001; honoring the fallen four years later • L.M.C.C. international conference, “What Comes After: Cities, Art and Recovery,” causes anger over politically provocative art exhibit taking place on 9/11 anniversary • Public forum takes input on programming at the future 9/11 museum • 9/11 fourth anniversary ceremonies begin with the sunrise • Small anniversary turnout at firefighters’ museum • Talks begin on W.T.C. Memorial’s museum • A heated debate over photographing New York’s bravest: Exhibits “Photos by New York’s Bravest and Finest” at SoHo Photo and “Photos by Gary Suson” at Ground Zero Museum Workshop coincide with the 4th anniversary • Pataki tosses Freedom Center from W.T.C., says “Freedom should unify us. This center has not.” • Freedom Center decision proves democracy works • More doubts cast on fate of W.T.C. performance space • Protests over Iraq War body count mark a grim milestone at Ground Zero • E.P.A. to change dust plan after rebuke • Slow-moving path to W.T.C. retail • Resident: Mostly signs of hope looking across the W.T.C. • Update: Getting ready to begin building the W.T.C. memorial • Governor’s Downtown Manager: Downtown progress is real and steady • L.M.D.C.: A ‘better and stronger’ Downtown is being built • C.B. 1: Residents need retail and culture on Downtown’s front burner • Construction Commander: Working to reduce the pain from $20 million worth of construction • Downtown Alliance: New incentives will insure Downtown remains the financial capital • Fiscal Watchdogs: Let the free market and public decide Downtown’s future • Chinatown Partnership: Chinatown begins to build on the unity that came after 9/11 • New report says Downtown office market is rebounding • Downtowners, scientists, Clinton blast E.P.A.’s new testing plan • Open up to closing off Cortlandt St. • Memorial fountains will run dry in winter • Panel scientists tee off on widely criticized E.P.A. plan • Arts community reflects on cultural loss at the W.T.C. • British architect returns to W.T.C. to design new Church St. tower • Volunteer Simone Cornu puts post-9/11 disaster training into practice • Mayor’s delay threatens W.T.C. redevelopment