Yards Environmental Hearing a Spirited Affair
From all reports, last night’s hearing on the environmental impact of the Bruce Ratner’s proposal for the Atlantic Yards project was a boisterous affair. With the 880-seat auditorium at New York City College of Technology almost filled to capacity, emotions ran high as neighborhood groups, business associations and unions all voiced their opinions, usually with…
From all reports, last night’s hearing on the environmental impact of the Bruce Ratner’s proposal for the Atlantic Yards project was a boisterous affair. With the 880-seat auditorium at New York City College of Technology almost filled to capacity, emotions ran high as neighborhood groups, business associations and unions all voiced their opinions, usually with a back-drop of booing and cat-calling. Most of the opposition came from people who actually live in or near the Atlantic Yards, including Prospect Heights and Park Slope. Beyond aesthetic concerns and worries about forever changing the character of the neighborhood, opponents cited specific concerns about the existing infrastructure–from schools to parking to sewers–and its ability to accommodate the increased population density. The only people featured speaking out for the project (in the two articles we read) were both union leaders whose quality of life (other than their paychecks) we doubt will be impacted should the project go forward. The crowd also had no patience for wafflers: Councilman David Yassky was heckled for his middle-of-the-road stance: He’s for the project if it’s “done right.” Our sense is that even Brooklynites who are generally in favor of the project are worried about the scale and about Ratner going reneging on promises after he gets final approval.
The People Shout on Arena Project [NY Times]
SRO Crowd Takes Shots at Nets Plan [NY Daily News]
Why is it imperative to develop the railyards? It’s a basic part of the city’s infrastructure, just like power stations, telephone company buildings, sewage treatment centers, school bus parking lots, etc. etc. I’d be happy to see something built at Atlantic Yards that was appropriate in scale and function. But if the engineering challenges are going to be so expensive to overcome that the project has to be huge to pay all those costs, then maybe it’s more prudent for the public’s purse and the enviroment to just leave the site as is and do some landscaping around the perimeter. Otherwise, let’s get creative and suggest some “brave, visionary” new developments to the business hawks at City Hall. Hey, maybe they could build a platform over Belmont Racetrack, put condos on top, and keep the horses and spectators happy with some strong lighting?
I don’t have a specific site in mind in ENY; I’m just agreeing with the suggestion of an earlier poster who brought it up.
And, believe it or not, for many, many people living in Manhattan (and elsewhere), Brooklyn period is synonymous with crime and violence. I finally got a Manhattan-dwelling friend out to BAM last night, for the first time in his life (he’s lived in NY for six years!). He couldn’t believe that there were actually restaurants there, etc., and that people didn’t live in constant fear of their lives (this after he knows I’ve lived in Brooklyn, including in Fort Greene, for over 20 years – but I’m not like “normal” people!).
And the affordable housing would have to be pretty far east of the arena to be in ENY.
So maybe ENY isn’t the best place for this project, and something certianly should be done with the Atlantic Yards. Ratner’s project isn’t it.
” Be honest, many many Brooklyn residents dont live in Manhattan b/c they cant afford it (at least not any real sq ft) – not b/c they wouldnt if they could.”
I am anon 10:47, and perhaps we run with different crowds, but I have to disagree. For families with children, brooklyn is far superior – I wouldn’t move back to manhattan if you gave me a whole townhouse!
Not everything in bklyn is perfect obviously, and there’s no argument that the actual site of the yards could use something beneficial to the community. This project as it stands isn’t it.
Babs,
East New York, true or not, is synonymous with crime and violence. That itself would deter many potential fans from attending a game. But you’re correct about the needed housing. As Roger Green hinted at the public hearing this week, some of the affordable housing might be placed East of the arena, so you just might get your wish. Of course, this would give the anti-Ratner crowd yet another reason to scream and yelp. Then again, the only thing that would satisfy them is if Ratner called the project quits and the train yards went undeveloped for another century or two.
What specific site near the LIRR and the subway in ENY would you consider for the arena and housing? I’m trying to visualize the area and much of it seems already occupied, either with homes or warehouses. At least with the proposed Prospect Heights site, much of the area is occupied by train yards.
ENY is not the suburbs, and it would not be a suburban arena. How about taking the LIRR from LI, instead of a car? There are also many bus lines, and the Broadway Junction connection of the L, J/M/Z, and A/C could provide good access for people from many areas of Queens and Brooklyn.
And what is Ratnerville if not sprawl?
And how would someone from Queens or LI (or NJ) get to E.NY – the only way practical, by car. – Which Highway would you suggest they take by the way????
Oh also dont all you opponents love to complain about ‘contextual development’ – funny how you dont care about that if its somewhere else.
The problem with all your arguments is that there is NO better place to build an urban arena than at Atlantic Yards and if you push for a suburban arena you have to face the fact that it is significantly worse from an enviromental and sprawl perspective. (maybe you dont care about that but either way admit it)
Gee, David, why are only Manhattan people coming to Brooklyn the important ones? What about the Brooklyn and Queens people who are tired of going into Manhattan to go to MSG, for example? An arena in E NY would also attract a bigger crowd from Long Island as well.
And it’s good for ENY because the Atlantic Avenue/PS/PH/Fort Greene area is already sufficiently built-up. Ratner’s project is completely unsuited to the surrounding area, which will be unable to deal with the resulting influx of residents and transients — as has been pointed out before, there are no plans to add hospitals, schools, or other essential services, nor is there space here to do so, whereas the ENY area has the space and needs the economic boost.
Babs – 3 LOCAL subway lines spread out all over the place. It is an easy 1hr commute from Midtown – far from accessible, most people would drive clogging streets all over.
But if it is good for ENY why isnt it good for Atlantic Ave???
And to Anon 10:47 – Be honest, many many Brooklyn residents dont live in Manhattan b/c they cant afford it (at least not any real sq ft) – not b/c they wouldnt if they could. Besides it would take 20 or 30 Atlantic Yards to make downtown look anything like midtown.
Oh, and BTW, East NY has the 3 train, an LIRR station, lots of space, and is an area that could really use this sort of development, both in the need to provide long-term area jobs in the various offices and stores that are apart of the project, as well as arena personnel, and could desperately use some clean, new, solid, affordable housing.
This was once a very solid, middle class area, and could easily be so again, as its location is ideally suited both to getting into Manhattan and out to LI; merely by persuading people to go out there (say to go to a basketball game) the tide could begin to turn.