Another Political Twist for Atlantic Yards
The end-of-term politics around the Atlantic Yards project is getting very interesting. State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who holds the project by the balls with his vote on the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB), had the following to say about the project this weekend on WNBC: In Brooklyn, it’s a mixed bag. There are people…
The end-of-term politics around the Atlantic Yards project is getting very interesting. State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who holds the project by the balls with his vote on the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB), had the following to say about the project this weekend on WNBC:
In Brooklyn, it’s a mixed bag. There are people for it, people against it, and the proposal itself keeps changing somewhat. So we’ll look at it in a very favorable light because development is necessary down there, see how the developer responds to some of the criticism, either because of the mass of the project or some of the traffic.
In his analysis this weekend, Norman Oder theorizes that FCR “would rather compromise significantly with Silver before the end of the year than let the project carry over to a Spitzer administration that might take a closer look at the project.” How much of a compromise? As much as 20 to 30 percent, think Oder. Interesting.
Silver to View AY in Favorable Light [AY Report]
ESDC Certifies Yards Environmental Report [Brownstoner]
“I am not so sure what Sheldon Silver is going to do, but I wouldnt be suprised if he nixed AY, since he is the ultimate hack in a system/Government of hacks.”
David Silver’s charge that Garagano has been using to office to dole out political favors in exchange for $$$ is spot on. if the ESDC was truly concerned about ‘developing’ areas that needed it, they’d be working in wester NY, buffalo, in truly depressed areas of the city – not building luxury condos in the middle of the most lucrative real estate market in the city.
David, sorry guy, I suspect you’re an FC employee or some sort of developer or developer lobbyist. you don’t sound credible to me. IF i am wrong, sorry but that’s how you’re coming across.
Coney Island Arena would already be an area geared for entertainment – and it doesn’t use eminent domain. building super dense (the densest in the country ) housing AND a stadium over a major transporation hub AND the busiest intersection in brooklyn is just plain nuts. not to mention a huge terrorist threat.
David, I don’t understand why AY could not be built in Coney Island. That wouldn’t be “encouraging sprawl and a more auto dependent city”. That area already has trains that services it. Look at where most major arenas in NY and NJ are located . Most of them, with the exception of Madison Square Gardens, are located out in the boonies. And they don’t seem to be hurting from it either. Sports fan are willing to travel the distance regardless. Coney Island would be a step up because it has subway access. We could even have express trains to service the Coney Island Arena on game days. Plus, the arena could be built on waterfront property that would be a great site for stores and restaurants.
“siezing homes to give them to a private developer and on top of that give him huge public subsidies.”
welfare queen is not the word for it.
This project should be demolished even before it’s built.
The great thing about Manhattan is that it has separate districts:
1) Lincoln Center – for the cultured arts
2) Madison Square Gardens – for sports and concerts
3) Midtown and Wall Street vicinity – for commercial
4) Broadway – arts
5) Time Square – tourist destination.
The personalities that frequent the arts are unlikely to mix with the sports fan.
I just don’t see how all this downtown plan is going to work when so many people from different walks of life and persuasions are thrown into a small one-mile radius.
I don’t see the theatre group (BAM), mixing with the sports fan, the Fulton Mall hip hop shoppers and tourists, and the office workers from Albee/Willoughby Square who are trying to get home after a 12 hr stint at the office.
That just sounds like a recipe for disaster, having all those different groups competing for the same space, whether it’s on the train or on the streets.
“all of the paid DDDB staff ”
LOL that’s the biggest lie of the day Forest City employee, we all volunteer.
You guys just can’t stop lying can you?
Tell me FC PLEASE answer this question.
IF AY is So good why does your company send out deceptive fliers that never show the scale of the project? why do you have to hide the truth?
and btw, how do you live with yourself?
Anon 5:11 sez: “All of you guys on this thread are pretty pathetic. You guys should get a life – both pro and anti AY posters. Nobody really cares about the AY issue.”
Then why are you reading and commenting?
You’re not fooling anyone, dude.
“his point about AY being one of the largest transportation hubs in the country is spot on and is the reason that AY SHOULD be built with very high density and is approriate for a mass entertainment venue like an arena.”
Is union square high density? Should a stadium be built there? Or 6th and 14th? Both are major transportation hubs
regarding eminent domain it just blows my mind that people support siezing homes to give them to a private developer and on top of that give him huge public subsidies. Like i said earlier pro sports are highly profitable if ratner can’t build with out using eminent domain or corporate welfare than that’s reason enough to NOT support him
ALL of his projects would be FAILUREs if they weren’t propped up by the government, which makes ratner the biggest welfare queen in brooklyn, and perhaps the city.
It’s nice to see all of the paid DDDB staff posting on this site.
4:48, you are truly paranoid.
Many of the above posts contain the classic “anyone who disagrees with me is an idiot” attitude typical of anti-AY folks. One of the many reasons why they are failing miserably in their fight to block this project.
Disagree? Name one victory that DDDB and other hapless organizations have won thus far.
Zzzzzzzzz…………..