Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls

Please stick to just the reflecting pools and wall of names that you’re used to:

A new cost-cutting plan to build a World Trade Center memorial will go to Gov. Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg today, and Pataki said yesterday he expects the project will retain most key features — but he didn’t mention the signature waterfalls.

“There still are going to be design changes that are needed to bring it in at half a billion dollars,” Pataki said. “I think we have to keep most of those design concepts, as many as possible, because I think it’s a brilliant design.”

Pataki said retaining the reflecting pools, surrounded by the names of all the victims of the terror attack, as well as a museum are “critical elements” of the memorial.

Conspicuously absent from Pataki’s description were the waterfalls around the reflecting pools and a below-ground gallery, where the victims’ names would be inscribed. Some 9/11 family members have opposed the underground gallery.

Now that ought to get it down to, say, $900 million.

Backstory: How About Reconceptualizing It As The $300 Million September 11 Memorial Parking Garage?