Ground Zero Soap Opera Continues

With Governor Pataki's March 15 deadline for Larry Silverstein and the Port Authority to reach an agreement over the future of Ground Zero just days away, it seems that both sides are still haggling it out over what's going to happen. The negotiations should be of great interest to green building scholars as Silverstein's 7 World Trade Center, the first of the new buildings at ground zero, received a LEED Gold rating just last week, the highest ever LEED rating for a New York City building. Interestingly, though, according to today's New York Times, Silverstein has offered to turn over construction of the Freedom Tower to the Port Authority in exchange for building at one or more of the other sites at Ground Zero. The PA has insisted that Silverstein proceed with the Freedom Tower in exchange for a reduction in annual ground lease rent and a pledge to occupy 700,000 square feet in the Tower. If Silverstein were to give up the Freedom Tower, it would be extremely interesting to see whether the Port Authority would insist on similar LEED green standards as WTC. Silverstein is a committed green builder and a green Freedom Tower, which will become the highest profile construction project in New York City history, would be incredible publicity for LEED and USGBC. The next two weeks should see some sort of resolution and, hopefully, construction at a site that has been quiet for far too long.