5 World Trade Center

In 2019, the Washington Street Advocacy Group learned the last undecided site at the World Trade Center, the former Bankers Trust or Deutsche Bank building, or 5 World Trade Center, could face a public process to determine its usage, it went into action to ensure that the building would achieve the long-expressed aim of many September 11 survivors and the family members of the victims of the 2007 Deutsche Bank fire and contain 100% affordable housing.

In 2021, it helped found and worked with the remarkable Coalition for a 100% Affordable 5 World Trade Center to lobby for a different outcome than the one proposed by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation.

Nearly every local political leader was solicited to support this goal, and the campaign involved years of challenging work, including relentless lobbying, FOIL requests, media work, community rallies, public events, an envisioning process for architects to propose alternatives, and an alternative financing proposal by housing expert Jerrod Delaine.

On July 27, 2023, the campaign achieved a measure of success as Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan to increase the amount of affordable housing in a mixed-use building at 5 World Trade Center to 400 units or 33 percent.

Many political leaders in Lower Manhattan, including Rep. Dan Goldman, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Assembly Member Grace Lee, District Leader Vittoria Fariello, State Senator Brian Kavanagh, Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou, former Mayor Bill de Blasio, Rep. Mondaire Jones, played a role in the lobbying on this. All of the Democratic District Leaders in the city also published a letter asking the governor to explore an afforable tower.

We will continue to strengthen out strong coalition to ensure that the completed 5 World Trade Center lives up to its potential.