New York's Ground Zero still stark

NEW YORK, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Five years after terrorists downed New York's World Trade Center, the 16-acre site remains barren and stark, with development plans still unfinished.

Even agreement on a memorial for more than 2,000 people killed in the downed Twin Towers has been plagued by bickering and infighting over the grim site, CBS reported.

Three years ago, New York Gov. George Pataki vowed the site would be bustling by Sept. 11, 2006, but that has failed to materialize.

"Just five years after the worst attack on U.S. soil, lower Manhattan will have been transformed," Pataki predicted. "By the fifth anniversary of the attack, September 11, 2006, we will top off a new icon -- the 1,776-foot-tall Freedom Tower."

Just last week, it was announced architects Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, Fumihiko Maki and Santiago Calatrava were designing three tall buildings, due to open in 2009.

Calavatra said the hub building's design is meant to symbolize a child's hand holding a dove of peace ready to spread its wings.