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Final Concept Chosen for Redeveloping Area Where Towers Once Stood
Aired February 27, 2003 - 10:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The story of rebuilding and remembering at the World Trade Center site. A final concept has been chosen for redeveloping that area where the towers once stood.
Jason Carroll joins us from New York. He's got more there lower Manhattan.
Good morning, Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Leon.
In just about a half hour, the winning architect, Daniel Lebeskin (ph), will make his presentation. We'll hear more details about his plan, including what changes were made to the original design. So let's look at the design so everyone can see what we're talking about here.
Lebeskin (ph) calls for building what would be the tallest building in the world, 1,776 feet. That number significant not just for its height, but that it is the date of America's independent. Lebeskin (ph) also wants to build gardens on top of this spire-like structure to draw tourists to the site. He also plans to leave part of Ground Zero exposed. The group responsible for overseeing the rebuilding process really liked this part of the plan, as did many of the victims' families. Lebeskin (ph) wanted to leave Ground Zero exposed, because he wanted to have a place for reflection and where people could come and remember history.
As for Lebeskin's (ph) history, he immigrated to the United States from Poland back when he was 13 years old. His parents were Holocaust survivors. Initially, Lebeskin (ph) started out as a musician, but once he got a little older, Leon, he found that his true calling was designing buildings -- Leon.
HARRIS: Well, Jason, we all remember the last go-round with the coming up with some kind of a plan or design for that area. How about, has there been controversy at all around this one, or any resistance to this particular plan?
CARROLL: Well, you know, it's New York, there's always controversy. So in this particular case, people have been wondering, and there have been many reports speculating about what type of plan we're actually going to end up with.
In other words, what you are seeing here that is we're going -- is that actually what we're going to get once building process is done? And the architect in this is going to have to change his plan in some ways. It will evolve. Perhaps we will get as much open space as what we're seeing. Perhaps there will not be as many office buildings surrounding the main structure. We'll have to see how the building process evolves -- Leon.
HARRIS: Thanks, Jason. Jason Carroll, reporting live for us from lower Manhattan.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Once Stood>
Aired February 27, 2003 - 10:42 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The story of rebuilding and remembering at the World Trade Center site. A final concept has been chosen for redeveloping that area where the towers once stood.
Jason Carroll joins us from New York. He's got more there lower Manhattan.
Good morning, Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Leon.
In just about a half hour, the winning architect, Daniel Lebeskin (ph), will make his presentation. We'll hear more details about his plan, including what changes were made to the original design. So let's look at the design so everyone can see what we're talking about here.
Lebeskin (ph) calls for building what would be the tallest building in the world, 1,776 feet. That number significant not just for its height, but that it is the date of America's independent. Lebeskin (ph) also wants to build gardens on top of this spire-like structure to draw tourists to the site. He also plans to leave part of Ground Zero exposed. The group responsible for overseeing the rebuilding process really liked this part of the plan, as did many of the victims' families. Lebeskin (ph) wanted to leave Ground Zero exposed, because he wanted to have a place for reflection and where people could come and remember history.
As for Lebeskin's (ph) history, he immigrated to the United States from Poland back when he was 13 years old. His parents were Holocaust survivors. Initially, Lebeskin (ph) started out as a musician, but once he got a little older, Leon, he found that his true calling was designing buildings -- Leon.
HARRIS: Well, Jason, we all remember the last go-round with the coming up with some kind of a plan or design for that area. How about, has there been controversy at all around this one, or any resistance to this particular plan?
CARROLL: Well, you know, it's New York, there's always controversy. So in this particular case, people have been wondering, and there have been many reports speculating about what type of plan we're actually going to end up with.
In other words, what you are seeing here that is we're going -- is that actually what we're going to get once building process is done? And the architect in this is going to have to change his plan in some ways. It will evolve. Perhaps we will get as much open space as what we're seeing. Perhaps there will not be as many office buildings surrounding the main structure. We'll have to see how the building process evolves -- Leon.
HARRIS: Thanks, Jason. Jason Carroll, reporting live for us from lower Manhattan.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Once Stood>
