The panel, a who's who of New York real estate, was moderated by John Salustri, editor of GlobeSt.com, the breaking news affiliate of RealShare organizer Real Estate Media Inc. Salustri queried panelists on World Trade Center owner Larry Silverstein's recent court defeat, in which three insurers were found liable for coverage of only one incident in the twin tower bombings, rather than two.

"It is one factor in what is really a complex series of issues," said Mary Ann Tighe, president and CEO of the New York Tristate Region for CB Richard Ellis. "I'm sure the insurance [issue] will be a factor in the discussion, but it is just one small piece, and I think we're not going to get much more clarity until after the elections.

"Certainly Larry is appealing [the decision], but whether it's $3.2 billion or $7 billion is somewhat missing the point that what is ultimately built is also probably premature to talk about," said Bruce Mosler, president of US operations for Cushman & Wakefield. "The question that needs to be resolved today in order for anything down there to be successful is the transportation question. Downtown has been stepchild to Midtown for 50 years-plus. For Downtown to succeed, what has to be answered now, in a timely fashion, is what is going to be done not to restore transportation, but to bring it to the next level?"