There’s a lengthy piece in the Observer about Forest City Ratner’s desire to use modular construction for many, if not all, of Atlantic Yards’ planned high rises. The story has quotes from people in the building trades who are supportive of the idea and some who are skeptical that it will actually save the developer a significant amount of money. Richard Anderson, president of the New York Building Congress, says the following: “Just start putting it together: a tough construction market, a commitment to build union, a commitment to build affordable housing, to build infrastructure, this is a bear of a development challenge…They’re between a rock and a hard place, and this may be their only option.” And a union source, surprisingly, says “there is huge potential upside here.” Jerilyn Perine, the executive director of the Citizens Planning & Housing Council, meanwhile, says the move might not save Forest City the 20 percent in costs the developer is hoping for: “I don’t think it’s like discovering fire.” The real unanswered question, though, doesn’t necessarily concern the cost savings but simply the technology: That is, can modular design actually be used for buildings as tall as the planned Atlantic Yards skyscrapers?
Will Bruce Ratner Transform the Way New York Builds? [NYO]