Battery Park City community action plan following WTC disaster, 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Battery Park City Residents Association Return to Normalcy Action Plan October 1, 2001

Over 10,000 residents of lower Manhattan are still homeless following the World Trade Center disaster. Many of those who have returned are finding life in Battery Park City and the surrounding community to be unlivable. On September 28*, over 1000 residents of Battery Park City met at a Town Hall meeting sponsored by the Battery Park City Residents Association to discuss the issues facing them. At that meeting and in subsequent discussions, the “RETURN TO NORMALCY ACTION PLAN” has been prepared by the Executive Committee of the Battery Park City Residents Association. It is important to note, this is not an exhaustive action list as there are many other issues that will need to be addressed as the Battery Park City community re-builds. However, these items represent some of the largest impediments to life returning to some semblance of normalcy. In addition, many of these items were put forth due to the fact that we feel that they are achievable in the short run without much difficulty or discussion. It is our hope that FEMA, the OEM, the BPCA and the various city, state and federal elected officials will carefully consider this list and work on implementing these suggestions. It is heartening that at the Town Hall meeting, the Ground Zero Task Force agreed to carefully consider these suggestions.

Information One of the most ftustrating issues facing residents is the lack of reliable information being disseminated by FEMA, OEM and the BPCA. We request to have weekly meeting with representatives from these organizations to disseminate information to residents in a timely and efficient manner. Immediately, information should be provided to those who are still displaced as to when their respective buildings will be opened. This can be in the form of an estimate. Also, there should be a resident member on the Ground Zero Task Force to better represent the residents needs in the area (It was agreed at the meeting that some compromise on this point could be worked out since the Task Force is only for elected officials).

Environmental Concerns • All reports and corresponding data on test of air and soil for asbestos should be released to the public as they become available in one aggregated location. • Funds should be provided to the BPCRA from the BPCA surplus to be used to conduct independent testing for asbestos and other harmful toxins throughout Battery Park City. • FEMA should provide funds for individual apartment owners or renters to test their own living quarters.

Access • Battery Park City residents should be issued residence passes to pass checkpoints easily. • Buildings should have a supply of visitor passes that can be utilized by the tenants of each building. • The esplanade coimecting the South and North portions of Battery Park City should be opened to limited pedestrian traffic.

Transportation Many tenants have not yet returned to their buildings due to the fact that they, are unable to make the walk from Canal Street checkpoints. This is especially true for the elderly, the handicapped and those with small children. To solve this issue we suggest the following;

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