Cuomo Signs Agreement to Rebuild St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

"We Lost St. Nicholas Church in the Destruction of September 11"

Governor Andrew Cuomo, joined by Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward, representatives of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and St. Nicholas Parish and Majority Leader Dean Skelos, signed the agreement that permits the rebuilding of the Church with a nondenominational bereavement center at the east end of Liberty Park, at 130 Liberty Street.

The agreement follows a four-month independent engineering study commissioned by the Port Authority and the Archdiocese, which found that the Church could be built on the site with minor modifications to the original plan and with no impact on the World Trade Center construction schedule.

"We lost St. Nicholas Church in the destruction of September 11 and for too long its future has been uncertain," Governor Cuomo said.

"Rebuilding St. Nicholas Church, with a nondenominational bereavement center, is not just good news for the Greek Orthodox community, but for all New Yorkers. With this agreement, we are continuing New York's collective healing, restoration, and resurgence. Now we are finally returning this treasured place of reflection to where it belongs."

As a result of settlement discussions mediated by the Governor's office, the Port Authority and Archdiocese agreed to an independent engineering study to determine the feasibility of siting the Church at various locations in Liberty Park.

The four-month study was led by Peter Lehrer, a nationally renowned construction expert, who worked on the project on a pro bono basis with Director of World Trade Center Construction Steven Plate and independent engineers Gorton & Partners and McNamara/Salvia, Inc.

The study concluded that structural issues could be resolved to site the Church at 130 Liberty Street at significantly reduced cost compared to the original agreement and with no delay to construction at the World Trade Center site.

New York Rent Regulations Set to Expire!

Statement from Governor Cuomo on Rent Regulations

"Tonight, June 15, 2011, many rent regulation laws in the State of New York are set to expire. More than one million New Yorkers live in units covered by these rent laws. If the laws are not renewed, over the long term, there would be nothing less than a housing crisis in the State. Today's expiration is generating anxiety among affected tenants and their advocates. This is compounded by the fact that the anticipated end of the Legislative session is next week.

"My position has been clear. New York's rent laws must be extended and strengthened.

"However, New Yorkers should know the facts. There would be no short-term emergency. Current rent laws could be continued by short-term 'extender' legislation or even if the laws lapse for a short period of time, which they have in the past, there will not be a significant increase in rent levels or disruption in the availability of affordable housing.

"Make no mistake, to prevent a long term crisis, these laws must be renewed and strengthened.

"There is a full agenda for both the Assembly and Senate to accomplish and the legislative session will not end, either through regular or special session, until the people's business is done."