# Downtown Manhattan 'Rescued' From The Scourge (IMHO) Known As The Freedom Tower **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 5, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588 "2005-05-05T20:18:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/1 "2005-05-05T20:18:45Z")
[According to NPR](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4631500), it was security concerns as opposed to asthetic ones. Looks like the glass [Freedom Tower](http://www.renewnyc.com/images_WMS/freedom_tower/freedom_tower_night.jpg) a tall (but basically useless) structure won’t be going up in the style museum architect Daniel Liebskind had envisioned. I’m still gonna play the role of traditional optimist and hope [Jonathan Hakala](http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Northeast/02/19/twin.towers.reut/) of the group [Team Twin Towers](http://www.teamtwintowers.org/rebuild.html) gain an audience. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/2 "2005-05-05T20:43:08Z")
I’m still votin’ for the [Gaudi](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2687565.stm) design. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/3 "2005-05-05T21:52:01Z")
I still like the idea of five towers, with middle one being the tallest, myself. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/4 "2005-05-05T21:56:39Z")
I think Liebskind is a fabulous artist, and that his design had wonderful promise. Far better than the egotistical monstrosity that was the Twin Towers. The trouble is, his designs don’t translate well to ‘artist’s impressions’, or even to photographs. They use curves and angles in an almost tactile way - when you see one of this buildings close-up, you can understand. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/5 "2005-05-05T23:45:01Z")
I looked at Gaudi’s design. :eek: It’s pretty much a homoerotic nightmare. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/6 "2005-05-06T00:25:37Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > I still like the idea of five towers, with middle one being the tallest, myself. I’ve always been fond of that design as well. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/7 "2005-05-06T01:08:26Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > I still like the idea of five towers, with middle one being the tallest, myself. Heh heh. For full effect, wait until we catch bin Laden, and then allign the towers so they point directly at his tomb. Seriously, I’m not surprised that the tower won’t get built. After 9/11, there’s no way in hell you’d get me to accept a job in such a prominent landmark. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/8 "2005-05-18T05:31:46Z")
[Trump’s gotten into the act](http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/nyc-bztrum0518,0,6551238.story?coll=nyc-homepage-breaking2) > [@](#): > > …Trump…has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday morning to present his vision for lower Manhattan. Trump has been critical, saying the proposal for building an iconic 1,776-foot Freedom Tower is a disgrace. > > “Why are we building this monstrous ‘skeleton’?” Trump said in a statement. “If Freedom Tower is built, the terrorists win.” > > Instead, Trump is backing a plan by engineer Ken Gardner and architect Herbert Belton. The team has already proposed a complex for the World Trade Center that would replicate the original Twin Towers but fortified with a tougher design… Yeah, I’ll concede he’s boorish and that many of his buildings don’t even come close to reaching the level of appealing - but I’m forced to agree with him on the WTC / Freedom Tower. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/9 "2005-05-18T05:51:43Z")
I say we just build the [Mile High Illinois](http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/atkinson/948/milehigh.html), and fill any unoccupied office space with AAA and SAMs. You thought the _other_ designs were homoerotic and/or egotistical monstrosities? HA! Look upon _this_ work, ye mighty, and despair! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/10 "2005-05-18T06:34:57Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > I think Liebskind is a fabulous artist, and that his design had wonderful promise. Far better than the egotistical monstrosity that was the Twin Towers. > > The trouble is, his designs don’t translate well to ‘artist’s impressions’, or even to photographs. Another problem - and I’m not sure they’ll ever surmount it - was the classic 'too many cook’s scenario. Because of the prominence of this structure/monument, people kept horning in to try and make concessions to every constituency, so that Liebeskind’s original idea kept getting modified and modified. The original concept, which I only vaguely remember, had some interesting ideas and made more sense. Although the Freedom Tower was still not my favorite of the options. On the plus side, now that they’re starting all over again 3 1/2 years after the attacks, emotions will be less raw and maybe something sensible will eventually come out of this. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/11 "2005-05-18T07:02:43Z")
I think we should rebuild the original towers, from the original plans. Well… I saw a show, it’s been a while, and there was a specific concern in the design, that I can’t remember exactly. Had to do with how each floor was braced together or something… But other than fixing that, I think they should rebuild 'em just the same. What greater statement could we make to the terrorists than that? ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/12 "2005-05-18T07:09:25Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I’m still votin’ for the [Gaudi](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2687565.stm) design. I would pun that it looks a bit gaudy but I won’t, 'cause it looks like a giant uncut… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/13 "2005-05-18T07:12:41Z")
> [@if6was9](#): > > What greater statement could we make to the terrorists than that? I doubt they care, and I don’t care what they think about it. More importantly, the things were ugly. Since they have to be replaced, I’d rather New York take the opportunity to put something that looks good in the space. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/14 "2005-05-18T09:02:14Z")
I want something that works. I want something stronger, tougher, and more modern. I want the best building we can build, not a retread of a 1970s design. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/15 "2005-05-18T10:24:32Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > I want something that works. I want something stronger, tougher, and more modern. I want the best building we can build, not a retread of a 1970s design. Well, seeing as it’s the 21st century, maybe it’s time we started building some of those huge, blocky megabuildings with too few windows, integrated electronic billboards, and meaningless Japanese characters on the sides. I mean, we’re _already_ too far behind on the flying car angle. And we’ve let the opportunity for putting huge, needless domes over the cities completely pass by. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/16 "2005-05-18T12:04:58Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > I would pun that it looks a bit gaudy but I won’t, 'cause it looks like a giant uncut… :eek: Gaudi’s work tends to be disturbingly organic-looking at the best of times, but the linked sketch looks like a dildo designed by H.R. Geiger. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/17 "2005-05-18T12:29:17Z")
“Certain details, such as the 1,776-foot height and the 276-foot spire, are expected to remain, according to an official familiar with the plan…“The building itself, except for the first 150 to 200 vertical feet, will be the same,” said Charles Gargano, vice chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the land.” [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/05/04/wtc.rebuilding/](http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/05/04/wtc.rebuilding/) It’s still going to be 1,776 feet tall and it’s still going to be “gaudy” (I happen to like it, myself). Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/18 "2005-05-18T13:20:21Z")
Just as long as they put in enough convenient giant-ape-sized handholds for the next _King Kong_ remake. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/19 "2005-05-18T16:12:35Z")
I just want something big enough so I always know which way is downtown. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588/20 "2005-05-18T16:50:16Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > I want the best building we can build, not a retread of a 1970s design. I agree. Buildings that can be easily modeled with lego went out of favour 20 - 30 years ago. I wouldn’t be opposed to a postmodern retake on the original concept, but don’t rebuild the same design. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downtown-manhattan-rescued-from-the-scourge-imho-known-as-the-freedom-tower/302588.md?page=2)