“Have faith in tomorrow”

by Daniel Berman

April 7, 2009

A view of 7 World Trade Center, where the Downtown 2020 conference was held (image via blog.luxuryproperty.com)

The colossal elevator doors slide smoothly open onto the 45th floor of 7 World Trade Center, announcing its arrival in a seductive female voice. Barren except for a podium, a table, and some rent-a-chairs (as well as the necessary breakfast  accoutrements for a crowd of roughly 150 individuals), the vacant space glows in the early-morning rays.

Just steps away from the site of the in-progress World Trade Center construction, professors, brokers, reporters, and graduate students all gather for the Downtown 2020 conference, subtitled, “How Strategic Investments in Lower Manhattan Can Help Ensure NYC’s Global Competitiveness for the Long Term.” The event, hosted by the Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute at Baruch College, will be presenting a surprisingly optimistic take on the progress of the historic financial district.

Elizabeth H. Berger, the president of the Alliance for Downtown New York, addresses the quiet crowd with the cheer of a day-time talk show host. The Downtown Alliance, which is a BID (Business Improvement District), is an organization supported by local business, which funds improvements to the districts communal spaces. The organization works to enhance downtown with its way-finding guides and promotions for tourists, its ever-present street team of sanitation workers, and its physical contributions, which include the recent $20 million dollar reconstruction of Broadway sidewalks and street fixtures in the area.

“How do we unite lower Manhattan?’ Berger asks the audience. ‘This is about Wall Street vs. Main Street” she cleverly states.

Although she doesn’t have a precise answer, she addresses the positive aspects of the neighborhood. Since 9/11, she explains, the downtown population has nearly doubled. Tourism too, has nearly increased twofold. By maintaining optimism and supporting local community improvements, especially with regard to the Fulton Street Transportation Center and the World Trade Center, she stresses, downtown looks to be in great shape.

Berger continues.

“The retail sector is growing and diversifying’, she proudly says, emphasizing the 54,000 residents and 6 million annual visitors to the community. “We must maintain post-9/11 growth. ‘Build up. Build up. Build up.”

Later in the conference, Seth Meyer, a younger gentleman from the Office of the Deputy Mayor, announces the difficulties of the financial district’s navigability. Among the issues he highlights are the hardship of tourists and locals getting through security barriers, and the troublesome congestion in Chinatown. “We need attractive corridors to lead people to the waterfront’ he states. ‘We need more security, but fewer barriers for pedestrians.”

Joel Ettinger, who works for the New York Parks and Transportation Council, agrees wholeheartedly that congestion is a serious problem in downtown. His organization is closely working on a “sustainable vision” for developing strategic transportation for the neighborhood. This project would require nearly 582 billion dollars, he says in his speech.

As the end of the conference draws near, Larry Silverstein arrives to speak—he is the current developer for the World Trade Center project, an elderly gentleman with bold white hair, and a care-free smile. He points out the window directly behind him at the entirety of New York City: “I rarely get a chance to look outside” he jokes. Although it wouldn’t be in his interest as a developer to express uncertainty regarding his progress, he seems certain of a bright future for downtown Manhattan.

“Growth will come again,’ he announces emphatically, revealing that the prime location of the financial district will ensure its growth into a 24/7 “burgeoning community.”

“Have faith in tomorrow,’ Silverstein advises from the podium. ‘Cause it’s coming,”

A Downtown Alliance officer on Broadway, keeping the peace

Mark Dipiano, who works as a security officer for the Downtown Alliance and was not present at the conference, spends nearly seven hours each work day overseeing the progress near Fulton Street. In his red uniform, he could be a crew- member on an exotic sailing vessel, but his real-life duties aren’t so far off. “Everybody has questions,’ he remarks. ‘Tourists always need directions around here because you turn the corner by accident and find yourself in the middle of a construction site. It gets confusing” he exclaims, shrugging his shoulders.

As for his predictions on the future of the neighborhood, he expresses little doubt that it will continue to flourish…with the right guiding hand, that is.