BAYONNE, NJ September 8, 2006 – On Monday, September 11, renowned Russian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, representatives from the Russian Federation and local officials will unveil a monument to the victims of the September 11th and the 1993 World Trade Center attacks. The monument, entitled “To the Struggle Against World Terrorism” is a gift from the people of Russia and it will be the centerpiece of the new Harbor View Park at the northeast corner of The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor.

The rectangular monument, made of steel and sheathed in bronze, stands 100 feet tall and faces the site in lower Manhattan where the Twin Towers once stood. The center of the monument features a jagged tear framing a single steel teardrop. The black granite base is inscribed with the names of those who perished in the attacks on September 11th and the February 1993 World Trade Center bombing. It was designed by Zurab Tsereteli, who has produced outstanding and critically acclaimed public art projects in cities around the world.

The Harbor View Park was built by the BLRA and funded in part by the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund and a contribution by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. The park will be turned over to the City of Bayonne once construction is completed.

"As a city that lost residents on both occasions, Bayonne is indeed the most appropriate location for this striking memorial,” said Bayonne Mayor Joseph V. Doria, Jr. “It will be illuminated at night, and will stand as a reminder to everyone who views the harbor. The memorial should inspire all of us to value human life and to work and pray for a more peaceful world,” added Mayor Doria.

The dedication ceremony is open to the public. It will take place at Harbor View Park, at the northeast corner of The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor (the former Military Ocean Terminal, MOTBY) at 2:30pm. For information or directions call (212) 647-1828 or go to www.911monument.com.

About The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor

Since the U.S. Army transferred complete ownership of the former military base in 2002, the BLRA has raised more than $50 million in government grants and interim lease payments to make infrastructure improvements needed to attract development. These improvements include new bulkheads along the base’s south side and environmental remediation that was completed last year, ahead of schedule. Other projects include the installation of a new sewer system and planning for a new electrical grid and new roads.

Redevelopment of The Peninsula is organized around the creation of six
different, yet integrated districts.

In 2004, Cape Liberty Cruise Port opened, marking the first tangible step in the transformation of the 430-acre site. It resulted in 51 cruise ship calls in its first season and created 300 jobs. Since then, the Cruise Port has grown to become the third-ranking passenger port on the East Coast (after New York and Miami).

Early this year, the BLRA approved plans for development of another district, Harbor Station North, which will consist of mid-rise housing, service retail space, and park space adjacent to the 45th Street light rail station.

The recent approval of a redevelopment agreement with Trammell Crow Residential for a portion of Bayonne Bay will begin the transformation of the third district.

Other districts to be developed include The Landing, which will have a water transit docking facility surrounded by a commercial and entertainment area with shops, stores, a hotel and restaurants as well as a residential section with mid-rise housing; The Loft District, which will be converted to hip loft-style housing units adjacent to the ferry landing with views of lower New York Harbor, the Verrazano Bridge and golf course, and The Maritime Industrial District.

For more information about The Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority, visit www.bayonnenj.org/blra.


 

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