PACB Gives Ratner What He Wants
After an Oscar-worthy head fake on Tuesday, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, along with the two other members of the Public Authorities Control Board, George Pataki and Joseph Bruno, gave the thumbs up to Bruce Ratner’s vision for Atlantic Yards. “I am pleased the developer is committed to addressing numerous community concerns through several specific actions…
After an Oscar-worthy head fake on Tuesday, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, along with the two other members of the Public Authorities Control Board, George Pataki and Joseph Bruno, gave the thumbs up to Bruce Ratner’s vision for Atlantic Yards. “I am pleased the developer is committed to addressing numerous community concerns through several specific actions that will result in significant neighborhood improvements,” said Silver. Last time we checked, traffic congestion, overcrowded schools and a surfeit of chain stores didn’t exactly qualify as improvements (though there were some last minute changes, including 200 more units of affordable housing and $3 million more for improvements to neighboring parks) but then again, pols who live upstate must have a better grasp of what’s better for Brooklyn than the four assembly members closest to the site. So where does this leave those who oppose the project? Eminent domain lawsuits, scale negotiations and a guy named Spitzer. From the beginning, the project has been a public-private partnership in which the public has not been represented, said Kent Barwick, president of the Municipal Art Society. The vote today reflected a process that simply did not allow New Yorkers to shape the project, and the result is a plan that will not work for Brooklyn.
State Approves Major Complex for Brooklyn [NY Times]
NY Board Approves Atlantic Yards Plan [Bloomberg]
The Nets Win! [NY Post]
Photo by f.trainer
Now’s the time, people:
http://dddb.net/php/donate.php
Donate early. Donate often.
Don’t forget to give props to the anti- Eminment Domain New York Sun where every other daily swallowed ESDC and Ratner jizz– tastey, I’m sure.
To all the gloating jackoffs, aside from a slow painful death, I’d like anyo of you to explainm why
** Atlantic Center Mall remains
Just start there, then we’ll get to the other questions (about Metrotech, scale, financing, etc.)
Fuck you very much,
Sergio
But luckily we are so easily able to spot the Ratner shill-machine in action on this board because the only people who would work for him are absolute idiots! No IQ test! Love of Money! Family members! Politicians! Spellers and non-spellers alike!
“Once and for all, does anyone really believe that Ratner PAYS people to surf the net and post on neighborhood blogs? If that’s true, is he still hiring? Talk about a dream job!”
Clue phone: online advertising has replaced print..time’s man of the year is the blogsphere…- yes, PR people realize this is where a lot of opinion is formed and yes there are product pluggers out there..
Once and for all, does anyone really believe that Ratner PAYS people to surf the net and post on neighborhood blogs? If that’s true, is he still hiring? Talk about a dream job!
“If property values in the areas around AY drops it will not be becasue of any issues relating to the development it will be becasue of the hysteria that is being created by opponents of the project.
This statement is dead on! Opponents of this project and bloggers on this site are shooting Brownstone Brooklyn and themselves in the foot! I really wish that you guys would stop with all of the scare tactics because you’re making the situation appear far worse than it actually is. Yes, I would have prefered if the arena was not located in downtown Brooklyn but it’s not the end of the world and Brownstone Brooklyn will continue to be the premier location to live in Brooklyn. All of this negative talk about plummeting property values (simply to prevent the project) will result in just that – plummeting property values. You people should get a life. Brownstone Brooklyn has some of the best housing stock in all of New York City. If you don’t want to live here now that AY will be built, simply sell. You will have a line outside your house looking to make the purchase of a lifetime!
to the guy who was born near 5th ave in the slope you are so full of it. there is no way most people born in to poverty, or near poverty, will be able to buy a season ticket to the nets. what they will get is traffic, overcrowded schools and subway platforms, and aggravated asthma conditions. welcome to the new brooklyn. land of investment opportunities for billionaires!
NIMBY whiners loose:
You dont understand what “traffic” really means, do you? Or are you just in this for the antagonism? Do you experience the heavy, heavy truck and car traffic? Do you realize that hundreds of trucks pass thruough that neighborhood every single day, transporting goods to business in Brooklyn and Manhattan? Do you realize what a monstrosity of a new development will mean to the infrastructure this already-overwhelmed area?
Don’t assume that those complaining about the complete disregard of the already-choked traffic situation in the area are elitists, shuffling their spoiled children here and there and driving to Fairway. Consider that some of us are regular, middle-class people who might drive once, twice, three times a week for job- or school-related reasons. (Have you ever driven in this area? Do you know what a hellish nightmare it is? This isnt like cruising on Lexington or 6th Ave in Manhattan and hitting all the lights– its an effing nightmare).
Also, did you consider that many of us might simply be WALKING and taking public transportation? I dont know if you have spent any time travelling in and out of Atlantic Terminal/LIRR and the surrounding subway stations, but those stations are already heavily overcrowded during peak travel times.
I’m not against SOME type of development of AY, but Im for a RATIONAL development, one that has logically assessed the current situation and that includes increased/improved infastructure, parks, schools, etc. That is not what is happening here.
The stupidity on this site is mind-boggling from residents of what should be most cosmopolitan city in the world.
Idiotic ethnic analysis of supporters/opponents, seemingly competitive viewpoint of different boroughs rather than seeing one wonderful city, exagerated opinions on effect of this development bordering on melodrama.
Grow up people.