Ratner Considers Prefab Tower for Atlantic Yards
The Times reports that Forest City Ratner is considering modular construction for its first, 34-story high-rise at Atlantic Yards. The story says that though the move would cut costs, a prefabricated tower “is untested at that height” and the move would likely piss off construction workers, who were among the mega-project’s most vocal supporters. Although…
The Times reports that Forest City Ratner is considering modular construction for its first, 34-story high-rise at Atlantic Yards. The story says that though the move would cut costs, a prefabricated tower “is untested at that height” and the move would likely piss off construction workers, who were among the mega-project’s most vocal supporters. Although the the developer has its architecture firm SHoP working on designs for both a traditional and modular building, another consideration is whether a prefab structure of this height would actually result in much of a cost savings, according to the story: “Whether taller modular buildings can be built to withstand intense wind shear and seismic forces, while retaining cost savings, is another question, because the higher a structure is built, the more bracing it would require.” The article says developer Bruce Ratner has been “captivated” by the video above, which shows a modular hotel rising in China in just a few days.
Prefabricated Tower May Rise at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards [NY Times]
benson, yes, re public sector unions, agreed.
Bxgirl, your statement about not pushing the envelope is sad, and shows exactly what is wrong with this country. It’s why construction innovation is happening in Dubai, China, Malaysia, and just about everywhere but here.
No one points out that Ratner had millions of dollars in lawsuits against him. Part of the reason why the cost is up.
The statement that he doesn’t have the technical chops to handle this project is laughable.
Finally, if people are too proud to live in subsidized brand new well located housing because it is modular, well, they can buy a condo at 1 Hanson.
Like them or not, we surely need the AFSCME. Without it, the entire Federal, State and Local workforce would be upheaved at every election. In NYC there’re already quite alot of job favors in the Municipal ranks. Without the Locals I’m pretty sure every time there’s a new Mayor most of the City workforce would be switched out. Is that how we want to make sure crime is kept down, fires are put out, our children are educated?
As for Ratner entertaining prefab, it’s to eliminate the costs associated with New York, or maybe even United States labor, no? Of course the trades unions will be the most vocal about it, but it’s a way to Shanghai the project both literally and figuratively.
Benson, do you want to remove all money from politics or just from the groups you don’t like?
Those of you who have been following the ongoing food fight in these precincts know I’m hardly a fan of this development, but I have to say I am impressed with the daring of proposing a 34 story modular tower. If you are familiar with SHoP’s work, you would have a good reason to expect something that is both modular and formally exciting at the same time. I doubt very much that the building will resemble what people are calling modular construction on this board. For an example of this, take a look at SHoP’s modular brick facade at 290 Mulberry Street in Manhattan.
I do want to steer clear of the politics on the ground, but I think that the right to collective bargaining is fundamental to any democracy that is “for the people.” In general, I also think that Unions have positive impact on the quality of construction due to the existence organizational training and quality control programs.
So what, Benson? I’m not running for office, I’m expressing my own opinion, and that opinion has NEVER been that I think unions walk on water. They don’t. But by the same token, they should not be the whipping boy for the fiscal failures of decades upon decades of politicians of both parties.
Unions NEGOTIATED their contracts. If they got what they shouldn’t have, it’s because the other side agreed to it. In getting what they’ve gotten, they are no worse than private sector employees negotiating for their own salary packages. Just because someone is in a union does not mean they are not deserving of the same things a non-union worker gets. This class superiority thing really pisses me off more than union abuses. The horror, that an uneducated blue collar guy manages to negotiate a better salary than some college boy.
What happened to the American Dream, where a person could succeed by working hard? I’m NOT saying there aren’t plenty of union abuses, and that some union contracts, given the state of the economy, don’t need adjustment, and I’m not denying that everyone, and I do mean everyone, needs to tighten their belts. But we are not going to balance the budget by taking everything that was legally negotiated by unions away from them. And I don’t care who says that that is a good idea, Democrat or Republican.
Finally, cops and firemen are off limits, as far as I’m concerned. I don’t care what their pensions are.
The difference is that Cuomo is talking about contracts and benefits- a legitimate concern. Te republicans are about union busting and taking away the rights of workers. Even when the unions have agreed to paying into their pensions and benefits. I would say “most governors” is a bit of hyperbole.
Tybur and Montrose;
If you think the talk of unions’ influence in local politics is over-blown, perhaps you need to have a talk with Andrew Cuomo. HE seems to think that there’s a problem, as do most other governors in the land, be they Democrat or Republican.
BHS- Agreed- and only time will tell how AY fully impacts or benefits the area, so we’ll have to wait and see. 🙂
I am still waiting for someone to answer my two questions:
FACT: Over 1/2 of the conductors on the LIRR retire with pensions greater than $100K.
FACT: 3/4 of the FDNY retire with a 3/4=pay disability pension, despite the fact that the number of actual fires is at an all-time low.
FACT: New York State’s Medicaid expenditures are more than California’s, even though it has half the population.
Two questions:
a) do you think that the public-sector unions had an undue influence in bringing about this situation?
b) do you think this situation is sustainable?
As a taxpayer who is footing the bill for these abuses, I will continue to speak my mind about them.