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VISITORS TO THE OFFICE BUILDING at 55 Water St. must run a gantlet. They must hand over identification, empty their pockets and pass through metal detectors. Three guards monitor the scene, and as an extra precaution, bombsniffing dogs patrol the lobby.
Guests notice the security measures when they enter the office tower. Tenants notice it when they pay their bills. Security experts estimate that occupants of 55 Water St. and other large buildings will have to start paying as much as $1 more per square foot this year to cover the increased costs.
In a city that's in a near-constant state of alert, the cost of building security is on the rise. Much of the cost for new equipment and guards is being shifted to tenants under the terms of existing leases. Some disputes are breaking out between landlords and tenants. In other instances, buildings with expensive security are facing problems in attracting tenants.
Before the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, lobby staff in some buildings checked identification, and a few inspected bags. Now, spurred by fears of another attack and the desire to avoid liability problems, landlords have made ID checks and visitor controls the norm. The better-known the property, the more extensive the effort.
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