Going to Ground Zero

[austin552]

Only eight more days until we go to NYC. Going to play in the park(Central Park), see a show(Broadway/The Producers), Statue of liberty, Coney Island and ground zero. I did not want to go to G.Z. at first. Brings back the memories and all, but now I feel we need to go to pay our respects. Has anyone else been?

[dtw]

Am going to be up there for a couple weeks at the end of this month myself. Haven't been up there in nearly 18 months so am excited to get back.

Ground zero is not really visible unless you're up on the 2nd level of a tour bus driving by the site - it is fenced in and there are no 'viewing points' any more. NYC did a 180 on their attitude toward the site a while after 9/11/01, and decided to close it off from public viewing out of respect for the dead.

Depending on the weather, I'd recommend a twilight harbor cruise - great view of the city and enthusiastic guides, really brings out the romantic aspects of the city at night. Also enjoyable is a bus tour of the city, especially if you're not familiar with it, helps you get the lay of the land a bit.

[gaijindabe]

I look down into the pit everyday from my office. It really is depressing. Not only thinking of that terrible day - but the lack of progress since then.

There is a subway and PATH train transit hub at the site, but there is a big fence around the perimeter. You can't see all the way down, but you do get an idea of the immensity of the site.

Besides the two giant towers was a large plaza and other buildings, now all gone. To the south of the site, another large building is being taken down now..

[singpilot]

I stay in the Marriott Financial Center all the time. Walk past the site often. There is a memorial of sorts there, but is slowly being dismantled. I suspect the reversal of policy is to blame. Visiting the church just east of the site is now the best place to get the feel. There are pics of it being used as a staging area for the rescuers. The scratches in the painted pews (unrepaired) from the utility belts of the NYFD are most telling.

Definately worth the visit.

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by gaijindabe
I look down into the pit everyday from my office. It really is depressing. Not only thinking of that terrible day - but the lack of progress since then.

It pisses me off so much, what a mockery that site has become.
Our politicians and that greedy bastard Silverstien are killing what the meaning of what that area is. Its sacred ground, and everyone is just concerned about lining their pockets. I was there the night after it happened and for days afterwards. I lost a few friends and many brother firefighters. People are forgeting what happened there.
Sorry for my rant.

Back on topic, Austin the best way to view it is actually from the PATH train that circles part of the site. Unless you have access to one of the neighboring building you cant see much.

[austin552]

I can't believe nothing is being done there! What about the plans for the new site? Do people just not care enough to push the project? This sickens me... Maybe I will take a can of spray paint for the wall.

WAR MATTERS!!

[VINMAN]

Austin, If you read the local papers and seen the Bull***** that is going on about the rebuilding and the memorial, you would want to kill someone. It's sickening how everyone has dropped the ball on this. There was plans for an "International Freedom Center' as part of the memorial, which was basically an outlet to blame america fior the attacks. But thankfully, protests from the victims families got that knocked down.

[austin552]

[VINMAN]

You taking the family up here?

[austin552]

Yes, Four of us going. My company decided my vacation was not approved at the last min. so I will be sick that week.

[gaijindabe]

The site is owned by the Port Authority. That is a public entity jointly owned New York and New Jersey. Then you have Silverstein who has (I think) 99 year lease on the WTC. He has the insurance money - plus the right to rebuild. Then you have New York City planners and zoning. Then many interested parties who dont want to compete with another few million sq. ft. of new office space. Don't forget the familes of the victims who would like to turn the whole site into a memorial, jobs and the NYC tax base be damned. A mess of monumental proportions.

Score so far: Islamofacists 1 USA 0

[Rick Lee]

I am going there this weekend for the first time since Nov. 2001. I don't really want to see it again (too painful), but we have a visitor from Germany who wants to see it, so we'll probably go.

[austin552]

[Rick Lee]

I honestly think they should build the Twin Towers EXACTLY as they were, but make them one floor taller. Maybe they can paint a big "F" on top of one and a "U" on top of the other. It'd be a nice aerial visual.

[gaijindabe]

Those are old pics. No subway, no PATH train. It is much cleaned up.

You could rebuild the towers - but who would want to work in them? Or near them? Anyway, they were ugly as was the whole windswept plaza. The Port Authority should stick to running airports and ports.

[FrayAdjacent911]

I hope to get to NYC sometime in the next year or two... my younger sister is living up there now, and I'd like to visit, and see the Big Apple.

Not sure how I'd feel about GZ... I can't look at photos from that day... it chokes me up too bad.

[speeder]

I was there on election day '04 looking down in the hole, sobbing like a baby.

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by john_cramer

Every American should see what happened there.

I agree John. While what I saw when I was digging through that pile, I wouldnt wish on anyone. It is still something people need to see. And remember!

[RoninLB]

NJ wants to attract commercial re investment across the Hudson and new construction downtown is competition. A NJ rep on the PA board is a NJ re developer. PA Chairman is a NJ appointee said no deal would be acceptable if it enriches Silverstein. NJ wants to milk the cow big time. Trenton doesn't want to see GZ succeed in the first place imo. NJ wants to decide the fate of downtown. Corzine wants to throw up as many roadblocks as possible.

last I heard is that Silverstein has already spent around $1Bill on this NJ bs.

[Laneco]

This past summer, I was working in bergen county NJ. Had a Sunday off so I hopped a ferry, the a bus and went to ground zero. It was first time I had been to NYC (only time actually). The size of the buildings in that area are absolutely staggering.

Didn't know exactly where to go so I just started walking. Through the buildings, I could see a huge open area. I thought it was a park and headed toward it.

It wasn't a park. IT was the 57 odd acre hole that was two huge and several smaller buildings. Now, just a really big hole. I circumnavigated the whole area and wound up on the side with the little fire department. It was then the enormity of it hit me. The fire department is literally on top of ground zero. I was looking at the faces of the fireman who had lost their friends/coworkers in that attack.

Have to say, I'm a pretty tough human being. I do 24 hour mountain bike races (solo), done unmedicated childbirth yada yada. And this brought me to my knees. My chest hurt so bad I thought I was going to explode. Wound up hopping over a little jersey barrier, sitting on the asphalt bawling my eyes out and calling up my daddy.

I live in Oregon. I watched the towers fall on TV. But going to the place, seeing that pit, is a whole different feeling. You'll be surrounded by people, some grifters, but mostly people who came to see this place - maybe to gain some closure. People from all over the world, not just America. And they show respect - even sadness. I didn't expect that.

angela