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]
“your relentless promotion of said design”
Not sure that is even possible – since the design has now changed.
So does your relentless opposition indicate that you are a build-nothing NIMBY???
Here is my general position so you know:
Having a hole in the ground and abandoned lots in the middle of our boro and next door to the largest transportation hubs in the country (by number of lines) is entirely unacceptable to me.
Such a location should be developed as densely as possible to take advantage of the mass transit that is there and could be added in future generations (this is the only sustainable way to develop to minimize sprawl and traffic). AY is a once in a 100 yr opportunity – we will likely never again in our lifetimes see such a large parcel available for development in such a central (walkable) and mass-transit accessible area.
Having large/tall buildings near (not necessarily next to) low rises is not a big deal – Brooklyn Heights is a perfect example as is plenty of neighborhoods in Manhattan –
Having a mass entertainment facility in a walkable and mass transit accessible location is a great amenity and the proper place to build such a facility.
Ratner has had some major success in helping Brooklyn develop from a place once viewed as in permanent decline to one that is considered a viable city of the 21st century…he has also had some failures, that being said – he is not the anti-christ and therefore I instinctively react negatively to people who try to say such things with zero evidence.
I believe their is a contingent of people in this city that oppose all change and will stop at nothing to derail progress and development – I find these people to be short-sited and selfish.
I call things as I see them and have no hidden motive, I will derive no economic benefit from AY – unless my residence (within 10blocks) appreciates in value – which I do not predict – AY or not.
I appreciate historical buildings and landmarks and believe they should be preserved whenever possible, but I also know that change, and development is essentially to maintain NYC as a viable place for my offspring and their offspring.
fsrg—again this aint we are the world. You make it sound like people are going to jump for joy when these condo’s are built and theyre given the oppy to live in them w/ persons making far less than them. You and I know that just because the people make less theyre still working..but the average Anne and Charlie don’t think like that. They’ll see poor, think homely and want no parts of it.
Youre a former employee of Ratner or currently worrking there? The One Pierrepont answer gave you away.
Also we’re getting off topic..I think the condo’s will be ugly…rich or poor who want’s to live there?
What is all this talk about rich vs poor ? Everyone wants to be middle class, except for the rich. (Like Bloomberg)
New York is one of the few places that we all live, commute and shop next to each other. This is not about our net worth.
It is about having safe, pleasant, friendly neighborhoods what ever your demographic stage in life.
11217- whatever….. didn’t learn much from your experience I see. And with that I am truly done with you.
Time for Destroy Don’t Develop Brooklyn to go away.
Go drag somewhere else.
11217..please..i beg you..give me examples of neighborhoods where there are a “sizable” amount of people with money…and my with i mean annual income of about 400K+ living amongst a “sizable” amount of people w/out it and by w/out it I mean people making 20K-?
The little token one -off’s that move into a hood and act confused when they see kids hanging on stoops do not count.
Stop with the we are the world BS..come on.
Actually, I disagree, I was defending bxgrl at the time, I thought your bringing up howard hughes was taking it to the absurd, when she was only stating that the rich, whoever and however you want to define them, are not going to live in the same building as those seeking “affordable housing”. There are exceptions to all rules, but I have to agree with her on that one. Cheek and jowl, as it naturally happens is one thing, a new development is a totally different story.
Unfortunately, we have lost sight of the important arguments in personal attacks, and all probably need to go get lunch or something. None of that talk is helpful and obscures points of agreement that could bring more of us together on this whole issue.
fsrq, reasonable people may disagree over the merits of the details of Ratner’s proposed Atlantic Yards, but your relentless promotion of said design raises the reasonable question of whether you are a shill.
grip100692 – Huh?
I am not saying No affluent people want to be secluded but seriously – except for the western part of the upper east side, the core of the west village and along the park on the west side – even in the neighborhoods you cited the “rich” people are far from secluded from much poorer people.
Obviously virtually ALL people, if given the choice – would chose not to live in a ghetto made up of the urban underclass – but that is FAR from the issue I am disagreeing with BxGrl about – people who qualify for affordable housing are all WORKING people and often far from “poor”, and in virtually every neighborhood in this city (except for a few pockets) affluent people live side by side with such people and LOVE it.