Rebuilding the World Trade Center

[oostevo]

Just curious, but is there a coherent democratic/liberal opinion about rebuilding the World Trade Center(s) in New York City?

Are most liberals for or against it, or is it split?

Thanks.

[George_Bonanza]

1. IMHO, I think it's a bipartisan issue

Duh it needs to be rebuilt. If not for its symbolic and healing values, then simply for its practical reasons. A lot of office space and business HQs were lost when the 3 buildings in the WTC fell down.

[AngryYoungMan]

2. I'm a New Yorker, and...

...as far as I can tell the idea of a straight rebuild died quickly.

Former mayor Ed Kotch was in favor of it. He pointed out that we still have the plans, etc.

The problem is that it's an outmoded idea. If you build something that big, with no one single tenant, you invite the sort of bankruptcy problems and vacancies that plagued the WTC through most of its 20-odd year history.

Just writing this part makes me sad, because I loved the World Trade Center, and I miss going there. I used to head over after work sometimes and read a book in that plaza, since it was so peaceful and it reminded me of my 1970s New York childhood, like when my Dad took me up to the WTC roof.

Anyway I'd be delighted to see it rebuilt, and I think many agree, but it's not going to happen.

[InkAddict]

3. IMHO, the property

is way too valuable to leave unimproved (in some ways, I guess one could say its now of inestimateable value by virtue of blood tribute). It's just how to memorialize the deceased and the national heartbreak without exploitation that's the question. So far, the "twin blue beams" have brought the event into consciousness for me the best, though I suspect the towers absence alone in daylight hours evokes conscious recollection and memorial, but time will reveal American's future response.

United in Memory :grouphug:

[mot78]

4. I get the feeling that Conservatives are more in favor of Rebuilding

Personally, this is the only issue where I agree with rw media in my native NYC. The NYTimes keeps peddling lies about Downtown's economic state, by exaggerating office vacancies, and about exaggerating fear of tall buildings (which I think are being way overblown, because there are ways to make them safer).

Another problem I have with this process is that the Survivor's groups are having too much lee-way in this process. It doesn't make sense to memorialize every square-inch of land just because the ash of a person happened to land there. Downtown cannot be turned into a large mosoleum. The Memorial-advocates held a rally near Ground Zero recently, and almost got arrested. Luckily the Family Groups are a small minority within 9/11 Families.

Personally I hope Libeskind's plan gets built soon, because it seems like the only realistic compromise between those who want tall building and short (the building will be taller than the Twin Towers, but office space would only go up 70 stories) and between Memorial Groups and Businesses/Residents opposed to a mega-memorial. Sadly, the special interest groups on both of these issues can't accept realistic compromise.

[BattyDem]

5. The "Rebuild" movement is alive and well

You can find more info at http://www.put.com/wtc/

Personally, I'd love to see them rebuilt. I really miss our skyline. Having those towers back - with all the necessary architectural and engineering improvements – would do a lot to heal the city. Seeing that empty space in the skyline is heartbreaking.

Even if we can’t have the original towers, I think we should have some kind of “twin” towers that are at least as high as the old ones. Anything less would feel like defeat. JMHO

[mot78]

6. You're a Pro-Rebuilder too?

Great :)

[BattyDem]

9. Yeah, I want them back

It will never feel "right" without them.

By the way, do you hate the Daniel Libeskind plan as much as I do?
Clark Can WIN posted pictures of it below. I think it's horrible. It has no "soul" - you know what I mean? I have yet to find anyone who likes it. It's my understanding that Larry Silverstein (who owed the WTC) doesn't like the Liebskind design either - it was forced on him.


Edited for spelling

[Clark Can WIN]

7. The plans are already made

http://www.gothamgazette.com/rebuilding_nyc/newplans/display_plans.php?plan_id=1









Two of the towers will be built so that on the morning of September the 11th the sun will move from one to the other beginning and ending at the time of the impacts. The light will then completely wash over a memorial garden. It sounds very nice to me. The spire of the main building is to be complete by 2006 and will be the tallest structure in the world.

[sexybomber]

8. ah, never mind

I was going to make a joke about it, but it's not really funny.

[PeakOil2008]

10. I'm not particularly impressed...

...with the chosen design. I would rather see a simple memorial at the center of the parcel where the twin towers stood, with the footprints remaining, than five or six stupid-looking small buildings and that silly phallic terrarium tower that's supposed to be some kind of a tribute. Strangely enough, I must admit that I liked the plan best that had the two towers rebuilt, only taller, with a crystal-like futuristic exterior and a bridge joining them together in the middle. I think I initially found it appealing as a big F*CK YOU to the terrorists. (Now, I look at Bush, Cheney and co as the real terrorists.)

Regardless, I think we must respect the dead. Too many people died there in such a horrible, horrible way that I think some sort of negative karma will haunt the WTC area for many, many years to come. Now, if they would rebuild the 2 towers cross-parallel to the original footprints, leave the footprints empty, and place some sort of park/memorial at the center, I would be all for such a plan.