Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Freedom Tower Design To Be Scrapped
By
Jen Chung
Published May 5, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published May 5, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Just about a year and a half after a final design had been revealed, Governor Pataki, Mayor Bloomberg and even developer Larry Silverstein have agreed Freedom Tower needs a design to address safety and security concerns. The past week had been filled with the NYPD's very public unhappiness with the current design and its "unsafeness", citing things like the building being too close to the street. This could delay construction for at least another year - and construction is already way off track. It's unclear what the political ramifications will be, but there's been a bit of hoo-ha-ing already, with Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver criticized Pataki and Bloomberg last week for the floundering development and Senator Schumer commending them yesterday for making this decision.
There's no word on the next steps for the design process, but NY Times noted that architectural odd couple Daniel Libeskind and David Childs weren't even present at yesterday's meeting. What Gothamist found fascinating was that Governor Pataki said, "I have no doubt that [tower architect] David Childs will come up with yet another magnificent design that will once again inspire the nation and serve as a fitting tribute to freedom." Just David Childs, eh? Gothamist admits to being a little relieved, because the current Freedom Tower design, as some others have noted more eloquently, was terrible. But if security issues will rule the next round of designs, who knows what will be possible? Other wildcards: How will this affect the development of everything else, from the memorial to cultural institutions to the amazing Santiago Calvatrava-designed PATH station?
Tagged
Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver
bloomberg
construction
Daniel Libeskind
david
david childs
design
freedom tower
gothamist
governor
Governor Pataki
larry silverstein
mayor
mayor bloomberg
News: NYC
ny times
nypd
safety
senator schumer
sheldon silver
What Gothamist
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Gov. Hochul declares upstate NY measles outbreak a ‘disaster emergency’
The declaration is driven by rising case counts in rural areas and in neighboring Pennsylvania.
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Oct 5, 2026 at 4:04 p.m. ET
NYPD detective forced to retire after false statements in Brooklyn investigation
Det. Patrick Craig admitted giving false information to a prosecutor and another detective before police obtained a search warrant.
By
Charles Lane
News
NYPD detective forced to retire after false statements in Brooklyn investigation
Det. Patrick Craig admitted giving false information to a prosecutor and another detective before police obtained a search warrant.
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani faces pressure to forge ahead with plan to fix polluting South Bronx market
By
Elizabeth Kim
Dominican man who shot border patrol officer in NYC sentenced to 15 years in prison
By
Samantha Max
NYC extends program offering late-night soccer games at 5 parks
By
Liam Quigley
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .