New Barclays Renderings & Project Updates
Yesterday, Forest City released new renderings from SHoP Architects of the Barclays Arena and the public plaza planned for the triangular intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues; construction has been underway since this summer. The 38,885-square-foot plaza space—which will include a new subway entrance, seating area, and a 30 foot high canopy complete with an…
Yesterday, Forest City released new renderings from SHoP Architects of the Barclays Arena and the public plaza planned for the triangular intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues; construction has been underway since this summer. The 38,885-square-foot plaza space—which will include a new subway entrance, seating area, and a 30 foot high canopy complete with an oculus—got most of the attention in the press release and at the announcement. We of course want the Plaza to function well as a gateway to the Barclays Center, Bruce Ratner said in the release. But it was also designed much like a park so it can be programmed for community events and diverse activities, such as a greenmarket and holiday fairs. (According to reports, Ratner actually name-checked The Flea as a possible tenant for the plaza but that was news to us.) The other headline grabbing news had to do with the future of housing on the Atlantic Yards site. According to The Brooklyn Paper, there are currently plans to build just one out of the 16 promised towers, which ain’t good news to the folks who supported the project because of the supposed public benefits. “Virtually all of the economic and public benefits of the mega-development — which include more than 2,200 units of below-market-rate housing, thousands of construction jobs, tax revenues for the city, and public space — are dependent on Ratner finishing the project,” says The Brooklyn Paper.
Fashion Week Coming to Atlantic Yards? [Observer]
AY Arena Team Unveils Public Plaza Design [Curbed]
Arena Going Up — But Will Rest of Project? [BP]
New Plans for Atlantic Yards Released [NY Post]
Barclay’s Center [SHoP Architects]
frsq:
“he is responsible for IMHO the nicest building built in Manhattan in a generation (Beekman Tower),”
Glad you stuck, IMHO in there. That tower is likely what it is because Gehry likes to maintain some degree of control over design NOT because Ratner is some great planner.
“his rental on Dekalb is extremely nice, (although many will disagree)”
Once again, it’s simply a project that fills in space AND it’s extremely small compared to the size of his other projects. Far less room for something awful and a waste of space.
“Atlantic Terminal is attractive, One Pierrepont is nice (gorgeous roof IMHO)”
Atlantic Terminal might be attractive, but the layout is bizarre making it annoying to navigate. The only saving grace is that it’s right above the subway and national chains will pay for that. Otherwise, we would have another Metrotech on our hands.
“Metrotech, while not winning any architecture awards is/was a massive success and exactly what was feasible and needed when constructed.”
That area was supposed to be developed to bring people to downtown Brooklyn, which it failed to do. It’s essentially a 9-5 place, which I personally think is hampering downtown Brooklyn becoming at the very least a 9-11pm location. At the time of it’s development it was one of the largest spaces in the area in serious need of redevelopment that was also in a central location in relation to public transit. Fail.
The bottom line is that Ratner might be able to get things built, but the man needs to find a better team of designers and learn about better use of space, especially in a city where it comes at a premium.
I agree 100% with Minard.
I know…look up in the sky at the pigs!!!!
Ratner’s foot-dragging on completing the other portions of the development is another example of “capital on strike.” Big money is refusing to spend the money to do their part, despite getting massive benefits from the public, to help get the economy going again.
I imagine this picture will look better once the economy rebounds (whenever that happens) but right now this is just a mess.
It seems quite remarkable that they didn’t plan for an economic downturn in the execution of this. Brilliant work, guys.
On the other hand, people who have been supporting lawsuits and injunctions should probably not complain about missed timelines.
you do realize pretty much ALL of us are going to be dead by the time this is done, right? why is everyone getting their chickenfeathers in a ruffle about it?
*rob*
Lechecal, I am NOT against development. I’m not a Luddite, I realize that change and growth are not only needed for a vibrant functioning city, they are inevitable, and should be channeled to the best use possible for the most people. This project does not.
I don’t think change has to come married to a deeply flawed project that was the product of back room wheeling and dealing, inappropriate use, or threat of use, of eminent domain, voodoo financing and tax breaks, and a deeply cynical and manipulative use of the communities involved. I especially did not not like FCR’s tactics in the latter, setting poor minorities thinking there would be housing and jobs available, against so-called white gentrifying Whole Foods NIMBY’s. It was a false battlefield, simplistic, and designed to create enemies who fight it out while FCR is busy screwing everyone in the background.
I don’t think enough planning went into this project, as everyone was blinded by greed, their legacies in Brooklyn history, or self interest. Infrastructure was never thought out. Traffic, sewage, utilities, the list goes on. Goldstein was a public face to a very public movement, he was not the only one out there who had grave concerns about this project. If it had only been him, and a few NIMBY’s, they wouldn’t have been as successful in delaying this for so long. It was delayed because it was deeply flawed, and still is.
ishtar – stop touting the party line re: Ratner it really shows limited independent thought – while he certainly has his share of abominations, he is responsible for IMHO the nicest building built in Manhattan in a generation (Beekman Tower), his rental on Dekalb is extremely nice, (although many will disagree) Atlantic Terminal is attractive, One Pierrepont is nice (gorgeous roof IMHO) and Metrotech, while not winning any architecture awards is/was a massive success and exactly what was feasible and needed when constructed.
are they going to switch out those bollards for the granite coffins they put around the LIRR station?
what a fucking joke this whole thing is.
fuck ratner.
fuck marty.
From the get-go Ratner made this project a cluster-f*ck. Why should the community be faulted for fighting back against a rich, well-connected developer who decided he knows what is best for the area and basically bullied his way through the system? taxpayers are footing a huge part of the bill, and the MTA rolled over for Ratner. If you need to ask why people opposed it, maybe you should look at the facts of how Ratner rammed it through.
The funding doesn’t really matter, lech. This project, regardless of how much money it has/had/could have had, wasn’t going to yield anything great. This was doomed from the start because ESDC wouldn’t impose any firm time lines for all phases of the projects. The pretty much signed off on anything Ratner presented to them.
Ratner has a pretty clear track record when it comes to development. This man has friends in all the right places because he’s certainly not any where near being the best or even good at what he does. Metro Tech and that “mall” are two very good examples of that.