r hettinga rahshipwrightcom httponlinewsjcomarticle_print0sb1032747510236343300html wall street journal september 23 2002 commentary rebuild ground zero larry silverstein earlier month new yorkers observed solemn anniversary horrific events befell city sept 11 2001 perished must never forgotten footprints fallen twin towers portion 16acre site must dedicated memorial civic amenities recall sacrifices made anguish senseless acts terror created victims families indeed us good city region 10millionplus square feet commercial retail space destroyed twin towers must replaced site 50000 people worked world trade center jobs lost along another 50000 people worked vicinity together jobs lower manhattan trade center economic stimulus produced annual gross wages 47 billion 15 annual gross wages earned entire state firms relocated elsewhere city region many new york city facing budget deficit without additional jobs deficit may become permanent one reason importance rebuilding replace lost space lower manhattan never regain vibrancy worlds financial center love hate lots new yorkers sides issue towers made powerful statement world said new york symbol free economy way life destroyed second reason towers must replaced buildings make potent architectural statement recent weeks redevelopment proposals circulated many sources focus trade center site however lower manhattan many believe 10 million square feet either could located elsewhere scattered several sites simply never rebuilt proposals miss point destroyed must recovered trade center lower manhattan except towers footprints must commercial development office retail space lost rebuilt close access mass transit makes site ideal office space size major reason twin towers leased 97 occupancy 911 none sites proposed office development remotely equal transportation access reconstruction subway path stations plus additional 45 billion transit improvements planned new fulton transit center direct traintotheplane long island rail road connection site becomes even logical locus office development new york need space 911 group 35 task force civic leaders led sen charles schumer former treasury secretary robert rubin concluded city would need additional 60 million square feet new office space 2020 accommodate anticipated addition 300000 new jobs loss twin towers heightens need say 10 million square feet office space downtown absorbed real estate market would simply point history shows wrong new york 400 million square feet office space new construction underway already substantially leased new york 48 million square feet vacant office space beginning recession 1990 1998 space absorbed annual rate 6 million square feet seeking rebuild 10 million square feet trade center site period 10 years first buildings coming line 2008 project reaching completion 2012 annual absorption rate million feet much lower 1990s rate argue new york reabsorb office space previously saying city day entering extended period stagnation decline accept view new yorkers mayor michael bloomberg said recent interview new york times city two things memorialize also build future believe twin towers site gracefully accommodate downtown requires office retail space architectural significance dignified memorial witnesses recalls happened cultural amenities would benefit workers well residents area challenge accomplish enormous city task mr silverstein president silverstein properties real estate firm whose affiliates hold 99year leases world trade center site r hettinga internet bearer underwriting corporation 44 farquhar street boston 02131 usa however may deserve respect usefulness antiquity predicting end world found agreeable experience edward gibbon decline fall roman empire mon 23 sep 2002 111855 0400 rebuild ground zero