While much of the talk about rebuilding Lower Manhattan has seemed to begin and end with the World Trade Center site, Mayor Mike Bloomberg wants people to expand their thinking outside of the 16-acre lot. As such, yesterday he unveiled a $10.6 billion, 10 year plan to revitalize lower Manhattan including a new transit hub with one-seat service to both Newark and JFK airports, new parks, schools and appartments.
This is all in addition to any plans for the former WTC site, of which revised plans will be released next week.
Funding headaches and technical snafus aside, I think this kind of thinking is just what is needed for the region right now. These kind of changes will breathe life back into the area. Downtown won’t become a ghost town after Wall Street closes it’s doors for the evening. Say what you will about Bloomberg, but if he can pull this plan off and
make all of this a reality, then he’ll have my vote for re-election.
Tags: New York City