Judge Okays Atlantic Yards Eminent Domain

from threecee's flickr

A judge ruled that state officials can use eminent domain proceedings to acquire properties located in the footprint of the $4.9 billion Atlantic Yards development, reportedly "removing the most significant legal hurdle remaining before construction can begin." The decision allows developer Bruce Ratner to obtain properties including the home of project adversary Dan Goldstein and Freddy's Bar, where protesters handcuffed themselves to the bar to demonstrate against the planned arena and high-rises on the border of Prospect Heights and Fort Greene.

According to the Brooklyn Paper, state Supreme Court Justice Abe Gerges ruled that 14 claims by project opponents regarding issues including the timing of the condemnations and recent modifications of the plan had no "merit." Last year, the project seemed stalled before an Appeals Court dismissed lawsuits challenging the development and Ratner managed to sell $511 million in bonds to get financing. Ratner—who project opponents attempted to arrest last month —will now likely be able to move forward by permanently closing streets around the project site and beginning construction on the Barclays Center.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, a longtime Atlantic Yards supporter, issued the following statement:

Today's ruling by Judge Abraham Gerges of the New York State Supreme Court, Kings County affecting the Atlantic Yards development means that the creation of much-needed affordable housing, solid union jobs and permanent employment opportunities for Brooklynites can finally begin—and that our nation’s 'fourth-largest city,' Brooklyn, USA, will soon have a national professional sports team and a world-class sports and event facility back in our borough after 53 years! Brooklyn's shovels are, and have been, ready. So, let's pick them up and get to work!

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By Ben Muessig in News on March 1, 2010 12:51 PM

Comments [rss]

crestonave

Frightening. The door is open for anyone with the right political connections to come and take your home or property. The concept of eminent domain was intended for public purposes - roads, for example - and not for private profit-making projects.

drewo

All this for a sports arena most people could care less about, offices the city does not need, housing most people cannot afford, and shops when there are already enough empty storefronts?

Don't be surprised in a few years with a result similar to the eminent domain disaster that recently befell residents of New London, CT. The company that needed the private property there so desperately, Pfizer, pulled out altogether without ever getting started. But those folks all still lost their property.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/nyregion/13pfizer.html

"Pfizer to Leave City That Won Land-Use Case"

Peter

Drew,

It's "couldn't care less". Better your friends tell you. :)

More importantly, you're right on all points.

Peter

inklake

Chuck Schumer's Fat

Marty Markowitz LOVES New York judges. I mean one practically bought him a 1.45 million dollar Brooklyn house by awarding him a huge settlement in a slip and fall suit (which he used as part of his down payment). And we wonder why our insurance rates keep rising. Well, it's been snowing and icing lately. I wonder if Markowitz has been able to keep on his feet. It's absurd that this slime ball keeps getting re-elected. He's sort of the Berlusconi of Brooklyn.

drewo

Borough President should be a volunteer position. It's nothing but glorified cheerleading with no legislative powers. We should not be paying salaries for Borough Presidents and their staffs.

mrmod

One comment? The state of New York is going to steal your land and one comment is all that can be mustered? How can there be so much apathy? You aren't even getting a professional sports team, you're getting the 'Barclay's' Arena. That's right, a credit card company and bank is going to own it. A giant corporate billboard is going to be shoved right on top of an area to pay people $9 an hour in a $8 a beer area to make jobs for 'union contractors', aka:friends of the developer.

I can understand NY apathy that allows anything to be ignored. Thankfully, we're only talking about taking peoples homes and businesses away in this case. /s

Chuck Schumer's Fat

mrmod sums it up perfectly and concisely.

longacre

Agreed. The current cesspool that sits there making everyone $0 an hour is much better.

hungryghoast

Longacre, what in the hell are you talking about?

twit.

nicemarmot

Ratner's gonna go broke from the years and years of bribes he's having to pay everyone to illegally acquire all this land. Which of course he will never build anything on; he'll probably try to sell it for a profit.

jtj74

Oh, man, unleash the domino effect of bad this will bring. It brings me great pleasure to know that I'll be out of here by the time this shit storm hits - good luck, Brooklyn.

Atomische

This project continues to benefit lawyers, bankers, and perhaps a few architects. But after the crews are done demolishing existing structures, will we really see new housing? I doubt we see anything more than empty, blighted yards for at least a decade.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

People can't win in this city. And all the media on Paterson when Marty's charities received money from Ratner. Public land has been privatize too many times in this city. City leasing land for free or below market rates to benefit developers and disenfranchise the community. what a city