Lower Manhattan Resurgent

By Roland Li

In the last decade, Elizabeth Berger has witnessed not merely the rebirth of the World Trade Center, but the transformation of Lower Manhattan. As president of the Downtown Alliance, the largest business improvement district in the United States, Berger has been one of the area’s biggest advocates, and her organization’s efforts have contributed to one of the most dramatic changes in the city.
“We’re about telling the story of Lower Manhattan on behalf of owners, on behalf of brokers, on behalf of the institutions, to attract commercial tenants, to attract residents and to grow tourism,” said Berger. “One of the founding ideas was the idea that creating a vital residential neighborhood would support, not supplant, Lower Manhattan as a compelling business. That has turned out to be the case.”
Read The Full Story Here:  http://www.rew-online.com/2011/09/09/lower-manhattan-resurgent/

NYC's Financial District and downtown starts to swell with stores, restaurants as WTC is restored

A decade ago, the Financial District swelled with workers in suits and ties, only to virtually empty out as the sun set.

Now, the area's growing 24/7 crowd of residents and tourists, along with the progress at Ground Zero as the tenth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, is beginning to attract the attention of yet another group: retailers and restaurateurs.

"Certainly there are a lot more people downtown, either because they're living there, working there, or visiting there," said Robin Abrams, executive vice president at real estate firm The Lansco Corporation.

Read full story:

 http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2011/08/29/2011-08-29_nycs_financial_district_and_downtown_starts_to_swell_with_stores_restaurants_as_.html 

Post 9/11 - Financial District thriving 10 years later

Looking at Lower Manhattan ten years after Sept. 11 attacks

August 11, 2011 10:00AM

Ariel view of Lower Manhattan

Lower Manhattan is one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the city, the Wall Street Journal reported. Once considered a purely commercial district, abandoned come closing time, some 56,000 people now live south of Chambers Street, double the number of residents than in 2001.

"After Sept. 11, downtown became a residential community," said Tom Goodkind, a 22-year resident of Battery Park City. "It was odd."
READ FULL STORY HERE:  http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/lower-manhattan-went-residential-after-sept-11-according-to-report-from-the-alliance-for-downtown-new-york