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]
Quite frankly, it’s ALL good. The DoBro developments and Atlantic Yards. Succinctly, in 10 years with Atlantic Yards, Brooklyn Bridge Park, the BAM Cultural District and the streetscape improvements on Fulton Mall and Flatbush, Brooklyn will be one of the great cities in America. Anyone, who disagrees with that must be from another planet…
The hypocrisy of the anti-AY people is astounding.
Atlantic Yards is, unquestionably, more beneficial to the residents of the area than any of these developments combined, because it provides more amenities, transportation improvements and affordable housing than any of these developments, and it will take hardly anything away – it is, in large part, literally a hole in the ground. But these developments which truly alter the communities around them are all a-ok!! I’m still waiting for norman oder’s detailed critique of the use of eminent domain for the bam cultural district and willoughby square park.
Yes please bring back the 99 cent stores. Gimme a break…
“protesting the “lack of community involvement in upcoming development plans,” according to a press release from Families United for Racial and Economic Equality (FUREE).”
In other words, they want to be paid off, just like Ratner paid off ACORN.
One other point: I’m not sure the 125th Street protest did fail. didn’t the councilwoman up there hold out for a bunch of concessions, and Amanda Burden et al. had to capitulate? I’m hazy on the details, but I think that what happened with that actually does have ramifications for the rest of the city.
The “no amenities” for the residents of Walt Whitman Houses, etc., is somewhat of a canard. There’s a Bravo supermarket at the corner of Washington Park and Myrtle. Okay, so they have to walk five minutes longer to get there instead of crossing the street; maybe ten if they walk slowly. This isn’t a significant difference in access from other residents in Fort Greene. There’s also a small drugstore adjacent. It’s not as big as the Duane Reade, but I think the argument is overblown. The other issues of displacement are more serious, I agree.
I would hardly call the 400 person anti-AY protest “massive”….
What’s the point of this protest? That the want Willoughby Street to stay as scummy as it currently is? That they want Myrtle Avenue to return to its “Murder Ave” glory? FUREE’s a joke…in any event the core DoBro development and AY are apples and oranges. AY is over wrought with government subsidies and eminent domain issues, whereas in DoBro private developers have are purchasing private property and redeveloping and repositing…nothing wrong with that.
Is your question (“Do you think the end result will put Brooklyn better or worse off in 10 years”) a rhetorical one? Obviously, the end result will be better. I have lived in the area for 10 years (University Towers now and ORO when it’s finished) and while I love it here, the aesthetics of Flatbush Ave are a total eyesore. Let’s put it this way, when I moved here, the footprint of Toren was a car wash, a “Kennedy Fried Chicken” and a check cashing spot. The footprint of Avalon Ft. Greene was a barber shop and a liquor store. Which one do YOU think is better?