From the Church to the Port Authority

The Port Authority may end up footing the bill for 20 million dollars to the Greek Orthodox Church

By James R. Lindamood

Before the attacks of September 11^th, 2001, the St. Nicholas Church sat at the base of the World Trade Center. The church was destroyed, along with the towers that rose above it. Now, nearly seven years after that fateful day, the Port Authority is offering 20 million dollars for the land where the church once sat. While there is no church on that site today, the land itself is still owned by the Greek Orthodox Church.

Based on recent reports, the land where the church sat is just one in a long line of obstacles faced by the Port Authority during their restoration and new construction on the site. Construction delays, zoning problems, and the long delay in the design phase of the new facility have all contributed to the headaches suffered by the Port Authority in their quest to rebuild the World Trade Center site. According to an agreement between the Church and the Port Authority, St. Nicholas will receive 20 million dollars for the land where the church once sat.

The money is slated to come from two sources. JP Morgan Chase, the banking conglomerate, which had planned to locate their new headquarters on the site but has since reconsidered, and the Port Authority itself. Chase has yet to pull out of the financial arrangement. However, if they do pull their offer, the Port Authority will be left holding the bill for the entire 20 million dollar price tag.