DDD's Next Move: Attack Eminent Domain
Develop Don’t Destroy is stepping up efforts to squash future attempts to use eminent domain for commercial development. Although the group’s bid to prevent Bruce Ratner from doing just that with his Atlantic Yards project is looking less and less likely as it becomes clear that Bloomberg and Pataki won’t take no for an answer,…
Develop Don’t Destroy is stepping up efforts to squash future attempts to use eminent domain for commercial development. Although the group’s bid to prevent Bruce Ratner from doing just that with his Atlantic Yards project is looking less and less likely as it becomes clear that Bloomberg and Pataki won’t take no for an answer, DDD, along with local leaders like Laetitia James, is not giving up. While there’s room for considerable debate about the aesthetics and appropriateness of Ratner’s design, whether Brooklyn needs an arena, etc., we don’t see how the use of eminent domain is justifiable in any way in this case, especially given the fact that there is a reasonable alternative on the table. If used at all, eminent domain should be reserved for extreme cases when all other options have been exhausted. This doesn’t pass the sniff test in our opinion, though the Supreme Court might disagree.
Coalition Aims to End Eminent Domain [NY1]
Besides asking how in the world how the nabe’s already-clogged streets can handle the traffic from skyscraperville, someone needs to ask Ratner and his political supporters what in the world will happen to his colossus-in-progress when the housing market softens (it’s not a matter of “if” anymore).
Best case predictions put a property value decline in full swing a couple years from now, which is about when the fighting will stop on this and groundbreaking will start. Ratner will cut enough corners as it is on his new construction, can you imagine what he’ll do if the market for his luxury condos goes dry? Of course in that case he could cry poverty and back out of his moderate-income housing promises (BTW many developers find clever ways to back out of these promises of low/moderate housing – wish the Times or someone would publish some promises vs. actuals from developers to show this)
Also it doesn’t take a village to see through the jobs promises of this. Temporary construction jobs (by out of area contractors no doubt) don’t count. Neither do the building managment/ maintenance jobs he will farm out to his managment companies. Oh, but there’s always those high-paying hotdog vendor positions…
There is a grave danger of brooklyn’s hoop dreams winding up in a half-built, congestion-filled crap pile if we dont’ watch out
Eminent domain is controversial and should be used only as a last result, but most moderates would agree that the government does have discretion when it comes to fostering economic development, zoning, redistributing wealth, etc., and that there is a time and a place for using eminent domain.
Also, it’s perfectly legit to compare the arena to Lincoln Center. LC is primarily visited by the rich–it’s not a true public facility like a park. So the comparison is valid.
On a separate note, there’s a lot of chatter about affordable housing. This kind of talk is the bain of my existence…. Anyone interested in getting into it with me should visit dailyheights and respond to my post there. Look forward to hearing from you.
It’s **Ms.** Hillbilly, and I totally agree with you. This deal stinks to high heaven. I think Bloomberg is shoving this down our throats to compensate for his humiliation in the Jets stadium/NYC2012 debacle.
David makes a good point when he says that the size and scope of the project are objectionable. Whatever happens with Ratnerville, the eminent domain issue will have long-lasting ramifications.
Markowitz, Bloomberg, Kalikow, Pataki and Ratner: power corrupts. and now i HATE Frank Gehry too. what a hack.
Here is the real issue: a developer is preselected and then asked to bid against himself – how absurd. Is that how you would sell your property, Mr. Hillbilly? The developer creates a phantom organization in his office (build), then he bribes ACORN into supporting the project with Mgt. jobs. He gets the support of Daughtry by paying him off. The developer creates a propaganda rag that parades itself as a newspaper because there really is very little community support, only that which can be purchased. The developer insures that all neighborhood groups most affected are locked out at important meetings.
Even if you support the project, the process has been clumsy. It is backdoor cronyism. The Mayor berates that “useful idiot” Kalikow and the others follow suit (Except for Mr. Pally who has some integrity). The Mayor thinks that he is wearing an imperial crown much like Robert Moses. They both were condescending, believing that they know what is good for everyone. Finally, is it not interesting that all the urban planners who work for CUNY (C as in City) as teachers and make good salaries view the project as having massive flaws. Why is Bloomberg allowing them to teach our kids?
The ends do not justify the means in this case. By the way, a special zone could have been created for affordable housing only, which is what is really needed. But that might not have included the expression of a vanity arena for 1$ to a multi-millionaire with massive political and media connections.
As usual, when someone speaks favorably of Ratner that person is accused of being on Ratner’s payroll. This is a common tactic used by Ratner opponents who can’t see beyond their tiny circle and entertain the possibility that someone might actually want an arena and high-rise buildings in Brooklyn. Talk about a living in a bubble…
Judging by David’s relentless cheerleading for Ratner on this and many other Ratner-related threads, I think he’s got to be on the payroll.
And why does the gov’t need to give Ratner “sweetheart” incentives to “entice” him to put up billions of $ when the Extell proposal was for billions more.
OK Hillbilly – but back to the original question…how many hold-outs are there still? how many parcels?
We have read that Ratner has purchased or has options on much of it (so that is hardly ‘government seizure’).And don’t forget that owners get paid for the property.
I think it may be that the proposed development/size/scope that is opposed more than
what may be in the end very limited use of eminent domain. People are making it sounds as vast tracts will be acquired that way.
oh and comparing the public good of a nonprofit world-class performing arts center like Lincoln Center to a privately owned professional sports arena and housing projects to luxury high rises is beyond ridiculous.
If you can sell million-dollar condos there, an area is clearly not blighted. The Atlantic Yards are not attractive, but they are an absolutely viable area for incremental development vs. government seizure. Personally, I’m not opposed to development in the area, just this stadium travesty.
Don’t believe the hype about affordable housing, it is but a small part of Ratnerville (and is not guaranteed to be permanent). It’s a PR gimmick. And an arena is NOT for the public good. Paid sporting events (Ratner owns the team, remember) and thousands of luxury high-rise condos in no way compare to a public hospital or school.
Ratner stands to make an enormous profit, and we will be footing the bill in terms of the environmental impact, traffic, population density, increased subway fares and property taxes. If people can’t see this now, they’ll definitely see it once its built and then it will be too late.