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Ground Zero developer Larry Silverstein is being urged to speed up his rebuilding effort - or lose some public funding, sources said yesterday.
The behind-the-scenes push comes as Mayor Bloomberg and Gov. Pataki suggested publicly that some of the $3.35 billion in tax-free Liberty Bonds Silverstein is counting on could go to other developers.
Silverstein, who leases the site from the Port Authority, is finishing one office tower, plans to start the 1,776-foot Freedom Tower in the spring and hopes to erect four more office buildings. But questions have arisen about whether he can line up the prospective tenants he needs to keep the projects moving.
"There are a variety of projects [the bonds] could be used for," the mayor said. "Some are Silverstein projects, some are other projects."
Pataki said a bigger role by the Port Authority and "private-sector investors" might be best.
Sources said the Port Authority wants to renegotiate its lease with Silverstein so the agency can move up development of two Church St. sites.