Representative from the PA and SPI addressed the council

The major stakeholders rebuilding the World Trade Center (WTC) site met with City Council officials yesterday. Hosted by City Councilman Alan Gerson, the hearing was a chance for the Port Authority and developer Silverstein Properties Inc. (SPI) to report on their plans and progress at the site.

Chris Ward, the Port’s executive director, said that the National 9/11 Memorial is proceeding at a fast pace, and will partially open for the 10th anniversary of the attacks. However, after 2010 the Memorial may have limited or “controlled access, following the actual opening” so final construction can be completed.

Ward also reported that the agency has nearly completed its excavation and other site preparations for Towers 2 and 3, and will soon be ready to turn over the sites to SPI, ending its $300,000-per-day late penalties. Meanwhile, Janno Lieber, SPI’s WTC president, said his firm is making steady progress building Tower 4, but that the Port’s infrastructure work could delay its scheduled 2012 opening, and reiterated ongoing concern about financing possibilities. The Port and SPI have begun arbitration to settle the turnover details.

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