Atlantic Yards Hearing 'Less Raucous' Than Expected

According to the Atlantic Yards Report, yesterday's public hearing held by the Empire State Development Corp. was "less raucous and more lightly attended" than many people thought it would be. The central issue, according to AYR and others, was the lack of renderings and information about what the revised (or downsized) project will really look like and what the fiscal and environmental implications of the new plan are. "We are being asked to comment on a phantom project, to review a project without being able to view the project plans. This is beyond ludicrous," said Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn spokesman Daniel Goldstein. Forest City Ratner admitted that the designs aren't finished yet, but said that even if they are complete before the final ESDC vote, a notion that Assemblyman Jim Brennan said "violated the rights of New Yorkers." There will be another day of hearings today at Klitgord Auditorium at the corner of Jay and Tillary Streets from 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
Atlantic Yards Hearing Attracts Politicians [NYT/Local]
Ratner Doesn't Offer Renderings of AY Plan [NY Daily News]
Rallies Both For and Against Atlantic Yards [Brooklyn Eagle]
Lightly-Attended Hearing Sometimes Raucous [AY Report]
Photo by Tracy Collins