Goldstein Offered Less Than What He Paid for Condo
On Saturday the Wall Street Journal ran an anti-eminent domain op-ed by the Manhattan Institute’s Nicole Gelinas. The writer argues that the state is masking an economic development motive in its push for the use of eminent domain in the Atlantic Yards footprint by falsely categorizing the area as blighted. AY Report notes, “not every…
On Saturday the Wall Street Journal ran an anti-eminent domain op-ed by the Manhattan Institute’s Nicole Gelinas. The writer argues that the state is masking an economic development motive in its push for the use of eminent domain in the Atlantic Yards footprint by falsely categorizing the area as blighted. AY Report notes, “not every block was thriving, but Prospect Heights was surely on the way up.” The piece also says that Develop Don’t Destroy’s Dan Goldstein is now being offered less money for his home, in the building above, than what he paid for it in 2003: “The letter they received in September informed them that the state will compensate them $510,000 for their property—less than what they bought it for and less than half of what Mr. Ratner offered to pay them for it four years ago. It’s also less per square foot than what Mr. Ratner expects to sell his luxury apartments for once they are built. ‘I think [the state] lowballs to deter people from fighting like we have,’ Mr. Goldstein told me.” Goldstein paid $590,000 for his 1,290-square-foot apartment, or $457 a foot, and the state is now offering him $395 a foot; AY Report writes that state consultants prepared a report saying that prices in Prospect Heights now start at $470 a foot and go up to $1,225 a foot.
The Empire State and Eminent Domain [WSJ]
How New York Abuses Eminent Domain [DDDB]
How the AY Blight Study is About Economic Development [AY Report]
Bxgrl,
What can you do with the likes of pawns like FSRG and the rest of them? Just ignore them.
Saying you “want something built there” and then doing everything to make sure NOTHING is built there does not change reality – you want nothing built there.
Ratner is/was the only legitimate plan. Hoping that “organic development” will replace an active railyard with quaint Victorian brownstones and parks is a fantasy….
The railyards have been a BLIGHT on downtownish Brooklyn for generations! The reality has been – since 2003- that opposing Ratner’s AYs is the same as opposing ALL development on the site for at least another generation – and all the lip service to alternative plans is just that – lip service – there are no other reasonable alternatives given the initial cost and complexity of covering the yards.
The reason why NIMBY works in this case is because if you really look at what DDDB/Dan Goldstein and the rest really say – is that even if it is better of NYC, NYS or Brooklyn – they do not want an arena/development at that site and they will do whatever they can to prevent it….now I know they put out ENDLESS propaganda touting how terrible this will be for everyone….but regardless, that is just for appearances – ask Goldstein and he will tell you – He doesnt want an Arena (or tall buildings) there NO MATTER WHAT – the fact that the City/State may have given too many subsidies, or that ED is being used are just convenient “tools” – the true position of Dan Goldstein is – No development other than some impossible imaginary vision – which is the same as NO development, which = NIMBY
Actually- be rude- I think the fact that you admit its personal bears on your argument. Plenty of people would disagree with your definition of what is peripheral. AY extends beyond the rail yards (which ratner got for peanuts basically) and impacts many people and more than one neighborhood. But what i don’t understand is that despite all of the back room dealing, the finessing your way around the law, the dishonesty, misdirection and sheer arrogance of both ratner and the pols, (not to mention the money we are losing) that you are angry at Goldstein.The fact the Goldstein may not have been involved in ED fights before AY came up doesn’t take away from the reason he is involved now.
What’s so offensive about calling people who don’t want AY as it stands NIMBYs is that it automatically delegitimizes the very real objections and concerns of those of us who oppose it. I don’t have to like Goldstein personally (I have no feelings one way or another) but by simply writing anti-AYers off as NIMBYs, you seem to be assuming that 1) We have no legitimate interest in what’s happening, 2) We haven’t educated ourselves on the issues and 3) that we don’t want anything being built there. I’ve said it many times- as have others- that is not the case. And by focusing on Goldstein’s presumed personality issues, the very real issues he is addressing are overlooked. Probably exactly what Ratner and his ilk want.
be rude – I feel no need to weigh in…because you have said it so well already.
southbrooklyn & bxgirl: I am perfectly well informed about the site, and how the footprint extends beyond merely the yards. Do I need to say it a third time?? Other stuff is peripheral. I never said the million dollar condos themselves were a sign of blight, but they are right next door to a major area of blight and are peripheral to a development project that far exceeds the scope of the incremental, pre-Ratner projects that created them. You both may be happy with incremental improvements creeping along — ensuring the yards continue to remain largely vacant for decades to come, as they were pre-Ratner — which is of course your prerogative. But don’t get all self-rightous and paint a picture of someone steamrolling leafy neighborhoods as if there weren’t a huge urban eysore at the core of this site. That’s all I’m saying.
And bxgirl, while I’ve come to enjoy this spirited back-and-forth, I’ll say it once again: please read what I write before you spout off. I never said my thoughts about Goldstein were anything but personal (see: #3 at 11:12 AM). And no, I never cared about ED before (did you??). But then again, I am not the one getting all self-rightous about ED now only when it happens to suit me, am I? You’re missing my point. And you ask did anyone care about ED before this? YES. There are other folks involved in this who have legitimately fought these battles, across the city and state, for years. I give them credibility … I just find folks like Goldstein self-indulgent (as I clearly said before).
> usually on the wrong side of something that has obvious
> benefits to many.
Or more to the point, as your post makes clearly, obvious benefits to YOU.
I think Karma’s not the only bitch here.
winelover, if you think this is the sort of project that the majority of us in the neighborhoods surrounding AY were waiting for, you’re (sadly) mistaken. There’s significant opposition to the Ratner plan for AY, and if you’ve followed this at all, not for more reasoned alternatives which don’t cost the taxpayers millions. The name of Dan’s organization is instructive: Develop, don’t Destroy.
Why do anti-DDDB-ers feel the need to use personal invective instead of attacking the actions?
dude did it for publicity, ego, to elevate his sad life – who knows. i don’t understand people like this, but they are everywhere. have one on our parents group just like this. taking up strange contrarian causes fueled by conspiracy theories. usually on the wrong side of something that has obvious benefits to many. motivation to be determined by their therapists i guess.
of course the hood sucks (projects and low income housing meet abandoned train tracks) AY would bring real life and legitimacy to the area and Brooklyn as whole. puts Brooklyn out there for the whole country to see. takes Brooklyn out from the shadow of Manhattan. anyone who takes this major project on should be rewarded and helped – obviously! when i first heard of the AY project i was so thrilled that i couldn’t believe it was real. i’ve been investor in Brooklyn for a long time, and this was just the kind of thing that i’ve been hoping and waiting for. Goldstein’s the enemy to me.
guy is a major ___ (pick your own negative adjective). hope he takes a financial bath. Karma’s a bitch!
Yes, I’ll admit, that was some exclamation by our friend Polemicist!
I seem to remember that less than half of the proposed project is the actual railyards. The majority of the surface area is private property and City streets. Where’s Mr. Oder when you need him to chime in?
How the state can honestly be moving to the ED stage and offering the Goldstein family a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g at this point is beyond me. I thought that ED wasn’t in the cards as yet…am I wrong? And if the Goldsteins don’t agree to accept an offer, and if ED is used, what? Will the family be dragged out of their home by the marshal before New Year’s so FCR push through that tax-free bonds sale?
Goodness gracious. I don’t know any more. It was better in the “old days” when they took property to build highways/BQE and schools…not buildings for private developers to profit from. Sure, when ED was used to build highways, schools, government buildings and public hospitals, lots and lots of contractors would feed at the trough. At this point though, the system has been a bit turned on its head. No?