Atlantic Yards Update: Housing Prices and Rallies
We’re glad to see that Atlantic Yards Project is getting plenty of attention in the press and around the blogosphere. According to the Brooklyn Papers, more than 2,000 New Yorkers attended Forest City Ratner’s “affordable housing information meeting” last week at the Brooklyn Marriot:Many in the predominantly black crowd came from outside of Brooklyn and…
We’re glad to see that Atlantic Yards Project is getting plenty of attention in the press and around the blogosphere. According to the Brooklyn Papers, more than 2,000 New Yorkers attended Forest City Ratner’s “affordable housing information meeting” last week at the Brooklyn Marriot:
Many in the predominantly black crowd came from outside of Brooklyn and saw the development from beyond the prism of local controversy that has pitted residents of Prospect Heights and Fort Greene — who believe it will destroy the neighborhoods’ character — against Ratner boosters like Markowitz, who cheer the affordable housing and jobs the project may create.
Many attendees were disappointed that only 225 apartments will be reserved for families of four that earn between $21,270 and $28,360. The majority of the units will go to families that earn above $42,540.” This news also helped fuel the fire of the DDDB (Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn) anti-Ratner rally on Saturday, which featured speeches from Park Slope’s Steve Buscemi and Brooklyn native Rosie Perez…
According to the comprehensive play-by-play on the Atlantic Yards Report, a DDDB counter estimated that 3,200 people attended the rally, but there was a very small representation of minority groups in the crowd. Norman Oder writes:
The race and class composition of the opposition remains an issue, since DDDB and invited speakers — most of whom were black — have emphasized that this should be a unified fight. “We say no to you dividing our community up,” declared City Council Member Charles Barron. “This is white and black and progressive and working class saying no to a billion-dollar developer.”
Steve Buscemi lightened the mood with a poem he composed for the occasion: “Affordable housing/but eminent domain/I play a lot of crazies/but that sounds insane.”
Throngs Seek Out Bruce’s Low-Rent Yards Apartments [Brooklyn Papers]
No Massive Turnout at DDDB Rally, but Resistance Shows Growth [AY Report]
Anti-Ratner Rally Draws Thousands on a Blazing Hot Sunday [Gowanus Lounge]
Inadequate Commentary [Dope on the Slope]
Crowd Gathers to Protest Size of Atlantic Yards Plan [NY Times]
B’klyn Stars Come Out to Rip Ratner [NY Post]
Photo by Dope on the Slope
I agree with the last post. All I can say is that although some were disappointed that only 225 apartments will be reserved for families of four that earn between $21,270 and $28,360. Ratner doesn’t have to do anything for “us” the community but he is. Ratner is not the only developer around here. Ratner is not responsible for most of the other building that are going up and not offering “us” the community anything. He doesn’t have to have a CBA coalition involved at all and despite what DDDB might want you all to think some of the groups that are involved in the CBA are really fighting for the community. Such as; PHC, ACORN, NYSAMC, BEE, & Downtown Brooklyn Educational Consortium. Those of you who want to know more you should try to get to know the people who run these organizations.
8:26,
I think you have your information crossed. I live in Prospect Heights and blacks generally support the stadium and affordable housing, whereas “war hating white liberals” are always the ones screeching against it.
And, yes, the Times is delusional. That’s why I mentioned that the police are better qualified to provide crowd counts than “a reporter or a community activist”.
maybe Dan goldstein is delusional. then again, maybe the Times is, they reported 2-4k.
how many would it take to satifsy you haters?
WELL talk to FUREE, ask them why they were there. you know FUREE deep grassroots public housing base?
the crowd was majority white. overwhelmingly white? the sun must have been blinding you.
you know what? there is a racial divide, many whites (often war-hating white liberals) support Ratner’s scam, while many blacks hate it. walk the streets in the neighborhoods. ask people. that is what you’ll find.
Do you have any opinion about whether Manhattan\’s Upper East Side residents are predominantly black?
If so, what\’s the basis of this opinion? Did you go door to door?
How could you possibly know the race of anyone who posts on a blog?
On the other hand, 60 seconds of viewing this crowd automatically tells you that most of the attendees were white.
The cops estimated 600-700 people. Given that they are trained and much more experienced with crowd counts than a reporter or community activist, I’d take their word as the most accurate count.
Hey, we’re pointing out that there’s a racial divide here — not denying it.
It is entirely about race, though the white folks who frequent this and other conservative blogs enjoy denying the obvious.
Well, I stopped by this rally on Saturday and there were maybe 1,200 – 1,500 people there. An overwhelming white crowd also.