The organization overseeing the redevelopment of lower Manhattan on Thursday authorized $1 million for the Performing Arts Center that is planned for the World Trade Center site.
The vote by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, which was reported in the Wall Street Journal, will enable the Performing Arts Center to hire staff and begin construction by 2017. The allocation had been held up by the development corporation’s concerns about the project’s cost and about how to raise the money for it.
“There was some question as to whether or not the numbers made sense,†said David Emil, president of the corporation, in a telephone interview on Thursday.
The center, designed by Frank Gehry, is expected to have the Joyce Theater, which presents dance, as its anchor tenant.
Center offiials declined to estimate the project’s cost but earlier estimates had said it was likely to cost about $300 million, with $100 million of that already committed by the development corp. In addition, the center has raised $25 million privately.
Asked to respond to Thursday’s vote, Kate D. Levin, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, said: “This marks important progress on a significant project for Lower Manhattan’s future.â€
Maggie Boepple, president of the center, said: “Weâ€re getting down to work. Downtown wants this.â€
