The Rebuilding of Ground Zero, Part 13

Santiago Calatrava's transit hub may have its wings clipped according to some reports out of the Port Authority.

What matters most is whether the terminal's soaring, bird-like design will survive as Calatrava drew it.

Last week, Real Estate Weekly's Daniel Geiger quoted PA Commissioner Bruce Blakeman as suggesting changes might be in the works that would undercut Calatrava's vision.

Geiger wrote that the PA "is considering shrinking the dimensions of the station's glass pavilion and possibly also eliminating a mechanism that was to allow the structure's wing-like roof to retract."

It certainly wont be delivered on time - those same reports put the completion date in 2011, instead of 2009 as previously hoped.

Too much of the site remains mired in delays and controversy. The Port Authority continues to rack up $300,000 in penalties per day as they have failed to turn over the Eastern portion of the site to Larry Silverstein so that he can build 3 and 4 WTC. Every day of delays now means additional costs down the road as construction costs continue to increase due to demand both in the New York metro area and worldwide.

The Port Authority is also looking at ways to make construction at the site quieter. The sounds of jackhammers and other heavy equipment is taking its toll on nearby businesses and residences.

The Port Authority announced a six-point noise mitigation plan yesterday that includes reducing blasts from rock-breaking equipment, limiting the hours of really ear-splitting work to before 11 p.m. and soundproofing apartments facing the site within 100 feet. The agency will add jackhammer covers and stop whistle blowing below residential towers.

“We’ve been listening to you for quite some time on the issue,” Port Authority spokesman Glenn Guzi told the crowd at last night’s Community Board 1 meeting. “We know this is the right thing to do.”

But many felt the mitigation doesn’t go far enough. Residents who live beyond the hundred feet or whose windows don’t face the site want soundproofing, too. The area’s City Councilman Alan Gerson wants work stopped from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

“We’re trying to achieve severely limited heavy construction activity after 11 p.m.,” Guzi said, noting that the new windows should reduce noise by 80 to 90 percent. “Unfortunately there will be times when the work can’t stop by 11 p.m,” he said, citing the Port Authority’s missing a Dec. 31 construction deadline which is costing them $12,500 an hour.

The faster the construction is done, the sooner the disruption to local businesses will end. It is a conundrum since you can't finish the work quickly by restricting the hours, but you can't have the work disrupting the sleep of everyone living nearby for years on end.