The Rebuilding of Ground Zero, Part 59

Hallelujah. Maybe.

It appears that the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation has finally set a timetable for the demolition of the ill-fated former Deutsche Bank building.

Decontamination is expected to be complete by the end of March. Work will start in late April on tearing down the remaining 26 floors.

Among new safety measures is an alarm on the standpipes and special emergency exits. Two firefighters were killed in a 2007 blaze because the standpipe had been cut.

This, along with Fiterman Hall on the North side of Ground Zero, are the two remaining buildings that the City, State, and development agencies have been unable to demolish since the 9/11 attacks because of multiple problems.

Of course, the LMDC has set timetables before, and the criminal acts of those involved in the demolition process led to the death of two firefighters when a fire broke out in the upper floors and the standpipes in the basement were severed at some point prior to the fire breaking out. Concerns over contamination, along with the discovery of additional remains led to delays.

The Deutsche Bank building site is slated to become the security center for vehicles entering the site, along with what would have become a building for JP Morgan Chase and include a trading floor. Those plans are still up in the air.

Meanwhile, the Freedom Tower continues growing, with the core continuing to rise out of the pit.