Developers ponder whether World Trade Centre should be rebuilt

New York is debating whether to rebuild the World Trade Centre following last Tuesday's terrorist attacks.

Nearly 6,000 people are still missing since jet liners were hijacked and flown into the World Trade Centre and Pentagon with devastating affect.

The land where the trade towers stood remains some of the world's most valuable real estate, making reconstruction in some form a virtual certainty.

Some are calling for the twin towers to be rebuilt as closely to the 110-storey originals as possible.

This could be an act of resolve and defiance toward the attackers. Others say the area could be set aside as a testimonial to the victims.

Reality may dictate some middle course, combining memorials for the dead and a less imposing office complex.

"You want a safe place that doesn't have big target written on it," said Robert Yaro, executive director of the New York-area development group, Regional Plan Association.

Bill Stern, former chairman of the state Urban Development Corporation, said rebuilding is vital but a memorial must also be included on the site.

"This was a thriving economic centre, and the memorial should be to continue as a thriving economic centre," Stern said.