Freedom is so passe at Ground Zero.
Once hailed as a beacon of rebirth in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the Freedom Tower’s patriotic name has been swapped out for the more marketable One World Trade Center, officials at the Port Authority conceded today.
But more than seven years after the terror attacks and amid an effort to market the iconic tower to international tenants, sentiment gave way to practicality.
“As we market the building, we will ensure that the building is presented in the best possible way,” said Port Authority Chairman Anthony Coscia.
“One World Trade center is its address. It’s the address that we’re using. Its on the one that’s easiest for people to identify with and frankly we’ve gotten a very interested and warm reception to it.”
Port Authority officials addressed the name change after signing a lease with the Chinese firm, Vantone Industrial, which is the first private tenant to take space in the 2.6 million square foot tower. Vantone will lease 190,000 square feet over six floors.