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]
Ratnerville,as proposed, is not “near” me. But, then you understand nothing. Nice!
Bye, David. You are not worth the effort.
David, I believe GardensGal lives somewhere in Lefferts.
I understand your position clearly – anywhere but near you! Nice!
Thank you, David. Coming from you, I take it as a genuine compliment to be described as a “moron” or “hypocrite.”
In the real world, I am neither. However, unlike you, I’m no “expert” on this question and don’t purport to be one either. As such, I won’t begin to enter into a debate with you or anyone else on this forum about the specifics of alternative locations. This much I do know: East New York, is “underdeveloped” and has lots of open plots, not all of which abut the transit hub. Moreover, the same can be said for several other nabes in the borough which might actually profit the siting of a project of this nature and scope.
Here’s the bottom line for me: Is there really NO viable alternative site in which this development can be placed and can result in a win-win for both Ratner and the communities? That is certainly not the case with the current proposal.
I agree with David. I live near Vanderbilt Avenue and can’t wait to see this project get underway. Ratner has accomplished everything that he’s set out to so far. He has the political backing and the financial power to make it happen and, despite the insistence by DDDB and others that this thing is not a done deal, it IS a done deal. Get used to the new look of Prospect Heights, folks!
Again my point is that it isnt “the meeting” that matters it is the “reporting of the meeting” that does – since that will shape public opinion (unless the PR of the anti group tries a different tact) –
Yes I support the project, but like everyone else I have certain reservations, and I would welcome a coordinated opposition that could at least ensure certain legitimate concerns are addressed (btw polluting the Gowanus canal is not a legitimate concern) – but it seems clear that no such focused opposition will arise – so rather than continue to see a open pit in my neighborhood, Ill put aside my concerns rather than join with the “develop nothing” crowd.
As for the GardensGal, L.James, C.Baron suggestion that this development be put in East NY instead – anyone who complains about enviromental, traffic, or out of scope development who then suggestions moving this development from next to one of the largest mass transit hubs in the country to an area like E NY is either a total hypocrite or a complete moron.
Marty Markowitz may be a big supporter of arena etc. but a Borough President has almost no power and no vote in matter – he is mainly a cheerleader. So you’re wasting time and energy him.
From what I heard, much of the heckling was from union members and the phony BUILD organization. That’s the pro-Ratner camp if I’m not mistaken.
As a Brooklynite, I’ll be damned if I live too far away to have a valid opinion and my 2 cents is that Ratnerville, as proposed, stinks to the high heavens. Sure, I’d love to be able to catch the Nets in my home borough. But with a package of 19 skyscrapers over the Atlantic Yards?? No, I definitely don’t think that Roz overstated her case when she observed that this proposed development will forever transform the area and impact its current residents in the direction of the negative.
As has been suggested by Councilmembers James and Barron and others — why not put the arena in an area like East New York where there are vast tracts of open spaces that can accommodate it AND the teeny bit of affordable housing that is claimed to be part of the proposed design will be sorely needed by the residents of that nabe AND all these folk in the unionized sector of the construction industry who are pining for the work will still be able to get it? Don’t need to answer that question though. Most of us know why a multi-billion dollar rec/luxury housing project would never be seriously considered for placement in a ‘hood like East New York!
Meanwhile, the cry of the so-called “community groups” who are in support of Ratnerville makes my stomach turn. I never thought I would have to say it, but in another time and place, some these same behaviors would be termed as “neocolonialism.”