On February 7, 2002, more than 600 concerned citizens, civic leaders and public officials from throughout the metropolitan region came together for the first "Listening to the City" forum. This modern town meeting brought together participants from all walks of life-downtown residents and workers, families of victims and survivors, emergency and rescue workers, business and property owners, interested citizens and community leaders-all committed to charting a bold vision for Lower Manhattan while honoring those who lost their lives on September 11.

Forum participants were charged with developing a shared vision for the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan that would inspire the city to greatness and drive the rebuilding process. When asked for their vision of what downtown would look like in 2012, each table identified the most important values that emerged from their group discussions. Through the wireless computer network, these ideas were submitted to a "theme team" that identified the most prevalent responses and noted the ideas that participants felt strongly about but may not have been shared by tablemates.

What emerged over the course of the day was a remarkable consensus that in order to transform Lower Manhattan into the world's first great 21st century urban space, a balance must be struck-between residential and office construction; between strengthening the financial sector and building a broader economic base; between restoring real estate and attending to social and cultural needs; and between the urgency to rebuild and the need for deliberative planning.

Participants expressed a common vision for a powerful memorial that is integrated into the very fabric of downtown. The memorial would honor the "everyday people" who were lost, as well as the heroism, sacrifice and resiliency that were - and continue to be - demonstrated throughout the city, region, nation and world.

Download the Report of Proceedings here.

Download the Discussion Guide here.