Hearing for Lingering Atlantic Yards Case
Atlantic Yards Report has a lengthy piece on yesterday’s hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court on one of the only remaining legal challenges against the mega-project. The main issue yesterday, according to AY Report: “A lawyer for the community coalition BrooklynSpeaks assailed a ‘cover up’ by the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) over the legitimacy of…
Atlantic Yards Report has a lengthy piece on yesterday’s hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court on one of the only remaining legal challenges against the mega-project. The main issue yesterday, according to AY Report: “A lawyer for the community coalition BrooklynSpeaks assailed a ‘cover up’ by the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) over the legitimacy of the ESDC’s response to a court order requiring it to explain why it didn’t need issue a Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement to study the impact of a potential 25-year buildout.” After hearing from lawyers representing the community groups and the ESDC and Forest City Ratner, the judge “heard a request for a stay on Atlantic Yards construction—a request with the provision that ongoing arena construction could continue—but did not indicate when she’d rule.”
Inconclusive Hearing Over AY Timetable Impacts [AY Report]
Photo from AtlanticYards.com
The rationalization that AY is great because it is much better than what was there before must be coming from people who enjoy leaving Brooklyn to go hang out around say Penn Station or Times Square. I for one preferred the old railroad tracks – yes, there were a few unattractive looking blocks but at least Fort Greene and Prospect Heights retained their old neighborhood feel. Not looking forward to those neighborhoods turning into Herald Square.
As far as just moving on, I don’t see what is wrong with demanding government accountability for a corrupt approval process, particularly when the MTA is dealing with a massive budget deficit but yet can give Forest City a sweetheart deal on the land.
The roads around Madison Square Garden are much more clogged than this, but somehow life goes on. People with a brain will take the subway. People with less of a brain will drive once and from then on take the subway, if it’s really that big a nightmare. This is a city and this is located in one of the hubs of our mass transportation system. It’s the perfect area for an arena, actually.
Take a look at the clogged roads in that photo and imagine what it will be like on game day – day in and day out. No planning was done there. We’re all screwed. That traffic will back up into all the surrounding neighborhoods and will affect the quality of life.
Or you could look at it another way, Bxgrl….I think that the Downtown Brooklyn corridor from the Manhattan Bridge to Atlantic Terminal is on the verge of a tipping point in critical mass of new residents and infrastructure. I see this arena as infusing the area with an even further jolt of vitality which will bring jobs to the area, will spawn tons of new small and larger businesses in the area surrounding the arena (already seeing lots of new businesses popping up along Flatbush) and this is ALSO going to be home to the Ringling Bros Circus, possible U.S. open events, shows, and a host of other things that the community is going to LOVE. Basketball is only a few months out of the year.
Massive upgrade to the shit that was that location to begin with.
Have you seen the latest renderings, btw?
I personally think the new arena looks pretty awesome and slick.
http://www.barclayscenter.com/venue/venue_5.shtml
Very true gman (Hi!)- they had to have known.And yes- its a Pyrrhic victory. But maybe it will give developers and the pols in their pockets pause the next time they decide to run roughshod over a community. And with all the weeping and wailing over how we spend the public’s monies, this project is a perfect example of wasting it, while getting little to nothing in actual return. Unless you’re a Nets fan- then you can pay for an expensive beer while you watch them lose.
You can really see in the photo how that whole corner area will become the planned plaza and make the entire area in front of the arena and atlantic mall so much more open and pleasant. Bring it.
Wow… is the steel that far along? very nifty.