MSNBC - For the next month, the crews will be laying the site's foundation.
"It is going to be a symbol of our freedom and independence," Pataki said at a news conference on the ramp.
At 1,776 feet tall, the tower will be the tallest structure in New York, casting a beam of light from its peak.
Under the agreement, five towers will rise from the 16-acre site by 2012, joining a memorial and transit hub scheduled to open in 2009, and a performing arts center.
Addressing concerns that the Freedom Tower would be a potential terrorist target because of its height, Pataki added: "We are not going to just build low in the face of a war against terror."
Silverstein added: "This is an opportunity for us to show our determination, our resiliency, our resolve." |