Friday Links
Marlborough Road. Photo by Lucius Kwok. NY Says Appraiser Inflated Value of Homes [NY Times] Catsimatidis, Developer and Mayoral Hopeful [NY Times] Mortgage Scam Suit Tars Washington Mutual [NY Post] Whole Foods’ Toxic Site Worries Nabe [NY Daily News] New Pool Slated for Prospect Park Y [NY Daily News] Artist Tapes Anti-Yards Message to Buildings…
Marlborough Road. Photo by Lucius Kwok.
NY Says Appraiser Inflated Value of Homes [NY Times]
Catsimatidis, Developer and Mayoral Hopeful [NY Times]
Mortgage Scam Suit Tars Washington Mutual [NY Post]
Whole Foods’ Toxic Site Worries Nabe [NY Daily News]
New Pool Slated for Prospect Park Y [NY Daily News]
Artist Tapes Anti-Yards Message to Buildings [BP]
Kids Club Coming to Brooklyn Heights [Brooklyn Eagle]
Burg Preservation Group Changes Name [WGPA]
How Much For a Bathroom Remodel? [Hudson & Charles]
Totally Awesome Brooklyn Heights Kitchen [Remodelista]
Kosher Truck Takes Flak in Burg [Jerusalem Times]
I was forwarded a picture of the message to “Mayor Moo Moo” by someone at a good government group. My reply was:
1. I expect that the open space in Atlantic Yards will feel private, but I have not seen gates in any of the renderings.
2. The ‘Ratner Plan’ is designed to make money for Forest City, not “purge this area of ‘those pesky Brooklynites.'”
3. Few, if any, of the same players were involved when the Atlantic Terminal Urban Renewal Plan was developed.
4. Hodgepodge? I can’t really disagree. “A retail complex that doesn’t rate being called a mall?” Not sure what the criteria is for being a mall. Looks like a mall to me.
5. “Millions in debt and no tax revenue.” Well, there is sales tax revenue, although that may just be shifted from other locations. I don’t know the financials. It wouldn’t surprise me if they are considerably less rosy than the picture painted in the project plan and environmental impact statement.
6. Did the urban renewal plan morph’ over time? Absolutely. Don’t they usually? What’s the point here?
7. ULURP would have been good. it may even have been better for the developer at this point.
8. The renovation of Atlantic Terminal is overdue and should be completed before any events are held in the arena.
9. I think it’s hard to say that the Atlantic Terminal Urban Renewal Plan is a failure. Yeah, it was a bumpy road, but it turned out fairly well. It wasn’t good that the land lay fallow as long as it did
Overall, I would say that Scott Witter isn’t all that concerned with accuracy.
Some also fear that the truck encourages men and women to mingle on the streets.
Amen 11:05
Deals With Hedge Funds
May Be Helping Merrill
Delay Mortgage Losses
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119396956371280131.html
This is the other side. The banks and investment houses are getting pounded now. There are a ton of stories today on this subject.
The What
Someday this war is gonna end……..
Best use of painter’s tape ever! That is, until somebody tapes 8:45’s fingers together.
Brokers also lied to buyers and inflated home prices.Just because one fool overpays,it can’t then be said that every home is now worth that price. They had appraisers drum up false comps and set unrealistic prices in so many Brooklyn nabes. The new owners only later found out that they could not get a rent roll that would even pay half of the mortgage and those who bought single family homes found out too late that they overpaid.It hurts everyone in the long run.Even if you own your home outright, do you want your taxes to reflect your neighborhoods false and padded price?I hope to see the brokers necks next on the chop block.
Nice picture of Marlborough Road!
The guy posting the Atlantic Yards message on his home with tape seems so juvenile. The article states that he’s a “reformed dumpster diver”. Well, that says it all. Also, this alleged work of art is on a quiet street, so few people will see his message, let alone take the time to read the entire thing.
Silly artists…