World Trade Center background
Austin J. Tobin and the World Trade Center
In 1942, Austin J. Tobin became the Executive Director of the Port Authority. In the post-World War II period, the Port Authority expanded its operations to include airports, and marine terminals, with projects including Newark Liberty International Airport, Port Newark, and Port Elizabeth. During this period, the United States thrived economically, with increasing international trade, and the concept of establishing a "world trade center" was conceived. At the time, economic growth was concentrated in Midtown Manhattan, with Lower Manhattan left out. One exception was the construction of Chase Manhattan Bank Tower in the Financial District, by David Rockefeller who led urban renewal efforts in Lower Manhattan.[1]
In initial plans made public in 1961, the World Trade Center was slated to be built on a site along the East River. Objections to the plan came from New Jersey Governor Robert B. Meyner, who resented that New York would be getting this $335 million project.[1] Meanwhile, New Jersey's Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M) was facing bankruptcy. Port Authority executive director, Austin J. Tobin agreed to take over control of the H&M Railroad, in exchange for support from New Jersey for the World Trade Center project. As part of this acquisition, the Port Authority would rehabilitate the Downtown and Uptown Hudson Tubes. The Port Authority would also obtain the Hudson Terminal, and decrepit buildings located above the terminal in Lower Manhattan. The Port Authority decided to demolish these buildings, and use this site along the Hudson River for the World Trade Center.
Even once the agreement between the states of New Jersey, New York, and the Port Authority was finalized, the World Trade Center plan faced continued controversy. New York City mayor Robert Wagner raised concerns about the limited extent that the Port Authority involved the city in the negotiations and deliberations. The site was the location of Radio Row electronics businesses, and the World Trade Center plans involved evicting hundreds of commercial and industrial tenants, property owners, small businesses, and approximately 100 residents, some of whom fiercely protested the forced relocation.[1]
In 1964, Minoru Yamasaki was hired by the Port Authority as architect, who came up with the idea of twin towers. To meet the Port Authority's requirement to build 10 million square feet of office space, the towers would each be 110-stories tall. The size of the project raised ire from the owner of the Empire State Building, which would lose its title of tallest building in the world. Other critics objected to the idea of this much "subsidized" office space going on the open market, competing with the private sector. Others questioned the cost of the project, which in 1966 had risen to $575 million.[1] Final negotiations between The City of New York and the Port Authority centered on tax issues. A final agreement was made that the Port Authority would make annual payments in lieu of taxes, for the 40 percent of the World Trade Center leased to private tenants. The remaining space was to be occupied by state and federal government agencies. In 1962, the Port Authority had signed up the United States Customs Service as a tenant, and in 1964 they inked a deal with the State of New York to locate government offices at the World Trade Center.
In August 1968, construction on the World Trade Center's north tower started, with construction on the south tower beginning in January 1969.[2]. When the World Trade Center twin towers were completed, the total costs to the Port Authority had reached $900 million.[3] The buildings were dedicated on April 4, 1973, with Tobin, who resigned the year before, absent from the ceremonies.[4]