Gehry Officially Off Yards Project
The writing’s been on the wall for some time, but The Times delivered the official death blow in an online article yesterday afternoon: “Frank Gehry is out as the architect for the Barclays Center arena, the centerpiece of the long-delayed and financially challenged Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn, according to government officials and real estate…
The writing’s been on the wall for some time, but The Times delivered the official death blow in an online article yesterday afternoon: “Frank Gehry is out as the architect for the Barclays Center arena, the centerpiece of the long-delayed and financially challenged Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn, according to government officials and real estate executives who have been briefed on the plans.” Taking the reins post-bait-and-switch will be a Kansas City-based architecture firm called Ellerbe Becket. Unfortunately for all of us, The Times describes the new design as bearing a resemblance to Conseco Field as well as an “airplane hangar.” Meanwhile, Atlantic Yards Report notes that Forbes is putting the odds of the Nets making it to Brooklyn at 50-50.
Developer Drops Gehry’s Design for Brooklyn Arena [NY Times]
FCR Names New Architect for Brooklyn Arena [Reuters]
Starchitect Dumped from Atlantic Yards for Cheaper Option [NY Daily News]
Star Architect Out of Arena Project [NY Post]
Did somebody complement One Pierrepoint Plaza, that must have been an ironic comment. That building is an eyesore. It mocks the post-modern idea of a semi-open street level, a massive middle (that pays and collects the rent) and a cap made of faux copper finish. The rear end was unfinished to save money.
And the Court street movie theater is another disgrace. The entrance is poorly planned, confusing and a bottle neck when busy. Customers have no shelter in bad weather and block the side walk.
The construction materials are cheap and you can feel the wobbly shoddy methods used.
The exterior finish resembles asbesteos shingles used in housing for the poor in rural area in the sixties. It is as if the remains of a tornado that set down in a trailer park in the Poconos fell from the sky and landed in Brooklyn Heights.
So this is the Developer that will do the Atlantic Yards; I see our future.
After reading through some of the posts, of course I’ll comment. One Pierrepont Plaza looks like a Radisson Hotel it is not the iconic building in Brooklyn. That of course would be the Williamburg Savings Bank. Maybe now that building with its setbacks, clock (public amenity)and dome top won’t be out sized by a Gehry Monster.
The stadium is a smoke screen for the housing where the real money used to be. When Ratner pays for the architect we get the guy who designed the movie theater on Court St. The ugly boxes with roofing material as siding and lousy pedestrian flow like the Atlantic Mall that has brick walls facing peoples homes.
Where are the schools and extra trains for all these people? Where do I park my car on game day? I pay $1000 a month car insurance, I don’t do subway.(hypothetically) Is this the right place for a stadium and all this housing? Can the infrastructure handle it? Why am I paying for it? Couldn’t this money be better spent elsewhere?
I didn’t have the time to join this discussion today, but I’ll just say (as ENY already did) that FSRG’s 12.31 post is a bulls-eye. There is nothing I can add to it.
Does anyone besides me remember the old Floyd’s store at the southern end of Flatbush Avenue (where Toys R Us is now)? It looked very much like the rendering of the stadium (and never pretended to be anything other than the cheapest way to enclose a large space). It doesn’t really matter though. All DDDB has to do is delay FCR a few more months to finally kill this idiotic project. Maybe some day something worthwhile might be built over the Vanderbilt Yards–if it takes 50 years it’d be better than having this dreck.
Argentina is a much more interesting topic then AY for sure!
After 6 months of working out, you should be a buff champion.
After many years of not working out, you will be a biff champion. 🙂
11217, men are gorgeous and glam on a Thursday was breathtaking. Parque Manuel Belgrano in Palermo has a pool. A doubt it’s open but that gives you 6 months or so to buff.
DeLepp,
The eye candy is RIDICULOUS! The people in BA are stunning…men AND women! Truly beautiful.
I’ve been over to San Telmo quite a few times and certainly to the Antique Fair (which is amazing!) but we’ll have to check out Cafe San Juan this time around. Thanks!
I don’t know about these pools you speak of….I better get my ass to the gym today though it sounds like! It’s getting cool there now though, you know…highs in the 60’s this time of year…
11217, the eye candy is spectacular. Have you made it to any of the pools in their summer? In case you haven’t been to the San Telmo district there’s a great resturant called Cafe San Juan on San Juan and Belacare. delecious and crazy reasonable.