The Personal Side of Dan Goldstein's Crusade
As part of the Gotham Gazette’s week-long focus on the issue of eminent domain, DDDB’s Dan Goldstein penned an essay on the Atlantic Yards project that includes some personal context for what has been a very public fight: Within the [AY] footprint there are four historically significant buildings which are not landmarked. One building, which…
As part of the Gotham Gazette’s week-long focus on the issue of eminent domain, DDDB’s Dan Goldstein penned an essay on the Atlantic Yards project that includes some personal context for what has been a very public fight:
Within the [AY] footprint there are four historically significant buildings which are not landmarked. One building, which I live in, is a renovated 1926 warehouse (pictured) designed by George S. Kingsley with ornamentation inspired by the Egyptian Revival Movement of the 1920s. It’s the only New York example of the ornate storage warehouses that Kingsley became nationally known for (in Chicago his building is landmarked). The Kingsley building and the 1885 Spalding Building, the former factory of the sporting goods manufacturer, are adaptive re-use success stories. The renovated condos in the Kingsley warehouse opened to residents only six months before Ratnervilleas opponents call itwas announced, while the former Spalding factory opened only two years prior to the announcement. The Ward Baking Company Building, built in 1911, is remarkable for its glazed white terra-cotta façade and its storied history of innovative baking techniques in the 1920s. At that time it was called the snow-white temple of bread-making cleanliness. Ratner now has an option on the building coming due in March – and intends to demolish it.
These buildings certainly sound worth saving to us.
Life in the Atlantic Yards Footprint [Community Gazette]
David, I think the point is that there are people besides Dan who don’t want to move and who are being forced to. I think most sensible people opposed to Ratner’s plan are not opposed to the actual railyard area being developed. Just that footprint is still a lot of space, and we only get one chance to try and do it right.
And now even Marty Markowitz is beginning to voice concerns about the scale and impact of the project (not that he’ll be able to do anything about it at this late date)…
It is so infuriating how you exaggerate Dan so I thought rather than wait for you- Id add to the list of “victims”
Unit 802
Purchased 7/03 – for $789,000
Sold 12/04 to Ratner for $1,878,000
Unit 204
Purchased 8/03 for $305,000
Sold to Ratner 1/05 for $730,000
Unit 403
Purchased 6/03 for $384,000
Sold to Ratner 11/04 for $878,000
Unit 803
Purchased 7/03 for $688,000
Sold to Ratner 11/04 for $1,663,000
Yeah it really sounds like these people were victimized.
Dan, does your “slightly less scale include an arena?
YOur article is filled with hyperbole – comparing being paid ‘just compensation’ for your property to Communist China is either hyperbole or complete ignorance (for 1 example)
Dan please show ONE buyout where someone was fu***d – I bet you cant
david wrote:
“Why isn’t an 8.5 acre rail yard enough for Bruce Ratner?” – Dan Goldstein
So Dan are you saying that if the AY proposal only encompased the rail yards you wouldnt oppose it or is the above comment just an intellectual flourish that you dont really mean??
yes, david, it the scale was slightly less, that is exactly what i’m saying
and anonymous, i don’t see any hyperbole in my article. you just disagree, doesn’t make it hyperbole.
i do believe that 53 community groups opposed is vast opposition.
and you anonymous, can’t keep track of all you anonymys, funny you should pick out those who made a profit instead of those who are getting f**ked.
Sorry wasnt anon – I wrote it but forgot to put my name in –
Roz – Dan’s quotes are from Dan’s article linked above – try actually reading it makes life so much easier
Goldstein definition of victims:
his building – owner of #604
bought apt for 495k – spring 2004
sold apt for 1,115k – winter 2004
Thanks acris & proprty shark
Hey, 1:49pm, How come you just happen to have all these “choice examples” of Dan’s comments right there at your fingertips? Is it because you work for Bruce Ratner or one of the “grassroots” community groups he has bought and paid for?
The railyards are the railyards are the railyards. Nobody is arguing that they are attractive or shouldn’t be developed. What sticks in the craw of local residents is that the proposed plan would also swallow up the same amount of land as the railyards — and then some — including Simon Liu’s business (and there’s absolutely no guarantee he will be adequately compensated — the price will be set by NY State will very little opportunity for negotiation) and Dan’s apartment.
Oh Dan – as I read your article I see hyperbole is your favorite form of communication – fortunatly most people still arent listening
Some choice examples:
“Now, the kind of despotic power Liu fled decades ago is threatening his business in our so-called free market.”
– Eminent Domain hasnt been used, and even if it is- it calls for compensation at fair mkt value – while you may not like it, it is far from the Despotic takings that take place in Communist China.
“The current project cost is $3.5 billion with a public cost of at least $1.5 billion”
-Your public costs includes 1.3 Billion in exemptions (tax or lease) – considering the city/state make close to $0 now on the site (including your tax abatted condo), it is a streatch to call this a public cost, at best it is a lost opportunity cost, which certainly cant be valued 1:1 as you’d like to – Real CASH cost to city and state $200 million.
“In recent years, the proposed site and surroundings have become one of the most desirable locations in Brooklyn to live in and a prime target for developers.”
– The site is a hole in the ground and hasnt become a prime area for anything except parking trains; It is far from the most desirable area in Brooklyn, there hasnt been any NEW development on the site at all and the only thing added to the area in the last decade has been a few old factory conversions (Newswalk, Spalding, and Goldstein’s building). Meanwhile billions of development are taking place in surrounding areas.
” Ratner has successfully used that threat (ED] to scare owners to sell to him and bust up the neighborhood.”
– what neighborhood is “busted up”, please tell me does this neighborhood have any stores, any banks, any schools – oh and how many of this neighborhoods residents lived there 5 years ago?
“In those buyout deals Ratner has taken advantage of owners’ fear of condemnation, the strain and limbo it brings to families, by requiring sellers to sign a “gag†order in their contract which subverts their First Amendment rights to free speech ”
-if you sign a gag order your 1st Amendment rights were not taken away – can you also tell us how much profit these so called “victims” got for owning there condos for a few months? and since ED requires just compensation what (except for incredible profit) would make them sell so early (to date not one ED proceeding has been commenced)
“Within the footprint there are four historically significant buildings,”
-were these buildings EVER submitted for such designation? – Did you or any one else even care when the develper punched A/C holes in the facade? – didnt think so
“The history is current and vibrant, readily discoverable in one of the city’s few remaining mixed-use neighborhoods and one of the more economically and racially diverse parts of the city.”
-Pretty big terms for an area that has 347 residents (your #s) and where the vast majority of those residents were even occupied 5 yrs ago.
“As Atlantic Yards wends its way through the state’s approval process, facing vast opposition,”
– really??? you had 400 people at your protest, a minisule number considering the 300,000+ poplulation in the immediate vicinity and the 347 people who live on-site.
“On any six square block in this city you will find a property that might be “dilapidated†or “structurally unsound†or “vacant,†and all throughout the city nearly every property could be considered “economically underutilized”
– really I didnt notice Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Bay Ridge and dozens of other neighborhoods looking like the dump that is Atlantic between Flatbush and Vanderbilt – How about next to Grand Central Station? or Penn Station (since AY is next to a transport hub) –
Dan stop lying and exaggerating the truth – it is truly embarrassing for you and your cause.
“Why isn’t an 8.5 acre rail yard enough for Bruce Ratner?” – Dan Goldstein
So Dan are you saying that if the AY proposal only encompased the rail yards you wouldnt oppose it or is the above comment just an intellectual flourish that you dont really mean??