Would the Nets Consider Queens?
“Is there a super-secret plan to move the New Jersey Nets to Queens instead of Kings?” asks Gersh Kuntzman of The Brooklyn Papers. Forest City Ratner spokesman insists, “We are currently in the public approval process for Atlantic Yards and as we have repeatedly said our plan is to move the Nets to Brooklyn in…
“Is there a super-secret plan to move the New Jersey Nets to Queens instead of Kings?” asks Gersh Kuntzman of The Brooklyn Papers. Forest City Ratner spokesman insists, “We are currently in the public approval process for Atlantic Yards and as we have repeatedly said our plan is to move the Nets to Brooklyn in time for the ’09’10 season.” But The Brooklyn Papers noticed in interesting clause in the Nets’ new lease — which had to be extended due to delays in the approval of the Atlantic Yards project. Kuntzman writes:
“The new lease allows the Nets to leave New Jersey early — and without penalty — if the team moves to Brooklyn or Queens. Or Queens? It’s not so inconceivable…
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which has agreed to sell the development rights at the Atlantic Yards site to Ratner, also owns the larger Sunnyside Yards in Long Island City — and Queens lawmakers want it developed, too.”
Two years ago, City Councilman Eric Gioia (DQueens) first asked Ratner to consider building in Sunnyside Yards instead, and at the time, he didn’t think that people would fight a stadium there. It’s hard to say where Gioia stands now — calls made to Gioia’s office by The Brooklyn Papers while researching this story were not returned.
New Deal Lets Nets Escape to Queens [Brooklyn Papers]
Lee is an undisputed wacko–make no mistake.
The Queens Nets. The Sunnyside Nets. Doesn’t sound so hot.
Lee is the typical crazed, hot-headed Ratner opponent. Obviously, the above poster was referring to the top dollar that Ratner spent acquiring to the condos whose owners willing sold for double the market value.
Also, I love the terror ploy. Simply because it was once a terror target (the plot was uncovered and prevented) that means nothing should be built there. That ranks up there with the fears of heat due to reflected sunlight. What’s next, aliens?
i think the atlanic yards has good public transportation too
what a nutcase anon 3:57.
Top dollar? What planet are you living on? Ratner got $200 million in direct subsidies and will get a billion more in indirect subsidies and some council people are talking about giving him $700 million more. He paid less by $50 million than the Extell offer. Those Atlantic Yards sites could be sold at a huge profit. Developers are paying right now in CH and FG $600,000 plus for a small brownstone site. Are you crazy? Ratner has the best real estate deal in town. He could move the arena and sell off sites or do residential or commercial, which is what he really wants to build anyway. Those are the money-makers. The arena is a political pay off to Marty Markowitz and Bloomberg. Queens or Coney Island would make better locations, especially Coney Island. It is already a huge entertainment center, and they want it. We don’t need a terrorist target right in our back yards. That station was already a target in 1998. Now with 20,000 people there 225 nights a year, all that skyscrapper housing surrounding the arena and right there in the middle…the bull’s eye of a target, an arena, all glass walled, sitting on stilts, with all the train lines underneath. What an invitation for a trajedy!
whatever else anyone might think about Atlantic Yards, does anyone (except Gersh) think that Forest City is going to be able to unload all the property it acquired for top dollar and start all over at a new site in Queens? if you want real news, read the Courier-Life papers.
Sunnyside would be a great location – good public transportation – a huge area to build in.
PLEASE MOVE TO QUEENS!!! QUEENS NEEDS YOU.
Please, please, please, Nets, go to Queens!