Ratner Sued Over Yards Air Rights
So much for the renter-holdouts being the last thing standing between Bruce and his arena: Yesterday news broke that Peter Williams had filed suit against the New York State Urban Development Corp and Brooklyn Arena LLC, claiming that the State agency had failed to legally acquire the air rights he owned over the building at…
So much for the renter-holdouts being the last thing standing between Bruce and his arena: Yesterday news broke that Peter Williams had filed suit against the New York State Urban Development Corp and Brooklyn Arena LLC, claiming that the State agency had failed to legally acquire the air rights he owned over the building at 24 6th Avenue. (Williams had acquired the rights in 2001 in an exchange but never owned the building.) Williams, who had received a payment for the seizure of another building in the project footprint weeks ago, then went on the Brian Lehrer show yesterday and said, “I’m a capitalist pig. All I want is money.” From a press release:
Indeed, the UDC did not identify Lot 7501 in either its Notice of Public Hearing, pursuant to Article 2 of the EDPL, dated July 24, 2006 (the Notice), or its Determination and Findings, pursuant to EDPL § 204, dated December 8, 2006 (the Determination). Both the Notice and the Determination identified the property subject to acquisition by condemnation by block and lot. Both listed Lots 1001-1021 as the only lots UDC sought to acquire located at 24 Sixth Avenue. Both expressly provided that the street addresses are included for ease of reference only, and that in the event of any inconsistency between the street addresses and the tax blocks and lots, the block and lot information shall control. Because Lot 7501 was never identified, it cannot be, and has not been, taken eminent domain.
Knowing what each day of delay costs Ratner at this point, we suspect the pig will get his capital, don’t you?
B’klyn Arena Opponent Sues for ‘Air Rights’ [NY Post]
Yards Holdout Claims Ratner Doesn’t Own Air Rights [NY Daily News]
Owner of Easement Sues Rater for Money [AY Report]
Photo by Tracy Collins
“Knowing what each day of delay costs Ratner at this point, we suspect the pig will get his capital, don’t you?”
Yes. As this episode proves, everyone has a price. Mr. Williams wants his $3 million windfall, too.
Karma’s a bitch, huh Bruce?:)
you guys sure get queasy pretty easy. this is not even a blip. big projects attract this kind of crap and is expected. owners are not losing sleep over this at all.
and at least this guy is honest with himself and doesn’t wrap himself up in self-righteousness.
he may well lose the battle, but he’s at least putting his own money at risk (to pay lawyer’s fees). unlike certain others…
i’d have a drink with him at the new and improved freddy’s.
Fuck Ratner.
Fuck the ESDC.
Down on your knees again, Marty!!
True, Rob, but why add this to the pile?
With all of the tomfoolery in the NBA, Prohorov and his prostitutes fit right in. They might make righteous noises about it, but I’m sure his bank account will assure the noises aren’t so loud that they prevent him from doing whatever he wants. This whole project taints everything it touches. Is it any wonder people like Peter Williams want to get theirs too?
quote:
Too bad, as always, we’ll be paying for it. For a long, long, time.
the thing tho is that we pay for MANY MANY worse things than a sports arena.
*rob*
What’s the status of Prohorov’s approval by the NBA? Are they at all concerned about his dealings in Zimbabwe, the prostitutes, etc?
This project is becoming the death of a thousand cuts. Every day it reinvents itself as the poster child for how NOT to do a huge project.
Not only should the management of the MTA be sent packing, everyone who had a hand in this at FCR should be looking for work, as well, including El Jefe. What utter incompetance.
Too bad, as always, we’ll be paying for it. For a long, long, time. All the action at center court will not make up for that.