January 2nd - January 8th, 2004

Final Memorial Design Chosen for WTC Site

Tuesday, Jan. 6: Cascading waterfalls that mark the footprints of the World Trade Center towers and spill into reflecting pools 30 feet below street level will be the central focus of the permanent memorial that will be built to commemorate the events of 9/11.

The winning design, known as "Reflecting Absence," is the work of architects Michael Arad and Peter Walker. The selection by a 13-member jury concludes a design competition that lasted several months.

Jury chairman Vartan Gregorian said the proposal, one of eight finalists announced in November, has "undergone significant changes" since its initial submission. The final design incorporating those modifications will be revealed next week.

For more detailed coverage, click here.

Cool New York Celebration Spotlights Lower Manhattan

Monday, Jan. 5: Lower Manhattan was designated a "Cool Spot" -- one of several neighborhoods with a cluster of recreational activities -- for Cool New York, a citywide celebration of arts, cultural activities, and parks that runs from Jan. 9 through Feb. 2.

The program of diverse events, many of them free, is highlighted by exhibits, films, and storytelling at downtown museums such as the National Museum of the American Indian, New York Police Museum, Museum of Jewish Heritage, South Street Seaport Museum, and Museum of Chinese in the Americas.

"We are proud to host an event that will bring New Yorkers of all ages together this winter to enjoy the countless cultural and parks activities that New York has to offer," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a statement. "Cool New York… is the perfect opportunity to get out this winter season, explore new neighborhoods, and appreciate the magic of the city."

For a complete list of Cool New York events in Lower Manhattan, click here, or visit the Cool New York home page.

Dow Jones & Co. Renews Lease at World Financial Center

Thursday, Jan. 8: The Wall Street Journal reported that Dow Jones & Co., its parent company, has renewed its lease for 151,000 square feet at One World Financial Center for 15 years.

The Journal also reported that the law firm Morgan & Finnegan announced a 20-year lease at Three World Financial Center. The firm will relocate from midtown.

The companies are the latest to sign or renew leases for significant office space in Lower Manhattan.

Officials to Consider Role of Preservation at Ground Zero

Tuesday, Jan. 6: The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation has assembled a group of experts to "define the boundaries and features that would make [the World Trade Center site] eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places," the New York Times reported. The review -- required because federal money is being used for various rebuilding activities on or near the site -- would also consider the impact of reconstruction on historic areas, and if necessary how to mitigate it, the Times explained.

Participants in the process, the Times said, include "government agencies, preservationists, planners, builders, neighbors, and the relatives of those who died" on 9/11. The process is expected to last for several months, the Times added, and is closed to the media and public for the time being.