How Extell Got Frozen Out of Atlantic Yards
July 31, 2005, NY Post — THE MTA’s decision to grant developer Bruce Ratner an exclusive 45-day window to clinch a deal for its Downtown Brooklyn rail yards came only after some last-minute intervention by Mayor Bloomberg. Sources said the mayor was infuriated by a report that the MTA planned to postpone a vote Wednesday…
July 31, 2005, NY Post — THE MTA’s decision to grant developer Bruce Ratner an exclusive 45-day window to clinch a deal for its Downtown Brooklyn rail yards came only after some last-minute intervention by Mayor Bloomberg. Sources said the mayor was infuriated by a report that the MTA planned to postpone a vote Wednesday on the mega-housing and basketball-arena project so it could hash out two competing bids, one by Ratner and another by Extell Development Corp.
“The mayor had a conversation with the governor’s office,” said one source. As the MTA meeting got under way, chairman Peter Kalikow was seen leaving the room for an extended period. He was taking an urgent phone call from top aides to the mayor and the governor. They argued that keeping Ratner twisting in the wind was “no way to deal with the business community in this town.” Sources said it was made clear to Kalikow that neither the governor nor the mayor wanted a postponement.
He got the message. It didn’t take long after that for the MTA board to deliver a surprisingly lopsided 12-1 vote giving Ratner the exclusive right to improve his bid. At a press conference later, Bloomberg hinted at his concern in delaying a project that has been years in the making and has won widespread support. “These are jobs, this is the future of Brooklyn, this is the future of our city and that’s what I’m focusing on at the moment,” the mayor said.
Full-Court Press on MTA Deal [NY Post]
Well said!!
Pro-Atlantic Yards poster here again. To anonymous 10:40, I was born in Brooklyn and have lived here all of my life (how about you?). To anonymous 11:29, kindly name one victory that the anti-Ratner crowd has achieved since this project was conceived. Aside from holding a few sparsely-attended rallies and issuing press releases, they’ve accomplished nothing that could derail Ratner’s plans. Ratner, on the other hand, has secured major political backing, signed a CBA, won the bidding to buy the Nets, purchased a significant amount of property in the footprint, been granted exclusive negotiation rights with the MTA, and seen a major court case that supports its right to use eminent domain. Seems like a “done deal” to me. But I respect your right to keep dreaming otherwise 🙂
That’s right, all you Ratner fans — just keep chanting your mantra: “Done Deal”, and we’ll keep up the pressure to bring accountability to how development gets done in Brooklyn.
I have no respect for those who insist that corruption is the only way to go.
Well then I guess your not a real Brooklynite, you idiot!!!
Ratner will be awarded the deal. This project has too much political support and financial backing to fail. Sure, there will be lawsuits, but in the end Ratner, being the more rich and powerful, will easily prevail. I look forward to the new Brooklyn skyline.
I have heard that bloomberg and ratner whent to the same school. I am not sure if it is true but ther must be some connection. Back room deal.