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]
BHS- all those buildings and structures were pushing the envelope with tried and true methods. I have no problem with that and I have no problem with modular construction but as they say, this is untested at the height Ratner wants to build, and once built, they will not hold a candle to the Empire State Building or the Brooklyn Bridge. All the structures were built with a different mindset. The Empire State Building was so popular people used to gather just to watch the men working. “Cheap” was not the formeost criteria for any of those structures. For Ratner it is. If you want to push technique, scale, design- that’s one thing. Cheap and fast is another- because chancse are people whose fist concern is that, will leave out something important. Just my take,
My question after seeing the Chinese Hotel go up is how flexible is this building in terms of wind shear or earthquake?
“This is hardly an issue with Democrats only. Pataki was the one who chose to basically hand over NY’s share of the tobacco settlement to Dennis Rivera.”
Sparafucile;
On this point we can agree. George Pataki is in my pantheon of all-time worst politicians, for his sell-out to Dennis Rivera (in order to increase his chances of being re-elected).
1) I agree 100% with Bloomberg that having the Legislature impose public pension obligations on localities is unacceptable. After that it’s up to the parties to collective bargaining to advocate on behalf of their constituents.
2) There’s a fundamental difference between public and private sector unions in that labor, in the private sector, is an input into production, and managers are measured on how efficiently they manage production. In the public sector, unions are a voting block, and since the goal is getting reelected, the effectiveness of the workforce as workers is largely irrelevant to their bosses.
3) Many years back when I was a member of a public employees’ union, I had to jump through all kinds of hoops, on an annual basis, to get refunded the % of my union dues that went to political activities unrelated to collective bargaining. I suppose that as a small shareholder of a publicly held corporation I wouldn’t have any more control over the corporation’s political activities, but it was still infuriating.
4) This is hardly an issue with Democrats only. Pataki was the one who chose to basically hand over NY’s share of the tobacco settlement to Dennis Rivera.
The problem with your argument Sparafucile is that with Public sector Unions – the Unions get two bites at the apple (which gives them too much power) – they play a major role in who gets elected and then they negotiate with these same politicians for their salaries and benefits.
One last thought: I can see that some are trying to make my comments about the public-sector unions a political/partisan issue.
To those who do so: I would suggest that you consider the fact that Andrew Cuomo’s top priority is reform of the pension and health-care benefits for public workers, as well as reforming Medicaid (a “state enterprise” put together by government and SEIU 1199). Last time I checked, Andrew Cuomo was a Democrat.
“I think that FCR is in over its head in terms of financial and project management abilities”….
Yeah because Ratner didnt just build the largest residential tower (and the most gorgeous by far) in NYC and because 280 Deklab isnt a huge success!!
Quote:
“Corporations can and do finance all those on-the-ground campaign activities you describe.”
It’s called the Tea Party.
Has there been any proof of a systematic link between the corporations and the Tea Party? It seems like most corporations would be scared of the hard to control populism of the movement.
DH;
I do not blame the public-service unions for all of our problems. I DO say that they are a significant contributing factor to the perilous fiscal conditions of our states and municipalities.
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 expendires are more than California’s, even though it has half the population.
Two questions for you and the others:
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?
“Corporations can and do finance all those on-the-ground campaign activities you describe.”
It’s called the Tea Party.