At one point, Phase 1, which includes four towers on the arena block, was supposed to take just four years; then it was 12; now, after the latest ESDC extension, it’s up to 19. Lots of details on Atlantic Yards Report.


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  1. tybur6: Phase 1 is the arena and the 4 buildings that will supposedly, someday, surround the arena. this configuration was meant to be a way to mitigate siting an 18,000-seat arena within 200(?) yards of a residential area, which is not allowed under city zoning. FCR got the ESDC to override NYC zoning for AY.

  2. Remember this: Ratner’s #1 accomplice is Mayor Bloomberg, so don’t expect any accountability….
    Bottom line is the eminent domain tactic fated this project to failure. There was no way to justify such means, and the so-called ‘community leaders’ who got behind FCR have left a legacy of betrayal that will last decades.
    I’ve got no love for DDDB, but they were in the right to fight AY. Look at the landmark Kelso decision for New London: using eminent domain to benefit private development is a fundamentally immoral strategy (and if you’re wondering why the NY Times has refused to devote critical coverage to AY it’s because their new HQ was built on land seized in just the same fashion).
    Clearly, a lot of people have painted DDDB as a group of self-interested white yuppies without any concern for the underlying issue: if their property wasn’t safe from government seizure, then yours isn’t either. No matter who’s the immediate victim of this type of eminent domain taking, it violates all of our rights.

  3. I just saw the great play, “In the Footprint,” this past weekend in Fort Greene. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a better understanding of those “back room deals” (okay, benson, there you go) and wants to see some good theater to boot. The dialogue is taken verbatim from transcripts of testimony and public meetings, and the songs were written by the same guy who wrote the songs for “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.” Highly recommended!

    http://theater.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/theater/reviews/24footprint.html?scp=1&sq=in%20the%20footprint&st=cse

  4. It’s hard to beleive ESDC is not being investigated by the feds at this point. Ridiculous.

    One nit I would pick would be the implciation that no interest would be due during the 2 year forbearance period — wouldn’t pre-judmgent interest be available after the 2 years have expired and an action is brought?

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