World Trade Center site , formerly referred to as " Ground Zero " or " the Pile " immediately after the September 11 attacks , is a 14.6-acre ( 5.9 ha ) area in Lower Manhattan in New York City . The site is bounded by Vesey Street to the north , the West Side Highway to the west , Liberty Street to the south , and Church Street to the east . The Port Authority owns the site 's land ( except for 7 World Trade Center ) . The previous World Trade Center complex stood on the site until it was destroyed in the September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
World Trade Center site