More AY Mashups: Puttin' On The Perspective
What is it they say about a picture being worth a thousand words? The latest architectural plan/photo mash-up depicting the scale of the proposed Atlantic Yards project comes from photographer Jonathan Barkey. This particular one shows a view of the Dean Street playground. If you look carefully you might see some small apartment houses behind…
What is it they say about a picture being worth a thousand words? The latest architectural plan/photo mash-up depicting the scale of the proposed Atlantic Yards project comes from photographer Jonathan Barkey. This particular one shows a view of the Dean Street playground. If you look carefully you might see some small apartment houses behind the row of brownstones. Five more scenarios follow on the link.
Just a reminder that the Empire State Development Corp is holding a public hearing on the Atlantic Yards project today from 4:30 to 8:30 at 285 Jay Street. Written comments are due within 30 days of the meeting.
How Big? Way Big! [Atlantic Yards Report]
Oooh thanks anon at 4:09 but not from you. 🙂
I think JennyAnne needs a hug…. 🙁
Thanks Mel, but I think you are referring to Superanon. I don’t think the project is a good deal as it stands now. Superanon trusts the eyes of Brooklyn to force Ratner to do a good job. I don’t see it and by the time we know for certain, the damage will be done.
Too bad that some people cannot respect other opinons and decide to attack instead of respond constructively. THis is not a tree grows in Brooklyn story. Obviously we have seen the development of One Hanson Place. It has shown that many of these things are out of our control no matter how much we protest. ANd many of you are correct in the sense there is no guarantee jobs would be offered to those in need. But maybe we can push that issue because lets face it many are behind the project and many of them have the $$. And so what the tax payers may have to take on some of the expense. Let’s face it we have taken on the expense for many things we donot even know about.
As for Amy- If you are so concerned about Brooklyn why don’t you fight the other developments going up all around the downtown area. I heard Scarano has plans for those infamous projects in “FOrtGreene”. ANd even across the street from the projects as well on Myrtle ave. ANd what about the toy factory I donot see many people who are low income or even Middle income living in there. Of course it depends on what your criteria of middle income is!
And at this point I must agree with Jennyanne this still would be a good deal for brooklyn.
PS Just for your info I AM NOT NEW TO THE SITE. Have been checking it out for a long time just not one to respond much because as you see people are just way to sensitive to other opinons.
“Personally, I couldn’t care less for Ratner (I think the man is an idiot with no sensibility or taste) or DDDB (blind and fanatical). I simply think that this is a good deal for Brooklyn and with everyone watching, Ratner can’t fuck this one up.”
You’re making no sense- you think Ratner gives a rat’s ass for other opinions? You think he’s an idiot, with no taste or sensibility, but you’re willing to trust that he will do the right thing for Brooklyn because Brooklynites are watching? Where do you see any evidence in this whole process that shows he can be trusted?
Oh….I’m sorry. JennyAnne and CHP are correct. Ratner is indeed playing the race card and Bertha Lewis and Daugherty (and any other person of color) are being used by their “white slave master.” Isn’t this what DG said a few months back and got slammed for: asserting that blacks are incapable of independent thought and opinion? Simmer down everyone. Both sides are playing the race card and using blacks in the fight to win support for or against this development: Ratner with the promise of jobs and affordable housing and DDDB with the argument that there won’t be enough affordable housing or job creation at AY to warrant the project in its present form. Personally, I couldn’t care less for Ratner (I think the man is an idiot with no sensibility or taste) or DDDB (blind and fanatical). I simply think that this is a good deal for Brooklyn and with everyone watching, Ratner can’t fuck this one up.
“Fridges” are bad because I’m overweight and they contain the seed to my demise… 😉
Thanks for spotting the typo Amy – always the eagle eye!
You are absolutely right. This has never been about Brooklyn- it’s always been about Manhattan. Acorn and DDDB would be quite a unique, if not politically powerful community voice but Bertha Lewis signed that all away when she signed onto ratner’s plan. CHP is right about Ratner playing the race card. It just proves him to be cynical, manipulative and greedy. Moreover, it takes a certain amount of contempt to use the race card. Think Bertha Lewis or Rev Daugherty realize how they have been played?
What’s sad and interesting is how most Brooklynites are in agreement about a lot of issues in this – but no meaningful consensus will be reached because Brooklyn has little to no voice in the outcome. Nevertheless, most of BK has staked out their political positions so they can eke out some advantage of the end result – which none will be happy with.
99% of us are for something happening in that space, more housing for the working and middle class and more jobs for Brooklyn.
If ACORN and DDDB could sit down at a table for a few weeks, sure there would be some screaming and irriationality, but we could have a plan that all of Brooklyn would not just accept or begrudge but be really excited about. But the decisions will be made in Manhattan and Albany by those who care nothing about Brooklyn other than the revenues it can produce for the city and state.
The best case scenario is that DDDB, et als’ efforts will pressure Albany to scale back the project and Acorn et al will somehow hold Ratner to his word (even though he has already backslid on it) on 50% units going to low, middle and “moderate” income folks. There is just as much chance that the project will go forward at its present scale and with few new affordable units for a project this large.
Sorry for the negativity, but I would really love to see community activists on both sides get what they want – or at least somebody from Brooklyn get what they want out of this.
Mel, hold on there, my friend. You must be new to the sandbox. ACORN, the affordable housing organization who is now FCR’s new best friend, was protesting at DUMBO sites not even six months ago. They correctly were protesting the development of several DUMBO luxury condo buildings that were built utilizing tax and development programs that were created to encourage the building of affordable housing. It was quite the topic of discussion on this site. Some of the ACORN protests were rude, crude and very un-PC, but they made their point, and I think Bruce Ratner very cannily decided that it would behoove him to have that hornet’s nest on his tree, not the opposition’s. I also think that he has very been very smart in playing the race card in this fight, making it seem that rich, white yuppy newcomers are trying to keep poor black people from having new homes in their new swanky nabes. FCR has used the carrot of jobs and affordable housing to entice an army of people of color to fight for him, but they are only cannon fodder. This project does nothing to promote the creation of a new Brooklyn Mecca, it just makes money for FCR, and would overcrowd an area that is rich in transportation possibilities, but lacking in infrastructure, especially in terms of traffic,large enough public transportation facilities, access to emergency services, schools, etc. The fact that the project is waaaayyyyy too big, too high, threatens eminent domain abuse, and is just fugly to boot, should cause alarms to go off.
A company that builds malls right next door to this very project, that are a slap in the face to the “urban shopper” by their very design, is now going to care enough about that same community to make sure they are represented in the creation of affordable housing and good jobs. Uh huh. I have a great bridge for you. It’ll make great luxury condos.