The controversy surrounding the reconstruction of the World Trade Center stems from the plans to rebuild the former twin towers of the original World Trade Center

World Trade Center

The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...

 in New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. The Lower Manhattan Development Corp.

Lower Manhattan Development Corporation

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation was formed in July 2002, after the September 11 attacks to plan the reconstruction of Lower Manhattan and distribute nearly $10 billion in federal funds aimed at rebuilding downtown Manhattan....

 (LMDC) was formed after the September 11 attacks to plan the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan

Lower Manhattan

Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...

 and distribute nearly $

United States dollar

The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....

10 billion in federal funds aimed at rebuilding downtown Manhattan. Currently under construction at the site is the 1776 ft (541.3 m) 1 World Trade Center and several smaller buildings.

Criticism of progress

An episode of CBS

CBS

CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...

's 60 Minutes in 2010 focused on the lack of progress at Ground Zero, particularly on the lack of completion dates for a majority of the buildings, the main tower, 1 World Trade Center (previously known as the Freedom Tower

Freedom Tower

One World Trade Center , more simply known as 1 WTC and formerly known as the Freedom Tower, is the lead building of the new World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan in New York City...

) having gone through three different designs, and the delays and monetary expense involved. Investor Larry Silverstein

Larry Silverstein

Larry A. Silverstein is an American businessman, and real estate investor and developer in New York City.Silverstein was born in Brooklyn, and became involved in real estate, together with his father, establishing Silverstein Properties...

 said that the Port Authority's estimated completion date for the entire site was 2037, and that billions of dollars had already been spent on the project, even though Ground Zero "is still a hole in the ground." During an interview for the episode, Larry Silverstein said "I am the most frustrated person in the world...I'm seventy-eight years of age; I want to see this thing done in my lifetime.". However, it was noted that in early 2011, all 5 office towers of the World Trade Center are under construction with significant progress being made. All of the towers will be opened between 2012–2016, with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum already completed on the tenth anniversary of the attacks, on September 11, 2011. Criticism of progress and calls for redesigns were mostly made in 2008 and 2009, when progress at the site was clearly not being made.

External links

• The Twin Towers Alliance Official campaign for the rebuilding of the Twin Towers.
• Twin Towers II Alternative design for World Trade Center that includes taller and stronger Twin Towers.