With Atlantic Yards Project Fading, Community Groups Demand Review

John Del Signore

Mar. 21, 2008 (Gothamist delivered by Newstex) -- Two bombshell articles in the Times today may mark a turning point for Bruce Ratners plans to build a Nets arena at the Atlantic Yards. Now that Ratner is backpedaling from his initial plans to build 8 million square feet of office space and apartments some of it for low-income residents community activists are worried that Ratner will sell off the rest of the site to other developers, replacing Frank Gehrys comprehensive design with a hodge-podge of expensive condos or barren land. Develop Dont Destroy Brooklyns [DDDB] Daniel Goldstein says: The [Times] article makes clear that Atlantic Yards cannot be built as planned, and was never financially feasible. The economic downturn has served to make that crystal clear. Our elected officials cannot allow our public resources, as well as eminent domain, to be used to construct an arena--which only benefits Bruce Ratner--surrounded by vacant lots. An attorney representing DDDB is now saying that because of the Times's revelation that the cost of the project has more than doubled from the initial estimate to $950 million, the law and fiscal prudence suggest that the project will have to go back for review and a vote by the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB). Besides that, a large portion of the land in the arenas proposed footprint is still owned or leased by private parties who are in court challenging the states use of eminent domain. And 26 community groups, led by DDDB, will be in court in September to challenge the projects environmental review and approval. A spokesman for ACORN, the housing-advocacy group that supported the project on the basis of its affordable housing component, told the Brooklyn Paper that the group would push the developer to make good on his promises. Curbed has a timeline stretching back to the project's announcement in 2003, reminding everyone that the arena was to have been finished in 2006. Photo: rynokinsNewstex ID: GOTH-0005-23947883