Atlantic Yards Signed, Sealed, Delivered
It feels kinda anti-climactic, but after six years of public conflict, lack of transparency and backroom dealing, the Atlantic Yards deal has closed. This means that the both the bond deal and the real estate transaction involving Forest City, ESDC, the MTA and the City of New York have been signed. Curbed has posted a…
It feels kinda anti-climactic, but after six years of public conflict, lack of transparency and backroom dealing, the Atlantic Yards deal has closed. This means that the both the bond deal and the real estate transaction involving Forest City, ESDC, the MTA and the City of New York have been signed. Curbed has posted a full-length version of the press release, but here’s what Bruce himself had to say: Today, what has long been a vision for the future of Brooklyn becomes a reality. Six years after we announced our plan for Atlantic Yards we are very pleased to be closing on the project with our public partners. Today’s closing represents a vital step forward for New York City, one that is all the more important because of the economic challenges our City faces. The jobs we are creating today, as we set forth on the arena and one of the boldest affordable housing initiatives in our City’s history, will create a new dynamic center in this wonderful borough. We’re sure others will have some choice words on the subject in the upcoming hours and days.
Thank the gods.
Soon, our city, state, and nation will be bankrupt and the 50% of the people in Brooklyn who are on welfare will hopefully flee for greener pastures. Soon, Brooklyn will become a thriving city again rather than a huge housing project with museum areas reserved for usurious banksters!
“Funny how we have the scary Fed guy (Robert Moses) literally FORCE one team out only to have our children’s children PAY top dollar for another.”
1. Robert Moses would never have been able to do what he did without federal funds, but he was a local guy, not a “Fed guy.”
2. Moses did not “literally FORCE [the Dodgers] out;” he refused to faciliate their move to Atlantic Terminal. The Dodgers were offered land in Flushing Meadows and years after the fact O’Malley, referencing the Mets, conceded he was wrong in thinking no one would go there to see a baseball game.
Joe, if your conclusion is, “Let’s just keep the city out of ANY decisions involving our lives and wallets PLEASE,” I can only infer that you are an opponent of the Atlantic Yards project.
rfarren – the whole development is sitting on top of an active rail yard. There can’t be any underground parking. They are going ahead with the arena, but the residential and other commercial portions of the development haven’t even been designed yet. There will be parking lots.
@rfarren: get ready to be very upset. the current plans are for an arena, maybe 1 or 2 buildings, and then acres of surface parking east of the arena.
My only concern is whether or not they are doing undergournd parking. If this becomes a building with 200 acres of parking lot surrounding it, I for one will be very upset.
Just came from the area, and workmen are putting up large plastic signage/banners on the fences surrounding the empty lots across from the Atlantic Mall, on the Flatbush side, with shiny pictures of the Barclay’s Arena-to-be. I hadn’t read this announcement yet, but thought that something must have happened. I bet they had those banners a long time. Well, if it’s over, it was a good, and necessary fight.
What Joe said.
I was born the month the Dodgers left Brooklyn. I ushered in the decline of Brooklyn!
Glad I didn’t have to croak first before its rebirth started.
Posted by: benson at December 23, 2009 2:49 PM
Funny how we have the scary Fed guy (Robert Moses) literally FORCE one team out only to have our children’s children PAY top dollar for another. Let’s just keep the city out of ANY decisions involving our lives and wallets PLEASE?
I was born the month the Dodgers left Brooklyn. I ushered in the decline of Brooklyn!
Glad I didn’t have to croak first before its rebirth started.
Yeah, Yankee stadium is doing wonders for the South Bronx. If you think a sports stadium is going to improve anything your head is in the sand my friends. The only thing it’s going to do is create more traffic, more crime and more tax breaks for Billion- dollar corporations and individuals. I won’t set foot in it for an event (unless for free). After all the billionare wellfare I think these mofo’s owe ALL of NYC some season freaking tickets!