Correction: WTC-Arts Center story

NEW YORK (AP) - In a story Jan. 31 about a planned arts center at the World Trade Center site, The Associated Press, relying on information from the Lower Manhattan Development Corp., erroneously reported the organization appropriated $99 million for below-ground construction and design. The money is for construction above ground only.

A corrected version of the story is below:

Planned arts center at World Trade site gets boost

Planned performing arts center at World Trade Center site gets money for staff, building plans

By ULA ILNYTZKY

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) _ A performing arts center planned for the World Trade Center site got a financial boost Thursday that improves the chances of the languishing project to begin construction in four years.

The Lower Manhattan Development Corp. approved $1 million to hire staff or consultants to conduct research to determine the cost of building the center, said Maggie Boepple, director of the center.

The approval means that construction could begin in 2017, with a projected opening in 2019, she said.

“This is a push-off for the project,” Boepple said.

And it’s a boost for a neighborhood reborn after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack.

“This is really important for the economic revitalization of Lower Manhattan,” said Julie Menin, former chair of the neighborhood’s Community Board 1 who helped businesses there recover.

“It will bring jobs to the community and help small businesses,” said Menin, who serves on the arts center board. “We can look to cities like San Francisco and Miami that have invested in performing arts centers, and see what that does economically for a city.”

The LMDC had withheld the money in September, citing concerns over the project’s cost and fundraising ability.

Boepple and a board of directors named last year have raised $25 million for the project.

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