Second Development-Related Rally in May Expects Hundreds
Brooklyn is expected to see its second massive development-related rally this month on May 17, when hundreds are expected to march to Albee Square protesting the “lack of community involvement in upcoming development plans,” according to a press release from Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE). Last Saturday, hundreds of Brooklynites clashed in…
Brooklyn is expected to see its second massive development-related rally this month on May 17, when hundreds are expected to march to Albee Square protesting the “lack of community involvement in upcoming development plans,” according to a press release from Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE). Last Saturday, hundreds of Brooklynites clashed in a protest and counter-protest over Atlantic Yards. This rally addresses a myriad of other, less publicized effects of Downtown Brooklyn’s development boom that have perhaps been overshadowed (pun intended) by the massive arena and high-rise project, or at least its opponents’ more forceful media efforts. A few of the more noted past events expected to be addressed at this coming rally: Albee Square Mall was emptied to make way for City Point; dozens of small business owners on Bridge and Willoughby streets were evicted so new towers could be built; large apartment building for low-income families and a handful of smaller buildings were taken through eminent domain for Willoughby Square Park, a planned public plaza and underground parking garage (a home many believe was involved in the Underground Railroad was spared from the wrecking ball, but may still be lost to foreclosure). And nearly all of Myrtle Avenue’s neighborhood services between Flatbush Avenue and Fort Greene Park were cleared for construction of luxury high-rises, leaving residents of the nearby public housing complexes with nowhere to shop for groceries. Do you think the end result will put Brooklyn better or worse off in 10 years?
DoBro’s Household Income to Double? [Brownstoner]
Atlantic Yards or Atlantic Lots [Brownstoner]
Much of Downtown Brooklyn Going Out of Business [Brooklyn Eagle]
Albee Square Mall Clears Out [Brooklyn Eagle]
2:03 — we already have a substantial amount of office space in the area. and the hood is DEAD at night. we need some streetlife — enough with the boring offices. just because they bring in high assessments and revenues doesn’t make for a good neighborhood. wall st. is a great business district but until recently a shitty neighborhood.
keep brooklyn BROOKLYN!!!!!!!
Whatever the real or perceived goals of FUREE, I think downtown Brooklyn will be worse ten years from now because it will have lost the opportunity to strengthen itself at the city’s third central business district. I do think that a bunch of shiny new condos is an improvement over what is there, but they are not better than a vital civic and business hub with regional headquarters for small national companies and back office and creative industries tenants. I cannot believe how sloppy EDC/DCP’s planning was on this, unless it was a bait and switch from the get go.
1:07 – The protesters have no idea what they want. They see that the ship is sailing and they don’t have a ticket to get on board, so now they are crying about it. I’ve said this for years, FUREE are idiots. The time for protesting (if there was such a time) was during the rezoning process. I don’t seem to recall the type of protests back in 2003 and 2004 (when the rezoning was approved to full public review) here in Brooklyn that recently took place in Harlem during their rezoning process. FUREE are mad that they can’t afford they million dollar condos, won’t be able to afford APPLE, BARNEY’s, etc and the fact that there will be more non-black and latino faces walking along Myrtle, Flatbush and Willoughby in a few years (just for the record, I’m black and I’ve lived in University Towers for 10 years, so I’ve seen it all playing itself out).
Well, apparently a handful of boring losers with too much time on their hands are busying themselves here making obnoxious, ignorant and prejudiced comments right here on this thread. Personally I think that community organizing that gives a voice to people who are either silenced or ignored in these development processes is a much more worthwhile activity.
12:55…I’m saying that Brooklyn, on a stand alone basis (not as PART of NYC, not as an “outer borough” of Manhattan) WILL be one of the great American cities once these improvements are made. As much as I love Brooklyn and would never want to live ANYWHERE else, we can’t honestly make that claim now. While at it’s core, BK represents the best of America, the exterior needs some work. It’s like a fabulous house that needs the roof repaired and a paint job to realize it’s full potential? Why is that a controversial assessment?
What exactly do the protesters want? The rezoning was done with full public hearings. Hasn’t the ship already sailed?
you must me from another planet. Brooklyn IS now major part of “one of the great cities in America” and as that part gets better so does the whole city.
I don’t think anyone, black or otherwise, is advocating the return of substandard shopping opportunities. Polemicist, in your shining world of super dense, gleaming high rises, you better allow for the existence of those who cannot afford your utopia. The real issue here is not the loss of KFC, but the pushing out of the downtown area of all affordable housing, and the retail establishments that service that population.
As per usual, the less affluent have little say in what happens, and usually don’t even know it’s happening until the wrecking ball shows up. Unfortunately, I don’t expect anything to change, because when it comes down to it, those who make these decisions care only about making money, not maintaining viable multi-ethnic, multi-economic level neighborhoods. Protest is all that is left, whether effective, or not. It’s better than fading away quietly into the night, out of sight, most definitely out of mind.