WTC Memorial Magnificent, but at a Steep Price
The roughly $700 million project will cost $60 million a year to operate
Sunday, Sep 9, 2012 | Updated 1:58 PM EDT
Huge reflecting pools, waterfalls, skyscrapers and a cavernous underground museum under construction help make the National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center an awesome spectacle.
But all that eye-welling magnificence comes with a jaw-dropping price tag. The foundation that runs the memorial and museum estimates that once the roughly $700 million project is complete, it will cost $60 million a year to operate.
The anticipated cost bothers some critics and raises concerns even among the memorial's allies that the budget may be unsustainable without a hefty government subsidy.
Officials at the memorial say they face unique challenges that make comparisons to other national memorials difficult. The foundation plans to spend at least a fifth of its annual operating budget, or around $12 million, on security because of terrorism fears.
