August 8th - August 12th, 2011

iPhone App to View Twin Towers

August 9 – An iPhone app is underdevelopment that when viewed would indicate the outline of the former World Trade Center towers, reports The New York Times. The developer, Brian August, has been working on the project several years and is using a technique known as augmented reality, which would in this case, a digitally rendered outline of the towers onto a real-time view. Mr August is hoping to have the app, 110 Stories available before September 11.

More Building Permits Filed

August 9 – The Wall Street Journal reports, building permits for new construction projects rose about 12% over 2010 through the first half of 2011. Also encouraging was demolition projects were up 14%. However while the numbers are an improvement, they remain about 6% below the first half of 2008. The Department of Buildings sites approximately 650 stalled construction sites citywide.

9/11 Style Guide Released for Media

August 10 – The AP has issued a style and reference guide for the media in preparation for coverage of the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The guide provides spelling, terminology, descriptions of various government agencies and a timeline of the day.

First National Monument Returns Downtown

August 10 – After a three year restoration project the nation’s first official monument has been reinstalled at St. Paul’s Chapel, reports the New York Times. The monument honors Gen. Richard Mntgomery, who died in battle during the Revolutionary War. The monument was commissioned by Continental Congress and designed by French sculptor Jean-Jacques Caffieri. The restoration team used grout made from an 18^th-century recipe to fill cracks.

Lower Manhattan Rebounds From 2001

August 11 – The Alliance for Downtown New York released a report that finds Lower Manhattan has rebounded from the attacks of September 11, reported NY1. In addition to the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day, 65,000 jobs moved as did 20,000 residents. Today, with 8,428 companies, there are 130 more businesses than in 2001. The residential population living below Chambers Street has more than doubled to 56,000 and there are over 300,000 employees working downtown.