In revealing the RFP, Governor George Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the PA and the Lower Manhattan Development Corp.--the city/state partnership initially charged with overseeing downtown redevelopment--will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding, formalizing what apparently will be a subsidiary role for LMDC in a PA-controlled development of Downtown. The PA's board of directors was scheduled to meet late yesterday afternoon to discuss the new balance of power and the RFP, which was issued in conjunction with LMDC.

"The issuing of this RFP, a significant step in the process of redeveloping Lower Manhattan, illustrates the close, collaborative relationship between the Port Authority and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation," says Port Authority Executive Director Joseph J. Seymour. "The RFP is in keeping with the directive from Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg that the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. bring together the resources of all stakeholders to identify appropriate redevelopment options for the World Trade Center site."

While some local groups have criticized LMDC for what they say is a lack of responsiveness and direction, Cushman & Wakefield president of US operations Bruce Mosler says the organization's actions thus far have demonstrated foresight that will benefit the city down the road. "Any criticism of the process thus far is by people who are simply not in the know," Mosler tells GlobeSt.com. "To [redevelop Downtown] in fits and starts is probably the worst approach that could have been taken. The way it has been done by LMCD is the correct approach."