Ground Zero church agreement found

Looking at complaints made by people to this deal, they don't see why a parish of 100 should get 20 million dollars to rebuild. Historic value and location come to mind.

(RNS) A New York City Greek Orthodox church destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks will be rebuilt down the street from Ground Zero, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced on Thursday (July 24).

St. Nicholas Church will receive $20 million to rebuild less than a block away from the site where it stood for 85 years. The tentative agreement was the result of negotiations between representatives from St. Nicholas and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, the Port Authority, and city and state agencies.

"(The move) represents the Port Authority's firm resolve to do what is necessary to advance the rebuilding process as quickly as possible," Port Authority chairman Anthony R. Coscia said in a statement.

Founded by Greek immigrants in 1916, St. Nicholas housed a collection of icons donated by Czar Nicholas II of Russia, and contained relics from three Greek Orthodox saints. All but a few items from the church's collection were destroyed when the World Trade Center towers collapsed.

A spokesman for the Port Authority said that talks, which have been ongoing since 2001, picked up after the World Trade Center Assessment Report was released three weeks ago. The report, commissioned by New York Gov. David A. Paterson, listed St. Nicholas as one of 15 key issues to be resolved in the rebuilding effort.

Under the new plan, St. Nicholas will be rebuilt atop the Vehicle Security Center, the entrance point to a new underground parking garage.

"We're excited about where we are at this point, recognizing that there's still a long road ahead of us before the day that St. Nicholas opens it's doors again," said Peter Drakoulias, a board member of the church.

Since 2001, the church's congregation has scattered across the city. The Rev. John Romas, who served at St. Nicholas, now serves at Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral in Brooklyn, where many of his roughly 100 parishioners have found a temporary home.