From Develop Don't Destroy:For his Atlantic Yards project Bruce Ratner promised a grandiose "urban room" and a tax revenue generating office tower at the gridlocked Atlantic and Flatbush intersection at the heart of Brooklyn. He also promised to build "affordable housing.”
None of that is going to happen.
Instead, today the developer unveiled designs for an outdoor "public plaza" where the tower and atrium structure were promised, and told reporters at a press conference that his firm has no plans to build 15 of the 16 towers he promised to build, which would include nearly all of the "affordable” housing Ratner used to sell his plans to Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Paterson and a long list of other politicians.
"Ratner's not-so-pretty drawings of a barricaded, exhaust-enveloped plaza—including the absurd rendered fantasy of a traffic-less Atlantic and Flatbush intersection—is not the Atlantic Yards news of the day. The news of the day, which is not surprising but is very troubling, is that Bruce Ratner admitted that he has no plans whatsoever to build the affordable housing he promised or the office tower he promised. It is crystal clear that Atlantic Yards is nothing but a scam, a money-losing arena, surrounded by massive parking lots, in the middle of a housing and unemployment crisis," said Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn co-founder Daniel Goldstein.
"Bruce Ratner has broken every promise he has made to the public—Mayor Bloomberg, Governors Paterson, Pataki and Spitzer, Marty Markowitz, Senator Schumer, and all the politicians who rammed this debacle down Brooklyn's throat, owe the public a big explanation, and need to take this land back from Ratner since he is not going to meet any of his promises.”
Yes, but we already knew this, didn't we? Why aren't all the affordable housing advocates up in arms over this? Could it be because they got their payoffs in return for their support and never really cared about the actual housing?
Looks like the joke's on us taxpayers.
AGAIN.
P.S. That thing is an eyesore. It's actually bringing more blight to Brooklyn rather than removing it. Ugh.
15 comments:
what the hell is that? and who designed it?
He's too late.Already too much office space a few blocks away at Metrotech.What happens when no one shows up to watch a third rate basketball team?
Who designed it? Why City Planning and EDC, thats who.
But the real problem are not the second rate wannabe architects and the like that infest those agencies.
The problem is with your city councilman that lets them beat up on you - and your local newspaper that are little more than tout sheets for them.
I do not see a single tree on that "public plaza". No one except bums will go hang out there.
of course this happens. Has it ever not happened? Who is the last person to come through on something like this?
And what is the consequence for not doing it? the contract should be voided. Will anyone do anything? wouldn't it be a good election incentive to do soemthing now?
And what is the consequence for not doing it?
A DEVELOPER WILL NOT GET THEIR WAY - A DANGEROUS THING, LIKE ASKING A TWEEDED FOR THEIR PAPERS, A THING TO BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS.
the contract should be voided.
YES, A LOT OF THINGS SHOULD BE DONE. BUT THEY WOULDN'T.
Will anyone do anything?
LIKE MOST THINGS, THOSE THAT COULD ARE BOUGHT OFF, SOMETIMES WITH AS LITTLE AS POCKET CHANGE.
OF COURSE WE HAVE THE PRESS (AND A VESTIGAL TAIL FOR THAT MATTER). BOTH ARE EQUALLY USEFUL.
wouldn't it be a good election incentive to do soemthing now?
WHY? PEOPLE THAT RUN FOR OFFICE ARE NOT THERE TO SERVE (EXCEPT SOME WILD-EYDED TEA BAGGERS AND THE SYSTEM WILL ENSURE THEY GET NOWHERE)
NAW, PEOPLE THAT RUN FOR OFFICE ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB. STOPPING THIS DOES NOT GET THEM ONE.
WOW! It looks like ratners arena will solve the traffic issue in that area. Look at how light traffic is on those streets with the new arena there!
I wonder if Ratner will dispense bleach for all the urine the plaza will attract?
Anonymous said...
I do not see a single tree on that "public plaza". No one except bums will go hang out there.
To which I say...
I believe they "integrated" the bums into the design as combination vehicle barricades / hedging / art installations, and at a cost of $23 million per bum, there was a net savings of $4.5 million to the taxpayer vs. the alternatives.
Or some shit.
It won't be teenagers. According to one of the papers today, they're not going to be allowed to congregate there.
The same broken promises that are involved in this venue will be the same for the Amphitheater at Seaside Park that BP Marty Markowitz is pushing for a residential neighborhood in Brighton Beach.
Marty's Dream is Our Nightmare ! IT's about time the peple wake up & see what they are doing to our neighborhoods. Destroying the Quality of Life for a few bucks in the pockets of Developers & their friends the Politicans.
I honestly thought the rendering was a joke until I looked 3 times and saw it was apparently what they really intend to build.
It looks like a squished up big mac.
Brooklyn Crap. There is an overwhelming amount of Crap in Brooklyn, far more than in Queens.
where is Bertha Lewis now?
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