Mayor Dawn Zimmer says it is “extremely unlikely” the city of Hoboken will complete a permanent 9/11 memorial in Pier A Park by the 10-year anniversary of the attacks next year.
Zimmer made the comment at the public hearing on Tuesday for the proposed design of the memorial.
Zimmer said the city will soon offer more options for discussion, including the possibility of rebidding the original island park design. That would extend the deliberation process and push completion of the project beyond the anniversary.
In past years, the city had proposed an island park memorial, which would have been built in the Hudson River off the northeast corner of Pier A Park and cost $4 million. But two years ago, as the city’s budget gap yawned open, they decided the proposal was too expensive.
“It’s extremely important that the city has a 9/11 memorial that we all feel good about.” – Mayor Dawn Zimmer
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That memorial would be completely ADA accessible. It would also feature etchings of words such as “father, mother, son, daughter” to help those who come to visit remember those who were lost. A piece of the World Trade Center would also be included.
Already has smaller one
The city already has a smaller memorial, consisting of trees and a piece of glass etched with the names of the victims.
The administration and architects will take the feedback they received last week, and prepare for another public meeting. They will also consider aspects of the original design.
“The question is: can we afford it?” Zimmer said.
The costs may have deflated since 2008, according to Zimmer, which could lead to a new, cheaper outcome than the $4 million price tag in 2008.
The city currently has $250,000 in state grant funding for the project, according to Director of Community Development Brandy Forbes. If a new design is proposed, it would be partly up to the City Council to decide how much money to allocate.
“We’ll incorporate the feedback we received tonight and have the public back here before it’s built,” Forbes said.
Exploring all options
Zimmer said that she wants to come back early in 2011 with some additional proposals.
“We intend to make a final plan and be clear on how it’s all going to be funded,” she said to the crowd of approximately 25 residents, council members, and members of the 9/11 Committee in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting. “It’s extremely important that the city has a 9/11 memorial that we all feel good about.”
Forbes said she hopes to expedite the process because the city needs to demonstrate that they are working on the project to keep grant money.
Joe Petrongolo, of Remington and Vernick Engineers, said the proposed project is simple and could be a relatively “quick construction” process.
“The greatest design in the world is no good unless it can be built,” Petrongolo said.
Zimmer said that the city has become a hotspot for tourists because of the proximity to Manhattan and the popularity of the TV show “Cake Boss,’ and tourists will visit the memorial in the future.
Petrongolo said he has worked on a lot of projects in the state as a landscape architect.
“None [of the projects] have touched me as much as this particular project,” Petrongolo said.
‘I need something done.’
One former Hoboken resident, Joe O’Keefe, lost his wife Lesley on 9/11 after moving to Hoboken in 2000.
“The island park was a bit pie-in-the-sky for me,” O’Keefe said. “I’m happy with this [newer] design.”
O’Keefe just wants a place to go to mourn.
“I need something done,” O’Keefe said. “I didn’t receive body parts. I don’t have a headstone to go to. This is a place I’ll go for the rest of my life.”
Ray Smith can be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com.