9/11 Memorial Could Cost up to $200,000 More

The proposed 9/11 memorial on Pier A Park could cost about $200,000 more than anticipated, according to a memo from Mayor Dawn Zimmer to the City Council.

While the proposed design is going to be the same, another structural component will have to be added, because the memorial's glass panels aren't structurally sound on their own, Zimmer wrote.

"These panels will require some additional support mechanism," Zimmer wrote. "As a result, (engineering firm) Remington & Vernick had to take some additional time to determine a structure to secure the glass panels that would not detract from the important components of the memorial itself."

The design for the memorial—which was supposed to be completed in time for the 10 year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks—in September 2011. At that point, the 9/11 memorial committee and the city council subcommittee had reached a consensus about where to place the final memorial; in between the trees on the memorial grove.

The glass panels of the design will be engraved with the names of those Hobokenites who passed away in the terrorist attacks, as well as other words such as "loved one," "mother" and "child."

The extra structural component could cost "up to $200,000," according to Zimmer. 

"My administration is working to secure additional funding options for the cost of constructing this project beyond the approximate $150,000 remaining from from prior donations and grants," the mayor's memo stated. But, she added, the money source needs to be identified before bids to engineering firms to complete the project can be sent out.

"It is expected that the specifications will be ready for bid in August, if funding is in place, with a bid award in September," Zimmer wrote.