Back in August, YIMBY reported on apparent progress on the site of the Vehicle Security Center and future Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center, on the site of the old temporary PATH Station. Unfortunately, while steel began to rise as summer turned to fall and reached street-level by November, December has seemingly brought a freeze to the pace of progress.
Early November Performing Arts Center Progress, by Earthcam
The World Trade Center site has been fraught with delays throughout the rebuilding process, so unforeseen problems at the future Performing Arts Center are essentially par for the course at this point. While work on that portion of the project has yet to begin, at the very least, the Vehicle Security Center underneath had begun to take shape before construction ceased.
December Performing Arts Center Progress (or lack thereof), by Earthcam
There is no word on what may be causing the delay. Attempts to take photos from close-up are generally rebuffed by on-site security and the Port Authority has been known to ignore FOIL requests, so at the moment, the problem is not yet known. Hopefully, whatever the issue is, the REX Associates-designed PAC will not be plagued by the same sloppy work that resulted in the leaking roof on Calatrava’s $4 billion Transit Hub.
As YIMBY has previously reported, the PAC will feature three theaters, with capacities of 499, 299, and 100 people apiece. They will be reconfigurable into one enormous 1,200-seat venue, which should be quite impressive. There will also be a cafe.
Dawn rendering, from the west, of the Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center
In 2016, ground-breaking for the PAC had been anticipated by early 2018. However, with steel work now paused for the VSC that will sit underneath the PAC, it would appear that delays have begun, and the expected 2020 completion date may become increasingly tentative.
NOTE: A representative for the PAC sent along the following statement, which gives some hope of continued progress —
Construction is proceeding actively as planned. Work clearing space that will be building foundation is in progress and on track, continuing to work closely with The Port Authority of New York on critical below-grade work.
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Please pardon me for using your space: How about flag stone on the first floor?
That sucks. I can sense value-engineering on the wind. Are the memorial and museum going to be the only wholly successful part of the WTC?
It’s utterly pathetic at this point. The WTC has been a tragic, disappointing disaster since 9/11. It will never be done at this point. Such an embarrassment.
I think the reply you got from PAC was outdated. They can’t build anything until the parking garage and loading dock road for 1WTC is done, and that looks as abandoned as St Nicholas.