The Battle For Ground Zero, Part 132

We're now in suspended animation. Fundraising for the memorial has been suspended by the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation.

"The decision was made to not actively pursue new fund-raising efforts until complete clarity can be achieved with respect to the design and costs of the project," said Thomas S. Johnson, chairman of the foundation's executive committee, after a board meeting by conference call.

Cost concerns emerged publicly last week with the disclosure of an estimate by the construction manager, Bovis Lend Lease, that the memorial and museum would cost $672 million and that it would take a total of at least $973 million to fully develop the memorial setting with a cooling plant, roadways, sidewalks, utilities and stabilized foundation walls. An estimate earlier this year put the cost of the memorial and memorial museum at $494 million.

The foundation is the nonprofit corporation that is to construct, own and operate the memorial. It has raised $131.4 million to date.

In other words, expect the current design to be revisited and redesigned.

Mayor Bloomberg has suggested putting the museum and visitor's center in the lobby of the Freedom Tower. That might cut some construction costs for the memorial itself, but could increase costs for the Freedom Tower. It would also open up additional space for contemplative thought - instead of another structure.

The foundation's announcement about halting fund-raising angered and saddened victims' families, who said it gave them new reason to doubt the memorial will be ready by the planned Sept. 11, 2009, opening date.

"The sad thing is, when it all got started, everyone said the foreground would be the memorial," said Connie Feola, whose brother Richard Keane died at the World Trade Center.

"Since then, it's been pushed more and more into the background," she added. "Now, I'm skeptical about how much energy will be put into remembering those who died, and that's sad."

Still, Rose said officials remain committed to completing the memorial by the 2009 date.

Meanwhile, the foundation unanimously approved a resolution backing its president, Gretchen Dykstra.

The action came a few hours after Bloomberg, her old boss when she worked for the city Department of Consumer Affairs, sounded less than supportive.

Asked whether she should step down, he said, "I think that we have to go and raise private monies, and she was hired to do that. ... You've got to ask the foundation what kind of job she's doing."

Ouch. That's quite the endorsement for Dykstra from Bloomberg. The NY Post headlines similarly notes this is a vote of no confidence by Bloomberg in Dykstra's abilities.

UPDATE:
Lest we forget what we lost on 9/11, here are stereoscopic images of Ground Zero following the attack. Via Gothamist. Not all of the images require using the old fashioned two-color glasses.

Technorati: World Trade Center, WTC, Pataki, LMDC, urban policy, Freedom Tower, IFC, International Freedom Center, spitzer, silverstein.