Mayor honors three for Ground Zero clean-up

Real Estate Weekly, June 5, 2002

As the recovery effort at Ground Zero draws to a close, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg joined the Building Trades Employers' Association (BTEA) in honoring three individuals involved in the clean-up and rebuilding of the World Trade Center site.

Incoming city buildings commissioner Patricia Lancaster also received her oath of office from the mayor during the BTEA's "2002 Leadership Luncheon" held at the Pierre Hotel.

Honorees at the luncheon included Larry A. Silverstein, president of Silverstein Properties and owner of the World Trade Center and 7 World Trade sites, Kenneth Holden, commissioner of the New York City Department of Design and Construction and Lawrence Graham, sr. v.p. of operations and development, Brookfield Properties Corporation.

"These individuals exemplify a remarkable spirit of partnership among industry, labor and government since 9-11," said Bloomberg. "The challenge and opportunity before us is to capitalize on this spirit and make this an era when 'big projects' can be realized," he added.

As the developer who owned 7 World Trade Center, Larry Silverstein has demonstrated an extraordinary resolve to begin reconstruction of this property as a symbol of New York's resiliency. He has worked in cooperation with public officials, community, civic and environmental leaders in beginning reconstruction less than 9 months after the attack.

Kenneth Holden has spearheaded the coordination of the recovery and clean-up operation at Ground Zero. He worked non-stop from the Mayor's Command Center coordinating the massive construction effort to search for survivors and recover victims as well as remove the 1.4 million tons of debris at the site.

With the Winter Garden, the public space conceived as the centerpiece of the World Financial Center, set to be the first new design and construction completed at the site, Lawrence Graham will be a leader in charting the course of the 16 acre area. His commitment to rebuilding establishes the project as an emblem of lower Manhattan's redevelopment.