Twenty-five years can seem like a long time. But the memories of September 11th, 2001, remain vivid. Like many New Yorkers, the Conservancy immediately felt the need to try to help after the attack.
Within days, we went to Lower Manhattan to see if landmarked buildings near Ground Zero had been damaged. We reached out to colleague groups to help us raise a special fund that gave grants to damaged buildings.
The grants helped the South Street Seaport Museum clean their ships, which had been engulfed in the debris that blew east after the towers fell. We brought in experts to advise on restoring landmarked lobby ceiling murals in the Barclay-Vesey building on the northwest perimeter of Ground Zero. The art was blackened when beams from the north tower ripped through the building.
The families of those who died petitioned to have Ground Zero listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Buildings and sites usually must be at least 50 years old to be considered. But the petition was granted because of the extraordinary circumstances. That started a federally mandated Section 106 consulting process, and we became a consulting party to restoration efforts at the site.
We helped document remaining original elements at Ground Zero. That’s why the 9/11 Museum features the outline of the box beam columns that supported the Towers and the Survivors’ Staircase, which helped hundreds flee to safety after the attack. We also reviewed the crushed vehicles and building elements stored at Kennedy Airport to help determine which should be featured in the museum.
When the City considered large changes to streets around the site, we documented all the buildings eligible for landmarking and showed that many of these could be repurposed.
The tragedy of 9/11 was the thousands of innocent lives lost that day. But there was also incredible heroism, and we felt strong bonds with each other. The attack also showed that buildings matter. The Twin Towers were unofficial landmarks. People mourned the vacant hole on the skyline. Their destruction prompted a wide-ranging public debate over what should be rebuilt on the site.
As we remember the pain of that day, we should also remember the bonds we felt with each other. We must also continue to protect the layers of diverse architecture that make New York unique and maintain the public’s ability to weigh in on how this City continues to evolve.