A study of Lower Manhattan Development from 17 th Century to the Current Grand Zero Project.
by Yoko Koyama, NYC
Brief History of the United States* Lenape and New Nether land: prehistory - 1664
* British and revolution: 1665-1783
* Federal and early American: 1784-1854
* Tammany and consolidation: 1855-1897
* Early 20th century: 1898-1945
* Post-World War II: 1946-1977
* Modern period: 1978-2001
* Post 9/11: 2001-present
Pre-9.11.2001Manhattan was originally called " Manna-hata," which means the " island of many hills, " in the Algonquin Indians language in the early seventeenth century. The Dutch settlers called it New Amsterdam because the trading harbour looked like their homeland's capital, Amsterdam. Then the island was purchased in 1626 by Peter Minit, who was the Director General at the Dutch colony, for his shrewd real estate investment of fur trading. It was purchased for only $ 24 worth of beads. And then in 1664 the British conquered the city and named " New York" after the duke of York & Albany.
Lower Manhattan had been developing during revolution period of the eighteenth century(1776-1783). New York became the interim capital until 1790.
During the nineteenth century the city was transformed by immigrants. City plannings was starting. The First Commissioner plan of 1811 presented the grid works of the streets in Manhattan. The old merchant aristocracy developed the first American Landscape park, Central Park, in 1857.
After the American civil War (1861-1865) there were immigrants from German, Ireland, and Jewish descendants from all over Europe, and the population of Manhattan grew to half a million by the middle of the century.
New York became the first stop in a new world for people who were seeking a better life in the United States. The Brooklyn Bridge was constructed in 1883, Ellis Island was opened in 1892, and the first city subway system was developed in 1904.
Continuing the previous century's demands for development in the city, the construction of skyscrapers transformed Lower Manhattan to a prominent skyline. Even with the Stock Market crash of 1929, and the economy slumped, lot of Skyscrapers in Manhattan were build at this time. Wall Street financial firms cemented their place as world leaders.
The Skyscraper boom continued through the middle of the century. The Chase Manhattan Bank Headquarters build in 1961 helped to spur the transformation of Lower Manhattan into a center of financial and related industries. The World Trade Center was completed in 1973 by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The population of NYC was eight Millions by 2001. On September 11, 2001 two passengers jets hijacked by terrorists flew into and destroyed the two towers. killing about 2756 people. It is the worst act of terrorism in the US history.
After the attack the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) was established by Ex-Mayer, Giuliani and the former New York Governor, Pataki.
Post-9.11.2001Republican Michel R. Bloomberg was elected as Mayor in NYC. The quick transformation of the Lower Manhattan is the one of the most significant projects in NYC. But It took almost five years revising to the final plan. LMDC works in cooperation with both public and private sectors to coordinate the World Trade Center site and its surrounding communities. It conducts public hearing and transparent process to take into account the opinions of those individuals in the World Trade Center attack.
In Febrary of 2003 Daniel Libeskind's Studio team was selected as the master architect to redesign the WTC. To preserve, in part, the existing remained wall of the WTC foundation, create a multi-faced setting for a memorial including transportation, culture spaces, and his 1776 foot spire topped building as the Freedom Tower. Daniel Libeskind was involved in all aspects of planning of the site.
After many revisions the LMDC released a vision for 2010 in the Lower Manhattan. Now the WTC construction is underway, a $ 10 billion project and additional $20 billion is to be invested over the next five years.
Here are the main lists of developments in the Grand Zero site.
* Memorial
" Reflecting Absence" will encompass more than six acres of the WTC site. It was designed by Michael Arad, Peter Walker, and Max Bond. It's a kind of an urban forest of oaks and sweet gum trees, there are two square voids with cascading waterfall aside and underneath two levels of the Memorials that will retell the event with displays and artifacts.
It is scheduled to be completed by September 11, 2009.
*World Trade Center Site
The Freedom Tower of Daniel Libeskind's mater plan was actually redesigned by an architect, David Childs of Skidmore, Owing & Merrill LLP. Three other towers, that designed by well-known architects, are expected to be dramatic buildings which reasserts life and hope.
The Freedom Tower will be America's tallest building with a glass structure reflecting light from the sky. It will be 1362 feet tall, the same height as the original south tower, but with aluminium antenna atop the tower will be 1776 feet high. The foundation work started in April 2006 and is scheduled to be ready for occupancy in 2011.
*Culture Center
The building would be slightly elevated and holizontal shaped with five double height floors and the rooftop. It will become a visitor's center on the ground floor. Several culture institutes, such as the International Drawing Center, the International Freedom Center,and Museum Complex are on other floors. This building is called " Raising above " and designed by the Nowegian Firm, Snohetta.
The new Performing Arts Center is designed by Gehry Partners LLP.
*CommunityCommunity activity in the Lower Manhattan will be enhenced by the creation of greener parks, supporting non-profit organizations. They also planned to build the downtown NYU hospital and public school.
From Canal street to Battery park , total 19 parks projects are underway.
The East River Waterfront's board walk, green spaces, and recreation Piers surrounding Lower Manhattan will also be renovated and remodeled.
*Transportation
The WTC transportation hub on the Grand Zero station and Fulton Street Transit Center were designed by Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava. They will be connected with east-west concourse.
Within the concorse we can transfer to any subways and Path Trains to New Jersey.
It planned to complete by the summer of 2009.
The next phase of this gigantic transportation plan, according Mayor Bloomberg stated in " Vision of 21st Century of Lower Manhattan" in 2002 that connected air terminals to Lower Manhattan. This project are still in study and analysis phases.
The LMDC was officially dismissed for the rebuild WTC Project in last fall, and the Port Authority of NY & NJ takes responsibility for building of memorials at Ground Zero.
In 2010 we will see new buildings standing in Lower Manhattan, and we will call it Freedom Tower or Memorial Center.
By Magdalena Markiewicz, NYC
