The Failure of Metrotech, Eminent Domain and All
In the latest issue of urban-planning mag City Journal, writer Nicole Gelinas examines the role of eminent domain in the creation and destruction of cities. In the process, she looks back on the failed experiment known as Metrotech: Nearly two decades ago, Gotham decided to build a walled camp in the middle of a lower-class…
In the latest issue of urban-planning mag City Journal, writer Nicole Gelinas examines the role of eminent domain in the creation and destruction of cities. In the process, she looks back on the failed experiment known as Metrotech:
Nearly two decades ago, Gotham decided to build a walled camp in the middle of a lower-class area of Brooklyn to lock white-collar jobs in. This project would accomplish two goals, pols thought. In addition to keeping jobs in New York, Metrotech would spark further development in a slummy neighborhood that never had grown on its own, despite its proximity to lower Manhattan. City and state officials used eminent domain to displace 250 owners and tenants so that developer Bruce Ratner could build the suburban-style office campus.
Metrotech tenants have received about $270 million in state and city subsidies (of which more than $200 million went to JPMorgan Chase). But Metrotech hasn’t kept the nation’s financial-services jobs in New York…Nor has Metrotech, completely cut off from the surrounding streetscape, encouraged the growth of an unsubsidized business community in its neighborhood. Metrotech is what it was when it opened: a suburban-style office campus carved out of inner-city downtown Brooklyn.
We actually don’t know that much about Metrotech–does everyone agree that it is an unmitigated disaster?
Taking Away Your Property for What? [City Journal]
4 Metrotech Center Photo [Scott Murphy]
David, How many of those jobs are subsidized and at what price? How many of those are new jobs or just jobs taken from other parts of the city? How many of those jobs employ local people from the area? Unemployment was around 88% in the surrounding housing projects before Metrotech and is still the same 20 years later.Downtown Brooklyn has one of the highest Asthma rates in the State and now they have constant traffic gridlock on Flatbush ave. to deal with. So what good did it bring to the local community? Nothing. They used eminent domain to displace people from their homes and businesses so a billionaire like Ratner could enrich his pockets just like his proposed Atlantic Yards project.
I think all the development the article talks about in Prospect Hghts only goes to show that
developers know people will gladly pay big bucks to live near Ratnerville.
Hey Parksloper you are one uninformed individual. Metrotech has nothing to do with increasing real estate value in Ft. Greene and Clinton Hill. These neighborhoods grew in value as people got priced out of Manhatten, Brooklyn Heights and Boerum Hill. People decided to take a chance. It’s a natural organic progression.The fact that people have invested in these communities and nutured the local businesses has helped to make them a wonderful place to live.I truly resent you calling Prospect Heights a disaster, desolate ,underused and dangerous.I guess that’s why some condos in my building Newswalk(right next to the railyards) are selling for over a million dollars.Oh by the way moron Try reading this article to smarten yourself up http://www.therealdeal.net/issues/NOVEMBER_2005/1130899010.php
or look here to see all the new condo developments in Prospect heights http://www.curbed.com/archives/2005/11/03/connect_the_dots_for_prospect_heights_development_fun.php#more
Oh and by the way The Atlantic Yards is in Prospect Heights and not in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn.
Puca – from your cited article – they replaced 750 jobs with 22,000 jobs today – seems like the type of success you could only dream about
I am convinced that Metrotech deserves a lot of the credit for the upgrading and development of the surrounding areas, such as Smith Street, as well as increasing real estate values in adjacent areas such as Fort Greene and Clinton Hill. The area was a disaster before, much like the Atlantic Yards area — a huge, underused, desolate, dangerous area in the heart of downtown Brooklyn just across the bridge from Manhattan’s financial district. It may not be a perfect example of urban development, but it is far superior to what was there (or wasn’t there) before.
Hey Jack Krohn and all of the people touting how great Metrotech is and how it revitalized the area you couldn’t be more mistaken!! They used eminent domain to evict 250 homeowners and 750 jobs that were already there. It’s a billiondollar
boondoggle just like the Atlantic Yards is and paid for with our subsidized taxdollars. Try reading this great article by Matthew Schuerman from the Observer about Metrotech. http://www.citylimits.org/content/articles/articleView.cfm?articlenumber=1221
Anon @ 12:19 – Really?? Do you have a single source to back up that conclusion – didnt think so.
Anon@12:17 while I agree that it isnt as “open” as I would like, it is far from “failed space” by any legitimate economic analysis. Office towers arent built for after 5pm or weekend activity. Their success is determined by vacancy rates and price per sqft.
It is also silly to put our 2005 views on a development designed and built in late 80’s and early 90’s. No one was looking for a “truly public commons” in that part of Brooklyn in 1986. What was built was about as urban, open and pedestrian friendly as anyone could economically justify building during those very tough years.
Anon 12:19,
Once again, how do you know that most Metrotech employees are not locals? Show me some proof – a study, statistics issued by the city, anything! If you’re right, you’re right, but prove it.
People at Metrotech by and large do not venture beyond Court Street and Montague at lunch and them home. They are commuters — not locals.