Greek Church Sues For Right To Rebuild At Disputed Ground Zero Site

By Nicole Neroulias
Religion News Service

(RNS) Greek Orthodox officials on Monday (Feb. 14) filed suit against the agency charged with rebuilding Ground Zero over the disputed fate of tiny St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, which was destroyed by falling debris on 9/11.

Negotiations between St. Nicholas leaders and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey abruptly ended two years ago, which agency officials blame on the congregation's escalating demands.

"The parish and the archdiocese would have preferred to rebuild the church without litigation," countered the Rev. Mark Arey, spokesman for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Church officials want to proceed with the preliminary agreement to exchange their strategic sliver at 155 Cedar Street -- now under construction for a major vehicle security center -- for a larger piece of property at 130 Liberty Street.

Port Authority officials, meanwhile, say the church is welcome to rebuild on the original property once the garage is completed.

The church is also suing the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the New York State Urban Development Corporation and two Port Authority officials.

Comments

[Annoula]

12:11 PM on 02/16/2011

"Church officials want to proceed with the preliminary agreement to exchange their strategic sliver at 155 Cedar Street -- now under construction for a major vehicle security center -- for a larger piece of property at 130 Liberty Street."

That appeared to be a good deal for all parties involved. Any idea of the reasons why the Port Authority decided to backtrack on the initial agreement?

[syntax facit saltum]

12:42 PM on 02/16/2011

Here is the official statement of the GO Archdiocese: http://www.goarch.org/news/stn-lawsuitfiled-02142011
I had read that a bank -- I thought it was Deutche Bank -- has its eye on the same land and this was the source of the change of mind of the Port Authority. I can't substantiate that for you right now. I'd have to look more through the discussion which I could maybe do later.

[Annoula]

01:22 PM on 02/16/2011

Thank you very much syntax facit saltum! [I love your name, by the way!]

[john rengepis]

11:25 AM on 02/16/2011

Rebuid our church now.Not later.

[traceymarie]

01:52 PM on 02/16/2011

on the sacred site...I think I will organize a protest against a religous house being ON the site not a couple of blocks away.

[Annoula]

10:48 AM on 02/17/2011

"on the sacred site..." [what "sacred" site]???? Ground zero?
When was it declared "sacred" and on what basis? [Or are you using the term loosely?]
If the mere fact that many people persihed there makes it sacred... then Iraq's whole territory should be declared "uber sacred' after the casualties we have inflicted in their population.
That piece of land is PROPERTY OF THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH.
If you have that big a problem with rebuilding a church that was had been there for many years and got destroyed, maybe your anger is a little misplaced...? Maybe it's time you examine the REAL causes of your reactions...

[GeoToronto]

10:10 AM on 02/16/2011

This church has been at that location for decades, so it should be rebuilt, the sad part of the story is that all the people protesting against the Muslim community center have gone silent on this issues, which in my opinion proves that they're anti-Muslim.

[syntax facit saltum]

03:26 AM on 02/16/2011

The Port Authority of NY and NJ seized the land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church and has barred the Church access to its own property and to the adjacent property that it had at one point offered in exchange for the church's property.

[DoctorWhoDat]

12:08 AM on 02/16/2011

Religion Free Zone in NYC.
Isn't religion what brought the towers down?

[syntax facit saltum]

01:37 AM on 02/16/2011

Are you interested in having confiscating the property of other groups as well?

[traceymarie]

01:58 PM on 02/16/2011

the three towers are not going to be rebuilt, do you feel this was confiscating or only churches , which don't pay taxes.

[Annoula]

12:19 PM on 02/16/2011

No. It was NOT RELIGION. It was ideology. And a deep-rooted grudge over the policies of the US in the Middle East. Policies like installing corrupt dictators for life [e.g. Mubarak] and supporting unconditionally Israel's hard-liners [e.g. Sharon and Netanyahu] who continue to displace Palestinians from their own land to build settlements well inside the Palestinian territories in spite of all the agreements they have signed....

[Staxx]

09:47 PM on 02/15/2011

The "authorities" were scared by the beards, reminds them of those other people, can't remember what they are called.

[jonnyquest]

11:12 PM on 02/15/2011

At least they're not stupid like you.

[sarthella]

01:58 PM on 02/16/2011

OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!! THAT WAS A SICK DISS GUY. Shit guy where did you come up with that diss.

You are so smart! Instead of discussing the issues with Staxx's post you resort to attacks on Staxx himself/herself. Man, you are a genius - one day, I hope to be a smart as you!

Are these the types of arguments that make you a HUFFPOST SUPER USER? No wonder HUFFPOST is so revered amongst the scholarly community for its sophisticated level of debate - it has Nobel Prize winners like you as one of its revered members.

with