"OCTOBER 19, 2001 Vornado and Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty agree to combine. PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY......VORNADO REALTY TRUST (NYSE:VNO) and Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty L.P. ("CESCR") today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which CESCR will combine its operations with Vornado. Vornado currently owns a 34% interest in CESCR.
""FEBRUARY 22, 2001 Port Authority selects Vornado for World Trade Center. PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY......VORNADO REALTY TRUST (NYSE:VNO) announced today that the Port Authority of NY & NJ reported it will be entering into a 20-day exclusive negotiating period with Vornado to complete the contract and associated documents for the net lease of the 11 million square foot World Trade Center complex in New York. The 99-year net lease of the World Trade Center has been valued by the Port Authority's advisors at approximately $3.25 billion. The Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority has instructed their staff and advisors to present the final contract for approval at a special Port Authority Board meeting scheduled for March 14, 2001. Vornado Realty Trust is a fully-integrated equity real estate investment trust.""
http://www.vno.com/press-release/d0pgvt6w2j/port-authority-selects-vornado-for-world-trade-center"
"Washington-area Philanthropist Donates Funds to the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Washington, D.C., (August 28, 2001) - Robert H. Smith, chairman and CEO of Charles E. Smith Residential Realty and co-chairman of Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty, has donated $1 million for the restoration of the President Lincoln and Soldiers' Home National Monument. Located on the grounds of the U.S. Soldiers' and Airmen's Home in northwest Washington, D.C., and designated a National Monument in 2000, the Gothic Revival-style cottage was the seasonal residence of President Abraham Lincoln and his family during the summer and autumn of 1862, 1863, and 1864. Lincoln was living at the Soldiers' Home when he presented the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation to his Cabinet in July 1862.
Built in 1842 by banker G.W. Riggs, the cottage and 256 acres of surrounding farmland were purchased by the U.S. Government to serve as the first national Soldiers' Home for war veterans.
https://web.archive.org/web/20021107023418/http://www.nthp.org:80/news/docs/20010828_president.html"
"Preservation 911 Archives" (Pre-9/11 website dedicated to the prevention of demolition of historic buildings, with section that reads "Recent 911 Distress Calls")
""Few gave Mr. Silverstein much chance of consummating what was about to become the biggest real estate deal in New York’s history. Of the Port Authority’s three finalists, “he was the dark horse,” said Michael Cohen, chief executive of the real estate brokerage GVA Williams. The conventional wisdom only seemed to be confirmed when the bids were unsealed and Vornado Realty Trust blew away the competition with a bid of $3.25 billion–$600 million more than Mr. Silverstein offered.
It can’t hurt either that when Mr. Silverstein sits at the bargaining table, he sees some familiar faces on the other side–Ben Needell, for one. Mr. Needell, a lawyer at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, is one of the attorneys negotiating the deal for the Port Authority. Normally, he’s Mr. Silverstein’s lawyer. “All I’ll tell you is, Larry’s a great guy,” Mr. Needell said.""
http://observer.com/2001/04/silverstein-recovers-dark-horse-may-win-world-trade-center/"
"Michael Peter Balzary (better known as Flea, lead bassist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers) played the part of Needles in Back to the Future Part II, and reprised the role at the close of Back to the Future Part III — being billed in the closing credits on both occasions as Flea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km6bFBSVty4 (Needles and Marty Business Proposal, Marty is fired)
"The 1973 Chilean coup d'état was a watershed event in both the history of Chile and the Cold War, September 11, 1973.