Advocates of a redevelopment World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan "fear that over-restrictive security plans could damage prospects for the site just as redevelopment is finally taking off," according to an article in today's New York Post by Steve Cuozzo.
The New York Police Department put out a request for proposals two weeks ago to environmental consulting firms as a step "toward evaluating the effect of proposed new security measures on matters such as air quality and traffic," the article said.
The request "is giving site participants and other downtown players the jitters," the article continued, adding that "executives and business advocates hoping to see a great new complex rise and thrive, fear the prospect of barricades, vehicle-screening turntables and closed streets like those around the New York Stock Exchange. 'Far from reassuring prospective tenants, they will scare them away,' is the unanimous refrain."
"No one doubts the NYPD's clout. In 2004 - even before it was given the lead security role - it forced a complete redesign of 1 WTC, then called the Freedom Tower, setting the already delayed project back another year," the article noted.
"Some downtown rebuilding officials, as well as real estate executives and business advocates, now fear that what's called the 'Campus Security Plan' will create 'war zone' conditions at the site and even on Church Street outside of it," the article maintained.
The article said that Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said yesterday that "It goes without saying that ensuring the security of Lower Manhattan is critically important, but there has to be a balance between security and the very real need for access. Right now, there is a critical need for more transparency from the NYPD about their plans."
The New York Police Department put out a request for proposals two weeks ago to environmental consulting firms as a step "toward evaluating the effect of proposed new security measures on matters such as air quality and traffic," the article said.
The request "is giving site participants and other downtown players the jitters," the article continued, adding that "executives and business advocates hoping to see a great new complex rise and thrive, fear the prospect of barricades, vehicle-screening turntables and closed streets like those around the New York Stock Exchange. 'Far from reassuring prospective tenants, they will scare them away,' is the unanimous refrain."
"No one doubts the NYPD's clout. In 2004 - even before it was given the lead security role - it forced a complete redesign of 1 WTC, then called the Freedom Tower, setting the already delayed project back another year," the article noted.
"Some downtown rebuilding officials, as well as real estate executives and business advocates, now fear that what's called the 'Campus Security Plan' will create 'war zone' conditions at the site and even on Church Street outside of it," the article maintained.
The article said that Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said yesterday that "It goes without saying that ensuring the security of Lower Manhattan is critically important, but there has to be a balance between security and the very real need for access. Right now, there is a critical need for more transparency from the NYPD about their plans."
Architecture Critic
Carter Horsley
Since 1997, Carter B. Horsley has been the editorial director of CityRealty. He began his journalistic career at The New York Times in 1961 where he spent 26 years as a reporter specializing in real estate & architectural news. In 1987, he became the architecture critic and real estate editor of The New York Post.
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