The Coming Showdown Over Ground Zero

Now that the clean up crews are finished, the task of mediating among the many constituents involved in the redevelopment process has fallen largely to the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, a panel formed by New York Governor George Pataki to oversee rebuilding issues -- including a design for the memorial. John Whitehead, a former co-chairman of the Goldman Sachs investment firm who was chosen to head up the firm, has brought on as his director of planning Alexander Garvin, a highly regarded urban thinker. However, in addition to the many stakeholders, the L.M.D.C. is struggling to work with its partner, the Port Authority of NY/NJ, who is calling for an expedited timeline on the project.