Mapping the Atlantic Yards Timeline
No one on either side of the Atlantic Yards debate disputes the fact that its construction would be a major pain in the ass for residents. The question is rather how long people would be inconvenienced for (Chuck Ratner’s on record saying 15 years) and whether the end-product would be worth the inconvenience. To address…
No one on either side of the Atlantic Yards debate disputes the fact that its construction would be a major pain in the ass for residents. The question is rather how long people would be inconvenienced for (Chuck Ratner’s on record saying 15 years) and whether the end-product would be worth the inconvenience. To address the first part of that question, graphic designer Abby Weissman has overlaid the construction schedule with a site map. The result is the clearest representation we’ve seen to date of the timeline. For a bigger version of the map, click on the image above.
The (Projected) Ten-Year Atlantic Yards Timeline [AY Report]
I’d also like to point out to those who have used the race card and false promises of low income housing to buy compliance from certain members of the Black community- there is a very strong community organization in Crown Heights North that has signed on with DDDB because they see AY for what it really is- destructive and divisive. The Rev. Daugherty and Acorn do not speak for this community, or for its interests. They only speak for their constituents, who are only one part of a very strong, vibrant community. The groups that signed that agreement with Ratner sold out their own communities for their own self interest, not for the improvement of any surrounding neighborhood and for those who keep trumpeting how great this will be for all concerned, I cnao nly say you are blind fools. Hundreds of project style developments have gone up in the city- none of them have resulted in a huge boon to the surrounding area because huge projects tend to become mini-cities within themselves and insulated from the surrounding community. they drain the services of surrounding communities- not pour money into them. In Manhattan the effect is somewhat mitigated, but in the outer boroughs it is abundantly clear.
I’m sorry, but displacing poor people to improve your property values is a cynical, evil, and useless venture. We are talking about people here, not garbage or some other object that can easily be removed from place to place. I’m sure some will argue they are the same thing, in which case, why bother discussing this? Why bother stating that while SOME poor people commit crimes, most are hardworking people in minimum wage, non skilled, dead end jobs, just trying to survive, and have never seen the inside of a police station, as they don’t have time.
AY is going to do nothing for these people. It is not going to provide jobs, or housing. It is not going to address the root causes of poverty, or provide a single police officer or sanitation truck to clean up a single corner of CH. Nor will it improve a single school, or stop a single murder. There are no plans to improve the schools or sanitation at AY, how in the world will that somehow trickle down to Crown Heights. Pushing people out of a neighborhood in some kind of economic, as well as racial, ethnic cleansing is despicable. That some people can crow “done deal” is disgusting.
I do have my priorities right. My neighborhood needs a lot of things, AY is not one of them. If people are so concerned about Crown Heights, or any other so-called crime ridden hood, how about working to improve things from inside the community? How about lobbying for more job training, or better schools, or more police? That’s what we need, not AY. AY as it is planned, is hard pressed to provide those things for itself, as improved sanitation, schools, etc aren’t even on their list. How in the hell are people in CH supposed to think that anything AY is or does, will possibly improve their lives? I’m not the crazy one here.
Ditto 8:19AM!!! Where’s the problem?
I agree that AY will intensify the gentrification of Crown Heights, which, will displace poor people, which means a major reduction in crime. Seems like a good deal to me.
D-O-N-E-D-E-A-L!!!
Brower Park writes: “AY is a disaster for Crown Heights.”
No what is a disaster for Crown Heights is the extremely high crime rate (one of the highest in the New York City); poor schools, pockets of abject poverty throughout the neighborhood, drug dealers on corners, trash in the streets, and an unusual high number of homicides for a relatively small community. That’s your disaster, not AY. Get your priorities together.
What Crown Height has is too much crime and not enough gentrification. AY completely addresses this issue and remedies the problem. Am I missing something or have the crazies taken over the asylum?
Brower Park must be one of the horny little hippies looking to get laid after the picnic.
http://www.nolandgrab.org/archives/2007/05/atlantic_yards_183.html
desolate wasteland my ass!
Sper – term limits, death and elections should insure that a large % of the people deciding about AY now will be out of office before AY is completed. If AY opponents really beleive that the development will be a disaster then the phased build-out should allow them to make their case more effectively as their dire predictions look more realistic as AY starts to come online.
Of course no one wants construction for 15+yrs but under virtually any plan construction would take a very long time – so unless you want the desolete wasteland thats there now, the ‘construction zone’ issue is a reality no matter wnose plan is followed – at least now you AY opponents might be able to alter the thing before your “doomsday” comes to fruition.
Proponents of AY have proven that they don’t give a shit about any sacrifices of quality of life while this cheesy Orlando knock off is being built because it insures the gentrification and supposed prop value increases they are pining for. They were priced out of Manhattan and this is their chance to be redeemed. Greedy, soulless, sell-outs. NY is over.