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To mark the start of demolishing 130 Liberty Street, officials* pour concrete for the scaffold hoist
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After years of insurance litigation, public hearings, environmental testing, and extensive coordination with regulatory agencies, the building at 130 Liberty Street that was severely damaged by debris from the twin towers is finally coming down, officials announced Thursday, Sept. 8. Once demolished, the vacant land parcel will then be incorporated into the new World Trade Center development.
"By taking down the shrouded former Deutsche Bank building, we will replace the crippling symbol with new open spaces for Lower Manhattan's visitors, workers, and residents," Governor George Pataki said at a press conference Thursday.
Deconstruction of the 40-story building, which was formerly owned by Deutsche Bank and became the property of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) in August 2004, will occur in two phases. Phase I, which was schedule to begin immediately following the announcement, involves building preparation, including:
- Putting up scaffolding and elevator hoists around the exterior
- Constructing interior hoist vestibules
- Erecting sidewalk sheds and perimeter fencing
- Creating exterior negative-pressure tent enclosures
- General exterior cleaning
- Removing existing netting outside the building
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| Deconstruction of the 40-story building will occur in two phases |
Once building preparation is complete, all interior surfaces and non-structural elements within the building will be cleaned and removed, also as part of Phase I.
Scheduled to begin in early 2006, Phase II will involve the actual floor-by-floor structural deconstruction of the building and removal of the remaining building components. The entire project is expected to be finished by the end of next year.
Once cleared, the site will allow for the creation of a fifth office tower as part of the master plan for the WTC site and the addition of approximately 30,000 square feet of open space. It will also provide room for ramps that will allow vehicle security and bus parking to be located below ground and away from the area dedicated to the memorial. Pataki added that St. Nicholas Hellenic Orthodox Church will also be rebuilt on the site of 130 Liberty Street. The church, formerly located on Liberty Street between Washington and West Streets, was destroyed on September 11.
The Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center, headed by Charles Maikish, will convey critical information about ongoing work for this project through the LMDC website and LowerManhattan.info/construction. The Command Center will also ensure that the building is deconstructed in the safest manner possible.
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| Charles Maikish heads the Construction Command Center which will monitor air quality levels during deconstruction |
"We are well aware of the concerns about the potential effects that demolition and construction activities can have on the quality of the environment and, in particular, the air surrounding the community," Maikish said. "As such, we placed a high importance on monitoring the overall air quality in Lower Manhattan throughout the duration of construction from a central location in the Command Center."
In addition to the air monitoring program planned for 130 Liberty Street, the Construction Command Center will implement a neighborhood air monitoring program to monitor other construction activities throughout Lower Manhattan. The principal objectives of the program are to monitor dust levels for fugitive dusts and to determine when further investigatory and/or corrective actions are needed.
* From left, LMDC President Stefan Pryor, LMCCC Executive Director Charles Maikish, LMDC Chairman John C. Whitehead, and Governor George Pataki
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