Gothamist: Work Abruptly Halts At Atlantic Yards Site

petercow99

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:32:27 -0500

Well, with Ratner having bought off just about every politician who could have stopped it, we needed a force majeure and we got one. I remember back in the Koch mayoralty (I think), there was a plan to raze Times Square, and construct giant office towers with huge tax breaks - for Prudential, as I recall. The deal collapsed, but not for lack of trying. Then the private-sector came along, and managed to accomplish what was said could happen only with government help. So.. the hole in the ground stays a hole in the ground for a few years longer. Good.

soundfreak

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:38:20 -0500

Jeez, and they just tore down some more small apartment buildings last week.

Think twice

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:54:24 -0500

Send the Nets to Newark Bruce. Newark.

chris lee

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:40:40 -0500

Somebody educate me, what kind of housing was siezed in this project?

thefacts

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:20:12 -0500

Brooklyn shows the boy from Ohio who rules Atlantic Avenue! The hole in the ground for years to come will serve as a reminder to others foolish enough to mess with a determined community and thinking they have the pols in their back pocket. Rapacious developers take heed! You have nothing to lose but your money.

hungryghoast

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:07:32 -0500

it's a victory for Brooklyn as long as it's a loss for Ratner. Of course it's a loss for Brooklyn too as long as the site is an "apocalyptic construction siite for years and years and years with no jobs" ... But it was going to be a loss for Brooklyn as soon as Ratner stepped in emiment domain was used not matter WHAT happened.

babyhitler

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:00:57 -0500

yep, this is a victory for brooklyn alright, look at all that beautiful post apocalyptic construction siite for years and years and years with no jobs. great job.

memoson

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:35:55 -0500

Meanwhile we're stuck with an ugly hole and some demolished buildings for the foreseeable future

hungryghoast

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:31:17 -0500

I think everyone agrees something can/should be done with that land. But anyone who thinks an arena and luxury housing in that area (ESPECIALLY via eminent domain) is a good idea needs a kick in the head to give them some sense.

Spiritof76

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:00:11 -0500

Get used to seeing the dirt. This ain't gonna happen, folks. The city should insist on seeing complete financing (including a margin for overruns) before allowing such large projects to begin.

JMH

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:44:49 -0500

What this area really needs is a "white knight" type who has the capital and the willpower to step in and develop the site with a project that makes more sense for the area. I can't imagine there wouldn't be good political and public support for a housing development that centered around decent middle-income rental housing (increasingly difficult to find) rather than luxury condos with enough affordable housing mixed in to qualify for tax incentives like we see in just about every new development. I guess what that'd take, then, would be a deep pocket who's rich enough, or altruistic enough, or both, that s/he would be willing to undertake such a project with an eye more towards building/cementing a legacy of improving the city than towards simply making as much money as possible. Of course, the only one of those I can think of is already busy with being, you know, mayor.

Felix Hoenikker

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:40:01 -0500

Developers and Pols are always a bad combo.

Nick S

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:39:06 -0500

i'm sure the 'develop don't destory' crowd is chalking this up as a victory... ugh.

thefacts

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:07:06 -0500

Congratulations to all the Brookynites ( and councilmember Letitia James) who fought this boondoggle at taxpayer's expense. Shame on Marty Barfowitz, Bertha Lewis and "Rev" Daughtry who would sell Brooklyn down the river for a few of Ratner's promises and a couple of bucks. Walter O'Malley would be proud of these scoundrels.

NannyState

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:45:57 -0500

Go seized up credit markets Go!

EricGewiz

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:44:14 -0500

Of course it has to do with the economy. But, give the state of the economy, why build a "frivilous arena" and luxury housing? Particularly with no social services, etc. (like Police, Schools, Fire) for the density of people that they hope will inhabit the area. I hope the scrap the plans altogether....

r1b2

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:35:07 -0500

Eminent domain application here is absurd. This isn't in the public good. This is a commercial enterprise.

Mr Mel

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:31:06 -0500

It's the economy, stupid.

99centmenu

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:27:26 -0500

brooklyn: 1 ratner: 0 market: -5000

kdub

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:18:53 -0500

It aburptly halted? I'm sure it's just a hiccup in the plans.