ESDC Seeks Final Evictions Today
And then there was one. It was widely reported earlier this week that Freddy’s Bar, the long-time gathering place of Atlantic Yards opponents, had made plans to relocate at the end of this month. And now, with the ESDC set to formally request eviction orders from a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge today, The Brooklyn Paper…
And then there was one. It was widely reported earlier this week that Freddy’s Bar, the long-time gathering place of Atlantic Yards opponents, had made plans to relocate at the end of this month. And now, with the ESDC set to formally request eviction orders from a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge today, The Brooklyn Paper is reporting that all of the remaining residential hold-outs except for one have cut deals to relocate. We have successfully worked to find comparable or better housing for every family in the footprint except one, said Forest City’s MaryAnne Gilmartin. Not surprisingly, the last man standing is Daniel Goldstein the founder and face of Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn. Based on a post on Atlantic Yards Report, however, his recalcitrance could have more to do with practicality than principle at this point: He’s still being low-balled on the value of his own apartment ($395 per square foot compared to a market average of $475 in Prospect Heights) and has only been offered apartments in two buildings so far. The final screwing in a screwed up process.
Goldstein Now, Officially, the last Yards Holdout [Brooklyn Paper]
ESDC Suggests Comparable Condos [Atlantic Yards Report]
Curtain to Fall on Last Atlantic Yards Holdouts [Crain’s]
Freddy’s Finds Amnesty in Park Slope [Brownstoner]
“I would like to thank Daniel Goldstein for his heroic stance against overwhelming forces.”
What exactly was heroic about it?
Johnny, without the stadium, there is zero additional economic activity. With the stadium, there are opportunities for individuals and businesses. It’s certainly fair to argue the quality of those jobs and opportunities, but without the stadium they do not exist, period. I’m not going to argue about subsidies and ROI. I’ve seen the studies. I pay a great deal in taxes as a New Yorker and don’t necessarily agree with how every dollar is spent BEYOND the subsidies Ratner received! Bottom line I can live with them. What I’d rather not live with any longer is that G-dmned hole in the ground that’s been there all my life. Ratner is building a pro stadium there. Sounds good to me.
E-NY, a false choice. Here’s a more accurate question –
Would the area around the stadium have been better if the hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies we give the Yankees (and Mets) have gone to revitalizing the area, instead of to the owners of the Yankees (Mets, Nets, Texas Rangers, Oakland Raiders . . . . )?
Every serious study of the economics of sports franchises says no. Essentially the taxpayers pay very hefty fees to the owners of teams for the, ahem, privilege, of the team staying in its respective community.
And when they get better offers from the politicians in other communities (largely a result of them being able to hide the true costs from their constituents) they simply pack up and move.
You know, like the Nets are doing now.
“I would like to thank Daniel Goldstein for his heroic stance against overwhelming forces.”
I heartily agree. His losing the battle is not the point. He took a stand, gathered a movement, and fought until the last moment, against a well-connected and extremely rich opponent. If nothing else, no other developer in this city will ever try such a blatent end run around due process again.
the snobbishness toward sports teams and stadiums by a certain socioeconomic class in this city is astounding. im not a sports fan either, but seriously get over yourselves! they bring in revenue, jobs, tourists, etc. way more than fancy ass wine shops and crap like that.
*rob*
By Ppark on April 21, 2010 10:34 AM
How is a sports stadium “progress”?
My son and I can walk from our house to the stadium to watch a game, rather than walking past a weed-strewn lot that has been there since I was a kid in the 1970s.
How is a sports stadium “progress”?
That’s my point, tiptoe. That area would be WORSE if there was no Stadium. Half of the most of the businesses that do exist within a half-mile radius, including shopping and restaurants, are based at least in part on Stadium traffic. Many of the folks in the area work in the Stadium. Yankee Stadium is about the best thing the Bronx has going, except for the Zoo which is way the hell on the other end of the borough.
last I checked, the area around yankee stadium was still pretty shitty. Don’t forget there are other landmarks there that generate jobs and income like the Bronx Supreme Court and the criminal courts. YS did not revitalize the area IMO.