UP, UP AND AWAY!
Do you detect a change in the interest and attitudes of those concerned with rebuilding he “Ground Zero” area in New York?
There was, not too many months ago, a rather loud and clear condemnation by voice from many people who seemed to care very much about what becomes of the site. No more skyscrapers!
For the most part, they seemed to have viewed any restoration of the area undertaken to be, not only a building, or buildings of viable commercial possibilities, but also as a visible memorial to the memory of the thousands of people who died there on September 11, 2001. I remember,too, that many of those people suggesting ways to memorialize those lives did not favor building another “tallest building in the world” skyscraper.
I suppose most of that vote against more tall buildings came from a romantic group rather than those with practical knowledge of what city property is worth and how it can best be used by society. All of the recent plans for replacing the Towers seem to be staying with the tall building text. One by one, the Memorial garden concept has been set aside and has become smaller and smaller. One plan makes them into rooftop plots and terraces.
I can appreciate and understand where each side is “coming from” and I think I have some idea of where they are going, as well. On the whole I applaud the interest being taken in the project. I disagreed strongly with those who insisted that the entire area be transformed into a tree-packed, bush-bud-and-bouquet laden memorial park. That's coming too close to trying to apply “Back to Wilderness” programs to the nation's leading urban site.
I can also understand the element of fear which comes to mind when people envision new attacks on any skyscraper which might be built. They see it as an open invitation of additional terrorist attacks. It will take some time for us to work through these hesitations. I think we shall, eventually, see another structure or structures there designed in keeping with the skyline of New York City and .perhaps it will, tower higher than man has ever built before.
A vital part Americanism was hurt many years ago when we found we could no longer lay claim to having the highest office building in the world. Perhaps you you saw the present title-holder on the New Year' Eve in the early shows from Indonesia – lit up in fantastic glory! Many who did simply ignored any spoken claim to it being the world's tallest. Most Americans have not yet admitted that we no longer have the world's tallest building.
The urge is still there. We want it. And much of he thinking and planning of a structure for the Ground Zero site is founded on such a desire to excel, once again, as a nation.
The theme of the future will be up, up and away with fears of failure.
It is in the mind of many that anything less than the best and tallest would stand for our fear of Terrorists, rather than for our memory of lives lost on that tragic date in 2001.
We did not stop building ships because our enemies sank our best.
A.L.M. January 4, 2003 [c554wds]
