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I think its tough for us to keep perspective because the project is much more complex than any past development project. It's a huge transportation, office, engineering and memorial project rolled into one. So not only is it an engineering feat it has encompass a very public emotional aspect. Its not surprising that this is not going to go up when it was slated. As for public vs private debate i see plenty of private buildings that have been debacles too, look at the goldman sachs building and how dangerous and slow that has become.

the excuses are rediculous. we've built other major developments in far less time. welcome to gov't authorities, union labor deals, too many groups with input, and pandering politicians. it's ridiculous this city can accomplish anything any longer.

Project Management. Chris Ward keeps saying it's a complex project, there are well established methods to handle that. Here's the Wikipedia definition of project management:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management

Also, may I say: this topic deserves a lot more air time than what WNYC allocated this morning. It's a fascinating NYC tale with many opaque layers, I respectfully suggest that it be analyzed more thoroughly in future shows.

#11 darius

Both the Empire State Building and the Apollo project set precedents in safety protocols. Not a single construction worker died while constructing the Empire State Building. People who want to see at least how one part of how this thing ran off the rails should check out the PBS Frontline episode "Sacred Ground". I think it first aired back in Sept 2004. This thing first started with the fight over who got to design the "Freedom Tower"

more reality checks: building projects vs. WTC:

Parkchester, Bronx - 12,000 apts., 4 yrs
Sty. Town, Peter Cooper - 13,000 total, 5 yrs

AND THE KING:
THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING : 14 MONTHS !!!!

and on and on and on......................

Get rid of the futures market.

Excavation for the Empire State Building started in January 1930. They cut the ribbon and the building opened in May 1931.

It's possible to build greatness in a year.

The fiasco of the downtown rebuilding process still needs a transparent and honest audit; not the fake "candid" spin we heard today. it should have been a brilliant, streamlined, project, the best of the best (like that Foster design...), not the usual new york developer-public-private mediocrity.

Everybody was incompetent and no one will lose their job. This is classic NYC rip-off. Wake up! The money is in the pockets of the...uh, you pick a name and you're probably right.

I don't believe a word Ward says. I think an independent investigation is warranted. The Port Authority has proved to be incompetent, at best, and the citizens of New York deserve to know exactly what is going on. Ward is a mealy-mouthed, second-rate manager. His poor record is scandalous.

If this guy Chris Ward is new then it sounds like someone did lose their job.

No. That is exactly the point!!!! Who was incompetent and will lose their job?

KBR could build it faster, but then it would fall over.

While I agree with the statements by others about time requirements for this project seem ridiculous, projects like Apollo and the Empire state bldg probably had close to no worker safety protocol whatsoever or even a environmental safety requirements.

I have a view of Ground Zero from my office.
I could have told you it wasnt getting done any time soon just from looking at it and watching how slowly they have been progressing over the past 4 years. We didnt need this guy to tell us at our office.

If the original timetable was so unreasonable, who was responsible for signing off on those deadlines and why couldn't they see that it couldn't be done? Is there any penalty levied on those contractors / subcontractors who agree to aggressive scheduling but then say it can't be done after the bid has been won?

LOL

truth is that compared to many other projects around the world.. London, Dubai, Shanghai, etc the whole Ground Zero assembly is by far not the most complex. In my opinion the WTC mess shows that, without central/government/public oversight a complex project is doomed because all of the "private parties" involved have their own rather than the publics interest at heart. The P.A. is no exception, run as it is in a private way.

The Calatrava transportation project was the ONLY uplifting, serene and truly utilitarian element to come out of the disaster.

I honestly believe that all efforts should be made to have that project go forth and keep the remaining 16 acres as open space to think... with some simple and quiet words to note the horrendous tragedy.

This focus on money and time frames is completely debasing.

your guest said it was unrealistic to expect the project to be done in ten years. Just a quick time check:
Manhattan project - 4 years
Man on the moon - 8 years
Having a giant hole in our city - priceless

Sounds very convincing that the plans were unrealistic. Let's pretend it was not politically motivated dishonesty. Then it must be incompetence. Who was incompetent and who will take the responsibility?

Putting office space in that area is almost as insulting as calling it 'Freedom Tower'

Two Questions:
(1) How much tax payer money has been paid out to Larry Silverstein & or the LMDC due to the lack of adherence to construction deadlines?
(2) Who drafted the contracts, and was there any oversight committee involved in reviewing the documents?