SLAP AT TERROR
Resume rebuild of church KOd on 9/11
Construction resumed Monday on St. Nicholas Church in lower Manhattan, the only other building destroyed when hijackers used planes to take down the twin towers during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Work crews had been making progress on the new Greek Orthodox church until the COVID-19 pandemic forced a halt to construction across the city to help stop the spread of the virus.
The original church, named for the patron saint of sailors, opened its doors on Cedar St. in 1916, and became the first stop for many Greek immigrants after they left Ellis Island.
St. Nicholas was a community pillar for 85 years, a welcome, but tiny, old-world contrast in a neighborhood of skyscrapers.
But on Sept. 11, 2001, when the World Trade Center's south tower collapsed, it took the church with it.
“Nearly 20 years ago our St. Nicholas fell with thousands of our fellow human beings by a savage act,” said Greek Orthodox Church Archbishop Elpidophoros. “We cannot, we must not and we shall not let this stand. We are going to open St. Nicholas church and national shrine — to open as a sign of love, not hate.”
The church is pushing for a Sept. 11, 2021, reopening, which would mark the 20th anniversary of the attacks. It will include a nondenominational bereavement center for New Yorkers and tourists to honor the dead.
Gov. Cuomo, who halted nonessential construction in March, praised the leadership of the Port Authority and Greek-American business owners Dennis Mehiel, Michael Psaros and John Catsimatidis, who have raised more than $45 million for the rebirth of the historic shrine.
He also noted a $10 million donation from Los Angeles Chargers owners Alex and Faye Spanos.
The governor looked on as a construction crane lowered the first skylight into the church's iconic dome.
“We do have issues and challenges in this country,” Cuomo said.
“We are dealing with the COVID crisis, which is one of the worst things we've dealt with in modern history. But today makes the overarching message: We are going to build back the way we built back from 9/11. And when we build back we are going to build back better and stronger.”
Before the coronavirus crisis, rebuilding was stalled for about two years because of financial setbacks, said project chief operating officer Richard Browne. who oversaw the construction of Citi Field. But a fund-raising effort and closer oversight has resurrected the reconstruction plan.
“This St. Nicholas is going to be more splendid and more inviting than the St. Nicholas that was here before,” Cuomo said.
“Yes we went through 9/11, but we rise from the ashes and we rise stronger than ever before. That's what this St. Nicholas is going to stand for.”