Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Church Sues NY Port Authority Over Ground Zero Reconstruction Plans
According to CNN, a federal lawsuit was filed Monday in Manhattan against the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and St. Nicholas Church. The church, which was located at Ground Zero, was destroyed in the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9-11. Apparently the parties agreed in 2008 that the Church would be rebuilt using public funds on adjacent property while construction moved ahead on a vehicle security center as part of the World Trade Center redevelopment. The Port Authority says the church subsequently rejected an offer of $60 million for construction on the new site. The Port Authority says that the church can still rebuild on its original site beginning in 2013 when the vehicle security center is completed. The church's lawsuit claims that the Port Authority is guilty of arrogance, bad faith and fraudulent conduct in the negotiations.