The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church has signed a formal lease and purchase agreement with the Port Authority for what is to be known as The Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center, according to a New York Post report.
The church that was destroyed on 9/11 is still under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.
According to the New York Post, the final deal was signed on August 21 by Rick Cotton, the Port’s new executive director. The 198-year lease runs until July 31, 2215, and has an additional 99-year extension. There’s also an option to buy the land from the Port Authority.
“The church also has an option to purchase the site at any time during the term of the lease for a nominal [i.e., $1] purchase price,” Jerry Dimitriou, executive director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, told the New York Post. “The current plan is to exercise the option to purchase soon after the completion of construction and after the church officially opens its doors.”
The St. Nicholas Church is being constructed at 130 Liberty St. The church, before it was destroyed, stood at 155 Cedar St. It was founded in 1916 in a 1,200-square-foot, four-story structure.
The new church is designed by famous architect Santiago Calatrava and its dome was topped out in November 2016, with an opening now targeted for November 2018 — the 102nd anniversary of the church.
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