BY JOHN BAYLES | There were not enough board members to constitute a quorum at Monday’s Community Board 1 World Trade Center Redevelopment Committee meeting, but there was still a lively discussion concerning one agenda item.
Due to short notice John DeLibero, spokesperson for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, was unable to attend the meeting and present information concerning the agency’s remaining funds and, specifically, to discuss the state of the Performing Arts Center. The last time the committee received any accounting of such funds was at a meeting last May. In light of the recent news that the L.M.D.C. will soon be absorbed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the board members were concerned over the transition.
“Even though they’re merging with the Port, we’d still like to have an accounting of the remaining funds,” said Catherine McVay Hughes, the committee chair.
On Tuesday, David Emil, acting president of the L.M.D.C., confirmed their concerns about the P.A.C., but added that nothing had changed since the last meeting, except for the allocation of $17 million worth of cultural and community enhancement grants to 38 different Lower Manhattan organizations earlier this year.
Emil however did bring up a timeline that is in place in order to ensure that the $150 million already allocated for the P.A.C. remains earmarked for the project, which was part of the original master plan set forth when the L.M.D.C. was established following the attacks of 9/11. If a five-member board of directors for the P.A.C. is not created before the end of the year, then the money earmarked for the center could possibly be re-allocated for other infrastructure needs in Lower Manhattan.
Emil however stressed that the funds would not be allowed to go toward any project that does not fall within the guidelines established by the federal government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development, the agency that regulates the disbursement of all L.M.D.C. funds.
As for the eventual integration of the L.M.D.C. into the Port Authority, spokespersons for both agencies said the details are still being worked out and there is no set date for the transition.
“It’s still a work in progress,” said Steve Coleman, spokesperson for the Port.
“The L.M.D.C. staff and the Port Authority staff are working now on all the issues relating to the integration,” said Emil. “The reason [Governor Andrew Cuomo] wants to do this is that he wants to get everyone interested in the rebuilding of Downtown on the same page.”
But Emil said the transition has absolutely nothing to do with the funds allocated for the P.A.C.
New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said in a statement, “It is imperative that this performing arts center be built and that we take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that it becomes a reality. This project was promised to our community and I remain committed to seeing that it is built. We have come so far in revitalizing our Lower Manhattan community and the performing arts center is a major step in our continuing efforts to create a world-class, 24-hour community Downtown.”
Julie Menin, chair of C.B. 1 and also an L.M.D.C. board member said she too wants the P.A.C. funds to remain earmarked for the project and noted that it was the community board that fought to get a large portion of the funds allocated to the P.A.C. following a battle with Con Edison that had staked a claim to $200 million worth of L.M.D.C. money in the summer of 2010.
Menin also pointed to the desperate need for the P.A.C. to move forward, given the state of the economy and the fact that construction of the center would provide job opportunities.
As for the transition of the L.M.D.C. into the Port Authority, Menin said, “I fully support the move. For years I have called for a sunset plan [to be put in place] for the L.M.D.C.
Menin continued by saying it made “sense that the Port [Authority] would be the agency” to take over the L.M.D.C.’s remaining responsibilities, adding, “The only issue remaining for the community, is making sure the funds are dispersed for the actual projects they are allocated for.”
