While new towers are regularly raised across Manhattan with little comment, changes afoot in Brooklyn have sparked fighting of an intensity rarely seen since the Battle of Long Island was waged on this turf in 1776. The Atlantic Yards complex, designed by Frank Gehry for builder Bruce Ratner, is simply the most conspicuous front in what some see as an all-out war for the soul of the borough. Gentrification per se isn’t always the issue; the argument centers often on the appropriate scale for Brooklyn. Is it big-box discounters and midtown-sized skyscrapers, or mom-and-pop stores and low-rises yielding unimpeded views?

So begins Time Out NY’s latest cover story on the battle for the soul of Brooklyn. Regular readers of this blog and others won’t find too many surprises in the seven neighborhood discussions, but the issue does provide a decent overview of the most significant points of contention in the borough’s growth spurt. Unfortunately, you’ll need a subscription and log-in to follow any of the links below.

Battleground: Atlantic Yards [Time Out NY]
Battleground: Gowanus [Time Out NY]
Battleground: Brooklyn Bridge Park [Time Out NY]
Battleground: Downtown [Time Out NY]
Battleground: Bed Stuy [Time Out NY]
Battleground: Williamsburg/Greenpoint [Time Out NY]
Battleground: Red Hook [Time Out NY]