Larry Silverstein was born in Brooklyn, New York. He started a real estate company at a young age along with his father. Silverstein did not come from a lot of money and recalls taking his now wife on a date to the Staten Island Ferry, for only a nickel.
He began to invest in corporate buildings all around Manhattan. In the 1970’s he won a bid to construct 7 World Trade Center. He recalls looking at the Twin Towers and envisioning one day owning them as well.
In 2000 he put a bid up for the World Trade Center and won. The lease papers were signing on July 24, 2001. Only weeks before they were attacked. He was now the CEO of the entire Trade Center.
On the morning of September 11th he got in an argument with his wife because she wanted him to stay home and go to the doctor. In order to “keep his sweet heart happy” he did not go into work that day.
His life was saved by not going in, and so was that of his two children who were supposed to arrive in work 15 minutes later.
Silverstein is still the owner and working on the construction of the freedom towers. His vision is that it will have the same awe and amazement factor that Rockefeller Center had in the 1930’s.
The site will be several buildings along with a memorial to honor those killed in the 9/11 attacks. In his old age he hopes to be around for the great day in less than a decade when the new site will open to the public.
He began to invest in corporate buildings all around Manhattan. In the 1970’s he won a bid to construct 7 World Trade Center. He recalls looking at the Twin Towers and envisioning one day owning them as well.
In 2000 he put a bid up for the World Trade Center and won. The lease papers were signing on July 24, 2001. Only weeks before they were attacked. He was now the CEO of the entire Trade Center.
On the morning of September 11th he got in an argument with his wife because she wanted him to stay home and go to the doctor. In order to “keep his sweet heart happy” he did not go into work that day.
His life was saved by not going in, and so was that of his two children who were supposed to arrive in work 15 minutes later.
Silverstein is still the owner and working on the construction of the freedom towers. His vision is that it will have the same awe and amazement factor that Rockefeller Center had in the 1930’s.
The site will be several buildings along with a memorial to honor those killed in the 9/11 attacks. In his old age he hopes to be around for the great day in less than a decade when the new site will open to the public.
FOX News has reciently done a special, on Larry Silverstein on the Rise of Freedom out of the terror site on September 11th 2001.
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