Ouroussoff, Tell Us How You Really Feel
New York Times architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff doesn’t mince words in reviewing the new design for the Atlantic Yards Arena. “The recent news that the developer Forest City Ratner had scrapped Frank Gehry’s design for a Nets arena in central Brooklyn is not just a blow to the art of architecture,” he writes in today’s…
New York Times architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff doesn’t mince words in reviewing the new design for the Atlantic Yards Arena. “The recent news that the developer Forest City Ratner had scrapped Frank Gehry’s design for a Nets arena in central Brooklyn is not just a blow to the art of architecture,” he writes in today’s Arts section. “It is a shameful betrayal of the public trust, one that should enrage all those who care about this city.” But wait, there’s more: “In a stunning bait-and-switch, Forest City Ratner has now decided that it can’t afford an architect of Mr. Gehry’s stature. Neglecting to tell the public, the firm went out months ago and hired Ellerbe Becket, corporate architects known for producing generic, unimaginative buildings. And although it has refused to release details of the design, the renderings, obtained by The New York Times, tell you all you need to know.” Indeed they do.
Battle Between Budget and Beauty, Which Budget Won [NY Times]
I walk in the area and back and forth across Atlantic. AY would close off a huge section of the area- including a piece of Pacific st. It is designed as an enclave and I think its location is the worst place for a oversized enclave of any sort.
Maybe Goldstein’s building did have problems- that’s certainly no different than all the complaints we’ve heard about a lot of new or renovated construction. Does that justify Ratner’s right to it? I don’t think so. I also know people who lived in the area- not gentrifyiers, nor rich. they feel an up and coming, and vibrant neighborhood was destroyed. I’ve also seen how pro-AYers have this idea that Ratner is the savior of Brooklyn- but a realistic assessment of his project and finances, as well as his cynical pitting of one community group against another, leads me to believe that AY would be far worse than what’s there now. As other people have said, if we’re going to build there, do it right. Otherwise we’ll be wasting time, money and opportunity down the road, if not now, to fix it.
The fact is DDDB is the little guy standing up to the big money. And with good reason. Ratner wanted to steamroller over us and he has his cronies in government all too happy to let him do it. They bypassed rules and reviews. The MTA gave him the bid, despite a larger one from someone else- can anyone explain to me how that makes sense? i don’t think so.
“I think many people forget that the AY area ws slowly coming back on its own. Daniel goldstein’s building was a case in point.”
Well as I respectfully recall, the other residents of Goldstein’s building (yes, the same ones who sold out to Ratner) previously complained about how much of a DOG the building was AFTER its renovation (plumbing problems, heating problems, cracks int he walls, etc.)! Goldstein himself got trapped it the elevator once!
I agree there was increasing residential development and rehabilitation of some of the area brownstones. But really the neighborhood was becoming more exclusive and expensive, if anything (I lived on 521 Dean for several years, so I know the area well). It was great for those who enjoyed the benefits of rent control (not me), but otherwise, it was growing more expensive and LESS diverse. Furthermore this idea of the neighborhoods being “joined” is also silly. There was never any “joining” nor did there need to be. For what purpose, specifically? To me, there’s a lack of ground-level common sense in some of these arguments.
Thanks DDDB…well done – total POS – I hope Goldstein enjoys the view…
I walk through the area on Carlton or 6th from Flatbush to Atlantic quite frequently. I think the right urban contexturalism could sensatively respect the existing Prosepect Heights neighborhood and provide a strong link towards Ft. Greene. Massive towers and closing and privatizing existing streets will create an island where there is the possibility of extending a neighborhood. The car centered suburban-type design that is typical of Ratner developments is extremely behind-the-times and inappropriate for this part of Brooklyn.
As I’ve said before, I do believe that Ratner never intended to use the Gehry buildings. They were always part of the bait-and-switch and extra frills for the pig’s poke. Nothing — NOTHING — about Ratner’s track record shows any respect for architecture or design. And this latest choice shows his utter contempt for those concepts and for the local communities.
As someone else said, that building is insultingly ugly. Furthermore it immediately exposes the rest of the lie — the residential or commercial towers or whatever else he’s been yapping about. Who would want to live near that? Who would want to work near that?
I think many people forget that the AY area ws slowly coming back on its own. Daniel goldstein’s building was a case in point. Once AY was announced and the rumblings of eminent domain heard, it all came to a screeching stop. Just recently a study came out (wish I could remember who did it- sorry) that said organic development and growth may be far better than big projects like this that try to create neighborhoods. And I think that is the case.
AY would have been a closed community permanently splitting neighborhoods. The sheer size and scale, as well as the closing off of public streets essentially creates a different sort of black hole- how would it be different than the old complaint of the Atlantic Terminal. When it was built it was obvious Ratner was terrified of the neighborhood and so built the most unwelcoming and frustrating mall structure in NYC.
Gehry’s design was both exciting and fresh – the arena part. The lego block towers were awful. Considering everything Ratner claimed he could do, I think any of us who believed he would have the money to actually build AY was simply fooling themselves. The minute he went for public financing we should have realized. It was too big, and too unrealistic and far far too expensive.
“I don’t buy the whole bait and switch argument one bit”
that’s nice. but Ratner could never afford to build the Gehry design. never.
It’s a basketball arena. Why must it look like a work of art? Such snobbery. I think it would be cool to have a pro basketball arena within walking distance of my home, and within its context, the rendering looks to fulfill that purpose. I do enjoy well-executed architecture and historic buildings,and it would be nice if every building was a masterpiece, but that’s not reality. If you think about it, it’s the common buildings, in part, that make the “masterpieces” noteworthy. This moron (the author) has the nerve to say “building this monstrosity at such a critical urban intersection would be deadly” which is laughable. It’s a perfectly reasonable and logical place to put this building. He also says, “Clearly, the city would be better off with nothing.” That’s crap and a clear case of sour grapes. He’s pissed his hero won’t design the building, so he’s in effect saying “Well, the whole stinks anyway.” Nonsense.
Is it possible the New York Times misread the plans?
http://realtycollective.blogspot.com/2009/06/atlantic-yards-arena-scrapped-in-favor.html