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With Atlantic Yards Project Fading, Community Groups Demand Review
By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 21, 2008
Modified Mar 21, 2008
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By
John Del Signore
Published Mar 21, 2008
Modified Mar 21, 2008
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Two bombshell articles in the Times today may mark a turning point for Bruce Ratner’s plans to build a Nets arena at the Atlantic Yards. Now that Ratner is backpedaling from his initial plans to build 8 million square feet of office space and apartments – some of it for low-income residents – community activists are worried that Ratner will sell off the rest of the site to other developers, replacing Frank Gehry’s comprehensive design with a hodge-podge of expensive condos or barren land. Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn’s [DDDB] Daniel Goldstein says:
The [Times] article makes clear that Atlantic Yards cannot be built as planned, and was never financially feasible. The economic downturn has served to make that crystal clear. Our elected officials cannot allow our public resources, as well as eminent domain, to be used to construct an arena--which only benefits Bruce Ratner--surrounded by vacant lots.
An attorney representing DDDB is now saying that because of the Times's revelation that the cost of the project has more than doubled from the initial estimate to $950 million, “the law and fiscal prudence suggest that the project will have to go back for review and a vote by the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB).” Besides that, a large portion of the land in the arena’s proposed footprint is still owned or leased by private parties who are in court challenging the state’s use of eminent domain.
And 26 community groups, led by DDDB, will be in court in September to challenge the project’s environmental review and approval. A spokesman for ACORN, the housing-advocacy group that supported the project on the basis of its “affordable housing” component, told the Brooklyn Paper that the group would “push the developer to make good on his promises.” Curbed has a timeline stretching back to the project's announcement in 2003, reminding everyone that the arena was to have been finished in 2006.
UPDATE: ACORN has issued a statement about how they have "every confidence" in Ratner:
Forest City Ratner made a commitment to ACORN and to the people of Brooklyn to deliver on a historic plan for affordable housing. While the credit crunch and the downturn in the economy may lead to some delay, we continue to have every confidence they will live up to their commitment. This commitment was the basis for our support and the support of elected officials at the local, state and federal level.
Photo: rynokins
Tagged
Atlantic Yards
barclay's arena
economy
nets
project
ratner
recession
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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