But at least part of the problem could be funding. Carl Weisbrod, president of the Alliance for Downtown New York and recently-named member to the Lower Manhattan Development Corp., admitted that the $20 billion in federal funding for the recovery effort was not enough to complete even plans that have garnered a general consensus among planners.

"We will require more money to implement even what we here have agreed upon," Weisbrod said.

Philip R. Pittruzzello, vice president for real estate projects for AOL-Time Warner, concurred with Weisbrod that additional funding will be necessary for the recovery. "The private sector will have to provide some of the money for these plans," he said.

Part of the difficulty could simply be determining the right direction for the future of Downtown. Skidmore, Ownings & Merrill chair Marilyn Jordan Taylor called for the panel to "accept a more civilized and sophisticated street plan for Downtown," suggesting that she would not retain the current landmark "Dutch City" layout. SOM is the architectural firm Larry Silverstein has retained to redesign commercial property on the World Trade Center site.

"The continuity of the streets in the city is important," said Taylor. "We need to serve everyone, river to river, and out to the harbor as well."

Her preference for a grid system was echoed by Aarons, who admitted the inadequacy of the current Downtown layout. "I'm not sure any of us would say now that the current status of the Battery Park layout is the right way to proceed," he said. Aarons was formerly president of the Battery Park City Authority.

Not surprisingly, Sherida Paulsen, chair of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, was not as willing to give up on the current street layout. Citing historic landmarks including Stone St., the Revolutionary War fence and St. Peters Church, she cited a duty "to preserve the New York City heritage." Many historically significant landmarks in Lower Manhattan would be impacted by the imposition of a grid system, she added. The meeting was sponsored by the Skyscraper Museum and held at The New York Historical Society.

Instant Insights /

Lower Manhattan Development Panel Chided for Inactivity

Related Stories

Recommended For You