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As planned since a judge okay'd Forest City Ratner's demolition of buildings in downtown Brooklyn, Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn held a protest this morning. FCR says that they own all the buildings and therefore should be allowed to tear them down, but DDDB says one concern is that the land will remain vacant if the project doesn't happen. DDDB's Ron Shiffman told NY1, "I find it very ironic that the day after Earth Day and the day after the mayor, I think, made a magnificent speech calling for us to be the greenest city, that we're destroying buildings that have already been built, buildings that have a lot of energy in them and destroying them, in this case before the lawsuits have been settled."
Brownstoner noticed "it didn't look like any back-hoes were waiting in the wings, so perhaps the buildings will live another day." Perhaps, given that FCR needs to deal with many lawsuits about the project.
DDDB also contends that the state is calling the area blighted just for the project; we wrote about non-blight in a supposedly blighted stretch of Dean Street last year.
Photograph from Brownstoner
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this whole thing is sad.
whats sad is these nimby assholes who are trying to stop the creation of tens of thousands of homes and offices over a desolate train yard that's at the convergence of 10 subway lines, lots of buses and the LIRR.
whats could be more sustainable than that?
whats sad is these nimby assholes who are trying to stop the creation of tens of thousands of homes and offices over a desolate train yard that's at the convergence of 10 subway lines, lots of buses and the LIRR.
whats could be more sustainable than that?
Except the jobs and the low rent homes will never materialize, some rich guy will get richer and beautiful historic buildings will be replaced by ugly and poorly constructed boxes. Of course, he'll do it with the aid of taxpayer subsidies. And there will be no money invested in improving sewers, schools and all the other public services that will be strained even more than before. Remember, our infrastructure is ailing and being ignored so that big bucks developers can line their pockets and because nobody wants to pay taxes.
If it were just desolate land it would be one thing, but he's got eminent domain over beautiful and loved historic homes as well.
Second scuds.
But I agree that the towers have to be scaled down.
There's nothing historic in that area; for chrissakes it was Brooklyn's meat packing district! ... full of trains since before the Civil War.
the only thing getting the shaft in this mega-project is cleveland. fcr plots and plans from its office in tower city there and does nothing for its own city. meanwhile it sits on its prime company owned vacant property right downtown for years and refuses to touch it or sell it and let it be developed. shame on the ratner boys!!!!
This is NIMBY BS.
There will be thousands of apartments built over a desolate train yard. It's very sustainable, and I'm sure that it will make the neighborhood better by bridging the void over the yards. I hope they build every last apartment.
If it was only apartments!! But no, a plan for only apartments and small businesses submitted by another developer (for a lower cost!) was rejected out of hand so that Ratner could build his mega-stadium and high-rises.
Wake up! Why do people think they're going to get a "low rent" or affordable apartment out of this? See the breakdown below from DDD, using numbers taken directly from the Ratner plan:
If you or your family earn between $21,270 to $28,360/year 225 units would be set aside for you.
If you or your family earn between $28,361 to $35,450/year 675 units would be set aside for you.
The Brooklyn Area Median Income (AMI) is 35,000/year.
That's 900 units (or 13%) out of a total 6,860 proposed units.
If you or your family earn less than $21,270 there is no home for you in the proposed project.
84% of the units will NOT be affordable to families making less than $56,000/year.
40% of the "affordable" units would be for families earning between $71,000/year and $113,000/year.
First of all the low income units proposed here aren't going to be utilized by those for whom they are designed for . Think about it, This project is going to demolish historic homes, Displaced current residents, & create a bland, sterile neighborhood where only the rich will be able too live . Those "NIMBY Assholes" are just standing up for there properties . What's wrong with that ? They don't want too move and are willing to fight to keep their homes ! Ratner and his people are spinning lies to you all about jobs, all of this "Low income housing" bullshit ! Read in between the lines people, You can't have low income mingling with high-end condo's ! It's been tried and failed miserably time after, after time . You name me one sporting complex that is currently built in a low income area . I'll wait...........You can't because their are none ! Sure there are low income housing developments on the outskirts of those sporting area's, But think about the current plan here . Where the hell are they going to put those low income housing units at ? Grand Army Plaza is a short walk from the site, The Fulton Mall is also short distance . You have the current gentrifications of the surrounding area's to take into account which isn't going well for some area's . (See most of Park Slope, Parts of Gowanus)All of you that rail against what these folks are trying to say are either wealthy enough towards where it's not a concern, Or you don't live in the area ! The same thing that happened in the city is happening in Brooklyn now and will happen in the other Boroughs as well . If your not affected yet get ready for that reality !Finally, That area has been notorious for it's inability to attract jobs, The Caldor that started the Atlantic Center is proof of that . If you can't maintain a store that sells the same shit you get at Walgreen's in a strip mall then you have a major problem ! Sure the Burlington Coat Factory is a source of income with the bargains, Circuit City is good & Party City has it's moments . The Pathmark will always make money for them for obvious reasons .