Public Hearing on WTC Site Set for May 23

Members of the public will have a chance to voice their opinions on development plans for the World Trade Center site and Lower Manhattan at a public hearing on May 23, the first in a series of hearings planned by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) and the Port Authority.

Speakers can share their ideas about the future of the site, transportation improvements and other development issues, and can comment on the Preliminary Principles and Blueprint released last month by the LMDC. (A copy of that plan can be found on the LMDC’s website) The hearing will take place at the Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University (entrance on Spruce Street between Gold Street and Park Row), from 6 to 9 p.m. The public can also submit written comments to the LMDC until May 27.

A timetable for the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site and the process for soliciting public input, including the hearings, were outlined by Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Pataki at a May 16 press conference.

Under the plan, the LMDC will issue a revised Principles and Preliminary Blueprint on June 5, and will then spend a month consulting with community groups, planning organizations and its own advisory councils, which include Downtown residents, families of victims, and local businesses.

In mid-July, the LMDC and Port Authority will announce up to six development options for the Trade Center site, as well as the design process for a permanent memorial. A large public forum, with up to 5,000 participants from throughout the metropolitan area, is scheduled for late July, and a public hearing will take place Downtown during the first week of August.

The set of options will be narrowed to three in mid-September, and two more public hearings will take place in Lower Manhattan in October. One site plan will be chosen in mid-December, followed by another public hearing Downtown.

The LMDC is scheduled to announce next week the team of engineers and architects that will serve as consultants for the city and state and will shepherd the process of studying development options.

"This plan ensures the LMDC and Port Authority will continue to have the benefit of broad public input at each critical juncture," said LMDC president Lou Tomson.