last Tuesday night

"Everyone on the Silverstein team stands ready to roll up our sleeves and get the job done," said Silverstein in a statement. "I'm a builder and a New Yorker, and I believe, like all New Yorkers do, the sooner we get this done the better." After the Port Authority's counter proposal was issued, he added that he hoped it meant "that they are also prepared to return to the table without further needless delay." Detailed information on the proposals was not released.

New York State Gov. George Pataki had given Silverstein and the Port Authority 90 days to resolve their differences and speed up the redevelopment process. The deadline passed on March 14 with negotiations breaking down. "In order for Lower Manhattan to continue and grow as one of the world's pre-eminent business centers, it is essential that the World Trade Center site be built out correctly, completely and as quickly as possible," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "It is time for Silverstein Properties to temper its individual interests and focus on what's best for the New York City." Bloomberg had called on Silverstein to hand off responsibility for building Towers 3 and 4, in exchange for a reduction of its rent. He also asked the Port Authority to commit to occupying one of the towers, while working to identify a developer for the other, so that all projects could proceed simultaneously at the same time.