Deal reached to restart stalled construction of 9/11 Museum

Eleven years after the September 11, 2001 attacks, New Yorkers will mark the anniversary today as a feud over financing appears to have been smoothed over — at least temporarily.

As part of an eleventh-hour deal reached Monday night, construction will resume again on the stalled 9/11 museum.

The National September 11 Memorial and Museum foundation and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reached a compromise last night to resolve a long-standing funding feud.

There were early disputes over financial, design and security issues, but a major sticking point was the museum at the heart of the World Trade Center site redevelopment. Construction had been suspended because of a feud over finances between the two entities.

The deal was brokered by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

“Everyone agrees we want to build the museum,” Cuomo said, according to the Daily News. “It’s important. It will be important for generations to come. We want it done. We also have to do it in a way that is financially feasible.”

While construction will begin anew, there is still no scheduled or anticipated opening date for the museum. It was first supposed to open in 2009, then on track for 2012.

And it is not likely the museum will be able to open by the 12th anniversary of 9/11.

When the foundation announced recently that for the first time, politicians would be excluded from having speaking roles in today’s September 11 anniversary ceremonies, it was seen by many victims’ families and others in the 9/11 community as a public reflection of these behind-the-scenes disputes.

Overall site redevelopment costs have grown to nearly $15 billion, up from $11 billion in 2008, according to a recent project audit.