$6 million raised to renovate Vietnam Veterans Plaza

Real Estate Weekly, Nov 14, 2001

In a unique partnership of public and private interests, the Vietnam Veterans Plaza Committee has raised $6 million dollars in private and public donations to renovate the Vietnam Veterans Plaza, an 80,000 square foot space located at 55 Water St. in Downtown Manhattan. The newly designed plaza will serve as a memorial to the 1,741 service men and women from the five boroughs of New York City who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the Vietnam War. The rededication ceremony will take place on Nov. 9.

The plaza includes approximately 40,000 SF of New York City park land and 40,000 SF privately held by the New Water Street Corporation. The plaza will be maintained by the New Water Street Corporation, owned by the Retirement Systems of Alabama. The New Water Corporation has contributed $3 million dollars to the renovation of the plaza.

"The transformation of this plaza is due to the contributions in time or money by the City of New York, City of New York/Parks & Recreation; and the private sector," said Therese Braddick, committee member and Deputy Director of the City Parks Foundation.

The 1,741 names, along with their ages, will be etched in a series of granite panels making up the Walk of Honor, the highlight of the newly designed Vietnam Veterans Plaza.

The plaza also includes the existing glass memorial, which opened in 1985; new ceremonial entrances at Water Street and South Street bearing United States Service and POW/MIA flags; a large map of Southeast Asia, etched in stainless steel and designed with the input of Vietnam veterans to depict significant historical locations; new paving and improved lighting making the space safer and more inviting; new handicapped accessible ramps; and additional plantings of shrubs, trees, and groundcover