The World Trade Centre Will Finally Rise From The Ashes

The final piece of New York City’s World Trade Centre is finally set to rise almost 25 years after 9/11 destroyed the original Twin Towers.

Plans for the new 55-story structure were revealed on Wednesday by American Express, which intends to use the site as its new headquarters.

Governor Kathy Hochul joined the credit card giant to announce that construction on 2 World Trade Centre could begin as early as spring.

The milestone arrives nearly a quarter-century after the September 11, 2001, attacks, when al-Qaeda terrorists flew hijacked planes into the twin towers, leaving almost 3,000 dead.

Its completion, expected in 2031, will mark the final chapter in the long redevelopment of the 16-acre World Trade Centre campus destroyed more than two decades ago.

‘Building 2 World Trade Centre will bring another iconic skyscraper to Lower Manhattan, create thousands of good-paying union jobs and provide billions in economic benefits to New Yorkers,’ Hochul said.

More than 2,000 union construction jobs – and 3,200 jobs in total – are projected in the Big Apple as the huge project moves forward.

The final skyscraper alone is expected to pump around $5.9 billion into the city’s economy and a total of $6.3 billion into New York State, according to officials.

The tower at 200 Greenwich Street will span approximately two million square feet at the site’s northeastern corner. 

American Express CEO Stephen Squeri called the building ‘an investment in our company and the community,’ adding that it will generate ‘billions in economic benefits to New Yorkers.’

He also said the move reaffirms the company’s ‘deep commitment to the neighbourhood we’ve called home for nearly two centuries’.

American Express has long invested in its workforce since setting up its existing headquarters at 200 Vesey Street in 1986.

‘Our new headquarters will be more than just a building – it will be a place for our colleagues to feel energised, inspired, and proud – a home for innovation, interaction, and growth,’ the CEO said.

‘We’re excited to work with our partners and local leaders to shape this exciting new era for American Express and Lower Manhattan.’

The project will stand as a strong sign of renewal, overcoming years of engineering, financial and political hurdles – not to mention the public debates – that long delayed reconstruction at the site. 

It also comes amid efforts by other states, including Florida, to entice companies away from New York.

So, now they’re constructing another monstrosity to honour 9/11, which is a farce, actually, because they’ve just elected a Muslim mayor. Talk about adding insult to injury.

I think everyone in New York recalls the day the Twin Towers fell. It was just another gorgeous day in Manhattan. Clear blue skies, but then everyone watched in horror. Those poor souls were trapped with no way of getting to safety, and the heroic firefighters and police who went into the abyss, not even thinking about whether they would ever get out alive again. Just innocent people going about their day. They might be gone, but they will never be forgotten.

However, we say that we won’t forget, but the painful truth is that we have forgotten, because if we hadn’t forgotten, then these fools wouldn’t be building replacement towers like this.

The Twin Towers had character and presence – they made the skyline. This new build will be just like a soulless glass box. They could have done something extraordinary, but they chose not to; they are just making another skyscraper.