The Rebuilding of Ground Zero, Part 61

Larry Silverstein is running into trouble getting financing for the other skyscrapers at Ground Zero, which means that the carefully crafted agreement between Silverstein Properties and the Port Authority are likely to get revised. He's looking for the Port Authority to pony up with financing assistance.

Meanwhile, the Freedom Tower is getting its first tenant. The Beijing based Vantone Company is leasing at least four floors at the tower.

Design elements of the 9/11 memorial continue to be hashed out and revised, down to the smallest but perhaps the most important details - how the names of those who were murdered on 9/11 will be displayed. The Times has a series of photos showing the design process and some of the possible ways in which the names will be displayed. I'm somewhat partial to this one, although it doesn't lend itself to allowing visitors to make rubbings of the names (which is something done at places like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC).

Progress on the Freedom Tower above ground appears to have slowed within the last few weeks, which may be due to delays in getting the Northern core work completed. That area is particularly complex due to the PATH train that operates through the site. At the same time, work is proceeded on the WTC memorial, and the other skyscraper foundation work along Church Street.

Photos of the site as it looks today will be uploaded later today.

UPDATE:
In a related note, the Department of Interior has announced its intention to reopen the crown of the Statue of Liberty, which has been closed ever since the 9/11 attacks. There are still several hurdles, but the Department indicates that it might reopen the crown starting this July 4th.

UPDATE:
As promised, here's the first batch of photos: