Pines 9/11 Memorial A No-Go
Pembroke Pines (CBS4) - The Pembroke Pines City Commission has changed it's mind one week after approving a contract to build a 9/11 memorial outside City Hall.
Commissioners voted 4-1 to rescind a contract on the construction of the building, citing public outcry over the cost as the reason, according to CBS4 News partners The Miami Herald.
On January 25, the board pledged to pay for the building's estimated $700,000 price tag through private donations. A condition of the contract was that it would not be executed until all of the money was raised.
As it turns out, funding was the major downfall of the project, which has been in limbo since 2005 when city officials received a piece of the World Trade Center from New York City Officials. Once construction costs soared past half a million dollars, commissioners became concerned about future costs the building would accrue.
The non-profit group created last year to fund the project, dubbed City of Pembroke Pines 9/11 Memorial Foundation, has only been able to raise $1.122, far less than the amount needed for construction to be completed by the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 later this year.
The decision to rescind the contract frustrated commissioners like Angelo Castillo, who was the only no vote.
He says the city never had a solid agreement, and could have renegotiated the price, building and terms any time.
"We don't really have a contract,'' Castillo said.
In the end, enough commissioners decided the contract just wasn't right for the city.
"I think it was bad business,'' said Vice Mayor Jack McCluskey. He opposed the contract from the beginning, casting the sole "no" vote on Jan. 25.
CBS4 news partners The Miami Herald contributed to this report.
