A Sham Indeed
You can disagree over whether you think Ratner’s plans will ultimately be good for Downtown Brooklyn or not, but it’s hard to dispute the fact that the process that ultimately awarded him the project reeked of cronyism and back-room dealing. Which is why we got a kick out of reading the following snippet from yesterday’s…
You can disagree over whether you think Ratner’s plans will ultimately be good for Downtown Brooklyn or not, but it’s hard to dispute the fact that the process that ultimately awarded him the project reeked of cronyism and back-room dealing. Which is why we got a kick out of reading the following snippet from yesterday’s MTA board meeting:
Few speakers – whether supporters or opponents of the plan – voiced any passion at the public hearing before the vote, in part, because the outcome was never in doubt. However, a local resident, Shabnam Merchant, who lives near the project site at the intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues, stepped up to the microphone to say, “It’s a sham.” She said she could not pretend otherwise, then spent the rest of her allotted two minutes standing there not speaking.
Arena Project Wins Approval from M.T.A. [NY Times]
Ratnerville:
It may be a bit NIMBY-ish, but one of the major factors behind us choosing our particular back yard is that it was a long way from the proposed Ratner development (which has grown even bigger since we made that decision). And I stick with what I said: I think it’s cool that Brooklyn will be getting its own sporting team, the parking will suck on the nearby streets, and I would prefer the size of Ratner’s development — especially the height of some of towers — was less.
Just my two cents, and you are clearly entitled to yours.
RW
linus and bubba,
I don’t understand your opposition to people protesting the destruction of their neighborhood.
oh wait a minute, you two live in Park Slope, right.
I guess it doesn’t really directly affect you. hmmmm
Clearly, Bubba, Ratner paid you off too! Nay, sir, we must shriek our mighty shrieks until justice is done!
SHREEEEEEK! SHREEEEEK! SHREEEEEK!
Does anyone know about how all of this additional housing will affect the school zoning? Most of the development site seems to be zoned for PS11 as the elementary school. How many additional elementary aged school children would this development result in? Does PS11 have the space? I’ve only been watching the Atlantic Yards from the periphery, but haven’t seen this issue commented on.
Good bye North Slope and Prospect Heights? Sixty stories? The hyperbole from the people who don’t like development is stunning and weakens their arguments. DDDB should publish a report that shows that the 450 story development will destroy not only North Slope and Prospect Heights, but Brooklyn, New York City, and western civilization as we know it.
Please, please stop the shrieking!
I am happy to see the Nets in Brooklyn — although I am glad I live 20 blocks away so my street won’t be used for parking by people going to the arena — but some of the towers that Ratner is proposing seem excessively tall.
RW
Done deal???…..If only, Goldstein and others will most likely be able to tie this thing up in court for years. I bet its only 50:50 that anything will be on the site in 5 yrs. Personally I cant wait, I look forward to the day that I can walk to a Nets game, not cringe when I go past the bleakness that is Atlantic Avenue btween 4th and Vanderbilt and hopefully see this development act as a catylist to turn 4th Ave into something other than a wasteland of tire stores and empty storefronts.
All sixty stories of it?
I’m a resident of Prospect Heights and I look forward to the new face of my neighborhood.