Ratner Won't Hear Second Engineering Opinion
December 22, 2005, NY Post — Developer Bruce Ratner has taken the first step toward demolishing six “hazardous” buildings in Brooklyn that stand in the way of his basketball arena — but he’s refusing to let local lawmakers have an engineer analyze the structures. “They’re only allowing elected officials with no engineering experience to access…
December 22, 2005, NY Post — Developer Bruce Ratner has taken the first step toward demolishing six “hazardous” buildings in Brooklyn that stand in the way of his basketball arena — but he’s refusing to let local lawmakers have an engineer analyze the structures. “They’re only allowing elected officials with no engineering experience to access the buildings, which defeats the purpose,” argued Councilwoman Letitia James (D-Brooklyn). James — along with fellow anti-arena politicians Rep. Major Owens and state Sen. Velmanette Montgomery — planned to tour the former parking garages and tenant-evicted apartment buildings today with an engineer who volunteered his services to them. But they opted out after being told the engineer was persona non grata. All the buildings are in the footprint of the developer’s planned $3.5 billion residential and office complex anchored by an NBA arena at Atlantic and Flatbush avenues.
Ratner ‘Razes’ Stakes [NY Post]
(Picture of press release from Laetitia James, 12/22/05)
Obviously this is a question of opinion — i think the Manhattan Mall (are you talking about the former Gimbel’s here?) is way nicer than AT — if you mean the former Korvette’s; I’d agree it’s a hulking monstrosity, but certainly no worse than AT, as it’s relatively in context in an already pretty gross area.
Queens Plaza doesn’t count (I only asked about Manhattan/Brooklyn), because so much of Queens is so phenomenally ugly — is that what you want to make Brooklyn like?
On 2nd Avenue to you mean the strip with the movie theatre and the Crunch gym? — not pretty, but certainly less cheap-looking than AT.
And yes, the movie theatre/Barnes & Noble/skyscraper is tremendously ugly — and a major contributor to the decline in that whole Futon St area. Same effect noticed at AT. Is this what you want the area to become?
I agree — the Applebees and Chase Bank buildings are reprehensible, but at least they’re low-rise enough not to offend the eye! Every time I walk down Flatbush, first I see the Williamsburgh Bank building — lovely — then a few steps later that AT monstrosity office tower sticks up — yech!
So I really don’t think these are any worse (and actually none of them looks as cheaply made) than AT — the construction really looks like it was made using some sort of an erector set. I guess the only consolation is that those buildings will be in such bad shape in 50 years they’ll either fall down by themselves or have to be taken down.
And actually, only Ratner says those other buildings are unsafe — and considering they’re unoccupied, are less dangerous than all the occupied buildings throughout the city that are probably in way worse shape…
Thanks Philip Paul!
Yet another good example of the trap that Ratner opponents try to set. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
Again, what most amazes me is their belief that nitpicking and launching into lengthy speeches about minutiae are actually going to increase their support and stop Ratner. Most people I know, whether pro or con, have accepted that the stadium and towers will be built.
What would happen if these buildings really were dangerous and collapsed. We could all then yell that Ratner (not Extell, Danny Boy’s and Tish’s favorite )let a building collapse. How much milage could we get from that? And what I’d someone died?
Again I’ll answer b/c I am actually willing to enter a real debate – off the top of my head
Retail only is the “mall within a mall” at the Fultan Mall (if it wasnt built w/in the last 20 yrs it has certainly been extensively rehabbed more than a few times in that period)
Queens Plaza Mall
Manhattan Mall
The Shopping Center on 2nd Ave btween 29th and 30th in Manhattan
Office w/retail – in Brooklyn the 2 horrible buildings on Flatbush near LIU – one has Applebees in it and other has Chase Bank
Again can you name a single comparable retail or office development (like AT and Metrotech) built in NYC the last 20 years that was done better
Yes, the movie theater on Court Street is, IMO, uglier than the Atlantic Center. Still, even that’s better than the decrepit buildings that stood there for nearly a decade before the theater was built.
Now, will someone please answer David’s question?
I’m definitely coming late to this discussion, but just to turn David’s question around: Can you name any other retail/commercial development in Manhattan/Brooklyn over the past 20 years that’s uglier or cheaper looking than the Atlantic Terminal malls/tower?
This (constant) refusal to answer (even the most basic questions) is exactly why I call these anti-AY people anti-everything b/c in the end they really do oppose all development.
They will give rhetoric to this plan or that plan but when the concrete needs to get poured they essentially dont like anything new.
He’s refusing to answer.
Good point, David, about the “no win” situation when it comes to race and economics. It reminds me of how white people were maligned as racists for leaving the city in the 60s and then branded as yuppies and gentrifiers for moving into the the city in the 80s and 90s (and often by other gentrifiers). Simply put, you can’t win.
So you can not name a single comparable retail or office development (like AT and Metrotech) built in NYC the last 20 years that was done better…or are you just refusing to answer