NY Metro Chapter Responds to World Trade Center Attack

By Janice Jijina, AICP, Metro Chapter President and Joseph Ferrucci, Metro Planner Editor

On behalf of the New York Metro Chapter, we would like to express our most sincere condolences to each and every member of the Chapter for the losses that they sustained in the wake of the World Trade Center attack on September 11th. Every one of us has lost someone or something very important to us, be it a friend, a relative, a coworker, or on other levels, an office, a job, or even our sense of security living and working in this great city.

While we have been grateful to hear that so many of our members who worked in the World Trade Center survived, we also understand that one or more may have been lost. In order for APA to determine what we can do to help their loved ones, we request that anyone with information about Chapter members lost in this tragedy, please contact the Chapter office at mfindlen@nyplanning.org.

Sadly, two agencies with whom many of us work - the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) - had their offices in the World Trade Center. Their offices, of course, have been destroyed, and they are still missing some employees. The Executive Director of the Port Authority, Neil Levin, is among those few identified as having died. Metro Chapter offers its deepest sympathies to our friends and colleagues who work with the Port Authority and NYMTC.

As if the human loss and suffering were not horrible enough, we also had to face the loss of one of the great landmarks of New York City-the twin towers. Whether you loved or hated the towers (considered elegant and awesome by some, but stark and bulky by others), they served as the anchor of lower Manhattan and a proud testament to the revitalization of that part of the city. In the short 30 years that they presided over New York, they defined the skyline of Manhattan, and their absence does not go unnoticed.

We would like to extend a word of thanks to the APA, which has been with us through this terrible time. Metro Chapter has received phone calls and emails from APA members and chapters across the country, who sent their thoughts and asked what they could do to help. In the midst of such a horrible tragedy, their kindness and support has been reassuring.

As residents of the New York region, many of us have been trying to help in any way possible. People have been volunteering their time, giving money and materials to the Red Cross, and donating blood. Donald Burns, AICP, Metro Chapter's New York City Representative, has compiled a list of 9/11 charities, which are listed below. Any help you can give is appreciated.

The courageous spirit that guided us through the first few days after the attack is now calling upon us to develop a renewed vision for lower Manhattan. The debate about the future of the World Trade Center site has already become a topic of public debate. Some have suggested rebuilding the towers as they were; some want to rebuild in an entirely different format; others envision a memorial to the victims, including the brave fire fighters, police officers, and rescue workers who were themselves killed in their attempt to help others in need.

The NY Metro Chapter is participating in several planning-related efforts with the Regional Plan Association, the New York City Partnership and the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA.) Metro Chapter will continue to look for additional ways that we can help both our members and New York City in this difficult time. Please feel free to contact Janice Jijina, Metro Chapter President, with your suggestions.

APA Joins Rebuilding Efforts

In response to the terrorist attacks on September 11th, which destroyed the World Trade Center and reverberated across our region, APA's New York Metro Chapter is providing its planning experience and technical expertise to both civic and professional rebuilding efforts.

CIVIC PLANNING INITIATIVE
Bringing together business, labor, civic and community leaders, the Regional Plan Association has formed a Civic Alliance to work in support of "whatever public entity or process is established to oversee redevelopment of the area - to help create the best possible comprehensive plan for rebuilding Lower Manhattan."

Participants
The Civic Alliance has drawn representatives from a cross-section of groups, such as the Alliance for Downtown New York, Association for a Better New York, American Institute of Architects, Community Board #1, Empire State Development Corporation, JM Kaplan Fund, Municipal Arts Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, New York Building Congress, NYC Partnership, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Real Estate Board of New York, and all major metropolitan universities.

Progress So Far
The Metro Chapter has participated in the two meetings convened so far, which have provided a forum for sharing information and discussions of principles to guide the reconstruction of the WTC district as well as a process to help achieve public consensus on the goals and outcomes of the rebuilding efforts.

What's Next?
The next steps will be reach agreement on basic rebuilding principles and a proposed process, and move forward to maximize the region's ability to secure the public and private resources needed for reconstruction.

How to Contribute
Please contribute your comments on the discussion draft of the Civic Planning Initiative's principles and process.

New York New Visions & DESIGN COALITION
New York New Visions Immediately following the events of September 11th, the NYC Partnership and Real Estate Board of New York established New York New Visions to coordinate a broad range of private sector resources to provide advice and counsel on key rebuilding matters. An Infrastructure Task Force was the top priority and began working in September with immediate assistance on actions necessary to stabilize day-to-day functioning for workers and residents of Lower Manhattan. By the end of September, a Planning Task Force of leading local design professionals also began to take shape to address the longer term rebuilding questions.

Participants
The New York New Visions Planning Task Force was initiated by the New York Chapter of the AIA with the APA's New York Metro Chapter as one of the first participants. The Task Force has evolved into a broad-based coalition of design and planning organizations, including architects, planners, consulting and structural engineers, graphic artists, landscape architects, and urban designers.

Purpose
The Design Coalition's purpose is not to propose specific designs, but to explore the key issues that public and private sector leaders should consider in the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan. To quote from the Statement of Purpose: "As a collective of leading local design professionals, we believe that achieving consensus will require decision makers to have at their disposal the full range of questions that this event has raised. Our purpose is to help identify those questions, and in so doing help establish the framework that will allow planning, design and construction to move forward while allowing concerned constituencies to have a voice."

Work
The immediate work of the Task Force is designed as an interdisciplinary, three-month effort to produce broad-based planning principles before the end of October and establish a "framework for rebuilding" by the end of the year. During this time, the Task Force will also be interfacing with the RPA's Civic Alliance, the NYC Partnership, and other alliances around the rebuilding effort.

Progress So Far
Eight committees were formed in early October and are now underway to obtain base information and explore rebuilding issues for 1) connections, including transportation, 2) cultural & historic resources, 3) growth strategies, 4) liaison & communications, 5) the memorial process, 6) quality of life, 7) sustainability, and 8) uses.

The following members represent the Metro Chapter on each of the committees:

What's Next?
Each committee is gathering information, defining its mission and drafting principles within its field of exploration. The next steps will be to reach an understanding of our role as professionals in the rebuilding process and to create common agreement on planning and design principles.

How to Contribute
Committee membership may be limited by press time on some committees. Others will be open to New York Metro Chapter or New Jersey Chapter APA members willing to commit to the fast-paced schedule of weekly meetings.

Another way to contribute to New York New Visions is by sharing your resources, such as meeting rooms, site information, base maps, or computer capabilities.

If you are interested in joining one of the committees or contributing resources, please contact Michael L. Levine, Chapter Administrator, with information about how to reach you and a description of how you would like to participate.

Message from Paul Farmer, AICP
Executive Director of the American Planning Association

The American Planning Association and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners expresses its sympathy to those affected by the horrific tragedies of September 11. To the victims, their families, and their friends, we offer our heartfelt thoughts and prayers. We are all strengthened by the many acts of heroism and kindness shown by caring people and by the continuing contributions so many are making in service to others.

Our community of Planners has offered assistance to those who must now turn to the long process of recovery and reconstruction. Many of our members will be called upon for their personal contributions of talent and expertise through APA or through others' requests in the coming months. For members and friends, we will be offering a variety of opportunities for dialogue, information, and contributions. Visit www.planning.org/abtapa/11sept01.htm to share in APA's resources for Planning After September 11. Please join us in the task of building community in America and throughout the world.

WTC Charitable Organizations

Below is a partial list of charitable organizations for those who want to make contributions to the families of the victims of the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center.

Twin Towers Fund (official NYC fund)
General Post Office
P.O. Box 26999
New York, NY 10087-6999

New York State
World Trade Center Relief Fund
P.O. Box 5028
Albany, NY 12205

United Way
2 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Checks payable to: September 11th Fund

American Red Cross
P.O. Box #3756
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10008
Checks payable to: American Red Cross Disaster Relief

Salvation Army
Disaster Relief
120 W. 14th Street
New York, NY 10011
Checks payable to: Salvation Army

Daily News Charities, Inc
P.O. Box 3307
New York, NY 10001

New York City Fire Safety Foundation
555 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019

New York City Police Foundation
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154

Metro Chapter Announces New Fund

Since September 11th, the NY Metro Chapter has received numerous requests from other APA Chapters and individuals about how to contribute to the victims of the terrorist attack and rebuilding efforts. The Chapter posted a list of charities on its website and is now establishing is own Chapter-specific effort. The fund will be used for the following two purposes:

Planning activities that relate to rebuilding efforts will take several forms. While Chapter members will offer their services on a pro bono basis, there will be administrative costs which may include staff time, mailings, publications, meeting room rentals, etc. Some of the planning efforts underway include:

New York New Visions Planning Task Force
Approximately 30 of our members are actively involved in the NYC Rebuild Planning Task Force with the New York Chapter of the AIA and a coalition of other design professionals. The purpose of the Task Force is to address the key issues that decision-makers should consider in rebuilding Lower Manhattan. The Task Force will produce key principles before the November elections and establish a "framework for rebuilding" by the end of the year. APA has coordinators on each of the seven committees on the Task Force which include 1) connections, including transportation, 2) uses, 3) growth strategies, 4) cultural & historic resources, 5) quality of life & sustainability, 6) the memorial process, and 7) liaison & communications.

Participation with other Alliances
APA is also interfacing with the RPA's Civic Alliance and other coalitions that are emerging around the rebuilding effort.

APA Sponsored Focus Groups
APA has created an Ad-Hoc committee to plan and carry out a series of focus groups throughout the City to involve the public in the rebuilding effort. In a city of 8 million people, and an even larger regional population, this is a daunting task. The results of these focus groups will be provided to the task forces and alliances for integration into their work products.

Chapter Conference
The Chapter Conference has been completely reoriented to address planning in the aftermath of September 11th and rebuilding efforts.

Donations can be sent to:
APA NY Metro Chapter
c/o Neighborhood Preservation Center
232 East 11th Street
New York, NY 10003.

APA New York Metro Home Page