The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is considering ownership possibilities for the Freedom Tower, including private investors for all or part of the building, which is predicted to sell for around $3 billion. Some are speculating that the Blackstone Group, who just purchased Equity Office (or, the equivalent of 590 buildings in various metropolitan areas) for $39 billion, may be sniffing out the sale. Port Authority officials have previously stipulated that the investment agency’s role in the Freedom Tower must not interfere with its primary mission of building and operating regional transportation systems. In other post-9/11 news, Monday brought a blow to preservationists when Mayor Michael Bloomberg rejected the notion that the Survivors Staircase be housed in the office tower at the World Trade Center site or put in the WTC Museum. The 175-ton structure was used by many fleeing the falling towers to escape onto Vesey Street. After hearing public comment, the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. will ultimately make the decision as to the fate of the crumbling staircase.