The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation today released a set of Principles to guide development of the World Trade Center site and a Blueprint for Renewal. The Blueprint articulates goals for the site and initial proposals to achieve those goals that emerged during consultation with various stakeholders in Lower Manhattan. Examples include the creation of an intermodal transit hub linking PATH, subway, and future regional rail service, and making West Street no longer a barrier between Battery Park City and the rest of Lower Manhattan (see excerpts at end of release).
The LMDC’s planning team will work with the Port Authority and numerous partners in the public and private sectors to explore the alternatives in the Blueprint and chart a course for revitalizing Lower Manhattan.
LMDC Chairman John C. Whitehead said, “Working with the Port Authority and our many partners, what we create on the World Trade Center site will represent much more than a collection of structures. It will always be the place where America came under attack, and where America proved its resolve to surmount any challenge to freedom and democracy. Our first priority is to create a memorial that honors the many who were lost, while reaffirming the democratic values that came under attack on September 11th. We must undertake the creation of a memorial and the revitalization of the World Trade Center site with appropriate care, but also with a sense of urgency. Together, the Principles and Blueprint provide a framework to undertake this important work.“
Governor Pataki said, “The Principles and Blueprint provide a visionary roadmap for the future of Lower Manhattan. These ideas reflect the energy and creativity of so many people across the City who are working to ensure Lower Manhattan emerges from this tragedy stronger and better than it was before. I commend the LMDC for developing a set of principles to guide the redevelopment and for reducing many of the goals and proposals for the World Trade Center site to one simple document.”
Mayor Bloomberg said, "Today's announcement will enable the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation to move forward with confidence and skill when thinking about how to rebuild Lower Manhattan. It is especially important that everyone who has an interest in Lower Manhattan have a voice in the planning efforts. The process and timetable set forth by the LMDC will give all New Yorkers a vehicle for taking part in the important work of renewing Lower Manhattan, and the planning of a memorial to honor all those whom we lost at the World Trade Center."
LMDC President Lou Tomson said, “Under the leadership of Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg, all the many disparate interests that have a role in revitalizing Lower Manhattan have been brought together in a spirit of cooperation and teamwork. I look forward to working with the Port Authority and all of our many partners to realize our shared goals for a revitalized Lower Manhattan.”
The LMDC released the following set of Principles for Action today:
LMDC Principles for Action
- Make decisions based on an inclusive and open public process
- Create a memorial honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks while reaffirming the democratic ideals that came under attack on September 11
- Assist the rapid revitalization of Lower Manhattan, in a manner that does not preclude desirable future development plans
- Coordinate and encourage the infrastructure improvements that will trigger the private investment needed to sustain and enhance Lower Manhattan
- Support the economic vitality of Lower Manhattan as the financial capital of the world
- Develop Lower Manhattan as a diverse, mixed-use magnet for the arts, culture, tourism, education, and recreation, complemented with residential, commercial, retail and neighborhood amenities
- Develop a comprehensive, coherent plan for transit access to Lower Manhattan that expands regional and local connections and improves transit facilities
- Connect the neighborhoods of Lower Manhattan and improve the pedestrian experience of its streets
- Expand and enhance public and open spaces
- Preserve the historic character of Lower Manhattan and the existing civic and cultural value of its cityscape
- Promote sustainability and excellence in design, for environmentally sensitive development
The following are excerpts from the Blueprint for Renewal:
Preliminary Blueprint for Renewal
Eliminate West Street as a barrier between the Financial District and Battery Park City. The at-grade, 260-foot wide Route 9A presents a formidable barrier to pedestrians and local traffic traveling between the heart of downtown and the offices, residences, and waterfront parks along the Hudson River.
Proposals under review that emerged during the listening process:
a. Depress West Street below ground for all or a portion of its length from Chambers Street to the Battery Park Underpass.
b. Create a new at-grade boulevard that incorporates attractive buildings and parks.
c. Construct a platform over all or some of a partially depressed West Street to connect at either the ground or mezzanine levels of Battery Park City.
Impact: The vitality of downtown will be enhanced by more interaction among the districts that form Lower Manhattan.
LMDC will work with State DOT, City DOT, the Port Authority, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Battery Park City Authority, the Hudson River Park Trust, and all other involved groups and agencies to come to agreement on a final plan.
Coordinate mass transit services to provide a coherent, seamless integration between Lower Manhattan and the rest of the city and region. Mass transit is the lifeblood of Lower Manhattan, transporting hundreds of thousands of people each day by subway, train, ferry, bus, bridges and tunnels. Tens of thousands of people use regional MTA rail service to travel each day from Long Island, Westchester County and Connecticut via midtown rail stations, and thousands more arrive directly from New Jersey by PATH train, New Jersey Transit, charter bus service and ferries. There have been no new mass transit lines constructed in Lower Manhattan since 1932. With a massive influx of tourists and other visitors to Lower Manhattan, the mass transit infrastructure will be inadequate to meet the demand. Lower Manhattan’s direct connections to regional transit must be expanded and be better coordinated with local transit services to improve accessibility. Lower Manhattan must be better coordinated with local transit services. “Two seat rides” to Lower Manhattan for regional commuters will make Lower Manhattan more accessible. “One seat ride” opportunities will also be explored.
Proposals under review that emerged during the listening process:
d. Provide ferry service for LIRR riders from Long Island City to Lower Manhattan.
e. Reduce the travel time for commuters coming from Penn Station by rebuilding the South Ferry subway station on the 1 & 9 lines so that it can accommodate all ten cars to platform instead of five as in the current configuration.
f. Connect the N & R lines with the 1 & 9 lines at Rector Street.
g. Connect Metro-North rail service to Penn Station.
h. Create a “super shuttle” service between Jamaica Station and Lower Manhattan using a combination of existing LIRR tracks and subway tunnels.
i. Construct a new LIRR tunnel from Brooklyn to Lower Manhattan.
j. Reconfigure the PATH terminal to accommodate ten cars rather than eight cars.
Impact: Facilitating connections will bring disparate communities together and enhance the attractiveness and diversity of downtown.
LMDC will work with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Port Authority, and all other involved groups and agencies to come to agreement on a final plan.
The Principles for Action and Blueprint for Renewal can be viewed in entirety at www.renewnyc.org. LMDC is accepting comments on the Principles and the Blueprint for Renewal. Comments should be submitted by email to renewnyc@hotmail.com or in writing to:
Lower Manhattan Development Corporation
Attn: Principles and Blueprint for Renewal
One Liberty Plaza, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10006
