The Landlord: Larry Silverstein
Larry A. Silverstein is a real estate developer in New York City and was appointed a director of Westfield America in May 1997. Since 1979, Mr. Silverstein has been President of Silverstein Properties, Inc., a Manhattan-based real estate investment and development firm which owns interests in and operates over 10 million square feet of office space.
Larry Silverstein purchased a $3.2 billion, 99-year lease of the World Trade Center in July 2001, along with the above mentioned partner Westfield America for the shopping parts. Silverstein took control of the 10-million-square-foot trophy office complex just seven weeks before it was destroyed by terrorist attacks.
The veteran developer also owned the collapsed 7 World Trade Center, a 2-million-square-foot, 47-story office building adjacent to the complex erected by the bi-state agency Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In the meanwhile the new 7 World Trade Center building is under construction.
From a PBS documentary, “America Rebuilds,” recorded in 2002.
