New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com

Historic steps face upheaval BY DAVE GOLDINER DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Wednesday, May 10th, 2006 A battered staircase that was a path to survival for many who fled the World Trade Center attacks was named yesterday as one of the nation’s most endangered historic sites. The so-called Survivors Staircase is the only above-ground part of the original complex to survive the attack, but it stands where a new tower is planned. "We need the Survivors Staircase as a reminder of the day America lost her innocence," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which also put Katrina-ravaged neighborhoods in New Orleans on the annual list. Patty Clark still remembers walking down the staircase to safety — and thinks of it as a symbol for everyone who lived through the dreadful day. "It’s still strong, somewhat damaged, but that’s kind of like we all are," said Clark. The designation was cheered by a 9/11 victims group that has battled to prevent the staircase from being razed. "To lose it would be a crime," said Richard Zimbler, an organizer of the World Trade Center Survivors’ Network. Saving the staircase won’t be easy. It sits on the footprint of the planned Tower 2. The Port Authority, which owns the site, acknowledges the staircase is an "important historical artifact" and hopes to find a way to protect it. "We are exploring what options may exist to protect and preserve the staircase — or some portion of the staircase," said PA spokesman Steve Coleman. A possible compromise could see the staircase moved to another section of Ground Zero, an option officials are also considering for the iconic steel beam cross that rises near Church St. The stairway, which once led from Vesey St. up to a concourse, cannot be seen from Church St., where most visitors approach Ground Zero.