Plans for the site include a memorial, commemorative museum and a sophisticated transit system with "people movers" and airport connections. "This will not just be a replacement of what was, but a whole new system," Silverstein said. He also expects there to be a performing arts center and 600,000 sf of retail space.

He said one additional building would be constructed per year through 2012 when site completion is expected. However, he noted the additional buildings would be constructed only if demand requires it. Silverstein, who signed leases on the WTC properties just weeks before Sept. 11, said "he has not yet been determined" whether approved site plan designer Daniel Libeskind would design the 1,776-ft Freedom Tower. Silverstein has hired his own team of architects.

The Alliance denounced what it called "closed-door efforts to dramatically alter the recently-selected master plan." The advocacy group noted that Silverstein has "taken great liberties" with the plan including proposing to substantially alter the plan by adding an additional office tower and "distancing himself from Libeskind's vision."