DailyHeights

How do you think the Atlantic Yards project will impact you, your family and your community? Here’s a chance to have your input included in the project’s Environmental Impact Study (EIS).

Thursday, June 16th 7pm, Iglesia Evangelica Latina
506 Bergen Street (between 6th Ave and Carlton Ave)

SCHEDULED PRESENTATIONS: Brian Ketchum, Community Consulting Services; and Brad Lander, Pratt Institute Center for Community and Environmental Development discussing the Atlantic Yards project in context of downtown Brooklyn development, and an overview of the State of New York EIS process “as it is likely to be applied to Atlantic Yards.” Sponsored by the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council.

Robert Puca of Develop Don’t Destroy and Community Board 8 writes to DAILY HEIGHTS: “I went to the rally yesterday. There were at least 500 people. It was inspiring to see so many people from all over Brooklyn coming together to fight Ratner. We started out marching from Borough Hall over the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall. Councilwoman Tish James led the charge with her trusty bullhorn in hand, cheering the cars on the Bridge to honk their horns in support of us. The story can be read at www.nolandgrab.org and pictures can be seen in this gallery.”

“The rally wasn’t exclusively about Brooklyn overdevelopment. There were speakers from the Bronx, where Mayor Bloomberg is trying to level The Terminal Market and displace merchants to give it to Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff’s buddy Stephen Ross of Related co. Other speakers, including Norman Siegel who’s running for Public Advocate, spoke about Harlem, where Columbia Univ. is trying use Eminent Domain to expand their campus.”

Jess Wisloski writes in the Brooklyn Papers: “Atlantic Yards is stretching out — and into Park Slope … at a City Council hearing last Thursday … Forest City Ratner said the developer was considering plans to greatly increase the amount of housing on the site, both by scaling back the amount of office and retail space and by expanding the site westward — jumping over Flatbush Avenue to include plots now occupied by Modell’s and PC Richard & Son.”

“The presentation … indicated that the developer might increase the number of housing units from 4,500 to … possibly 7,300, and include a 187,000-square-foot hotel in a 620-foot tower at the intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush…”

Read more…

From City Limits, New York’s Urban Affairs News Magazine:

“I’m getting ready to pay my debt, and here it is!” said Bertha Lewis and then turned to Mayor Bloomberg and kissed him squarely on the lips. The executive director of New York ACORN had done it again…

Prospect Heights councilmember Letitia James, a critic of the Ratner development, responded to the housing deal with a mix of appreciation and skepticism. “The question is the 50 percent which is going to be market rate–it will have to be luxury housing. It’s a zero-sum game: the luxury will cancel out the low income,” said James. “The market prices will have to be high to subsidize the affordable housing and the arena.”

Link: Cozy Quarters: Acorn and Ratner Sign Housing Deal [City Limits]

MEGHAN CLYNE writes today in the New York Sun: The secretary-general, Kofi Annan, is recommending that the United Nations abandon its plans to use a proposed 35-story building, to be constructed over a neighboring city park, as temporary relocation facilities while the world body renovates its Turtle Bay headquarters.

So where are they going to put it now…?

“The only site that would fulfill U.N. requirements for both office space and conference space is “part of a larger development in downtown Brooklyn,” the report said.” Hmm…

“It consists of both office space, some of which could be occupied as is, and space that the developer would build out to accommodate conferences,” the report said.

“Some U.N. observers have speculated that the site is part of developer Bruce Ratner’s Atlantic Yards project, which would bring an arena for the Nets basketball team and office, retail, and housing space to the Brooklyn Navy Yards and adjacent properties.”

Link: Secretary-General Urges United Nations To Abandon ‘Swing Space’ Plan [New York Sun]

Dope on the Slope reports: “I was invited to an exclusive unveiling of the latest scale model of the development sponsored by Hubris Labs, a top notch design firm that has been engaged to adjust the (Atlantic Yards) project concept to address many of the concerns that have been raised by residents in the surrounding neighborhoods.

This new plan was the result of a community based charette that included a diverse group of FCR employees that plan to visit the area at least once after the arena is completed. To reflect the group’s commitment to preserving the essence of the borough, the plan was dubbed the “Brooklyn Will Always Have A Heart, A Home, And Hoops Aplenty” or BWAHAHAHAHA plan.”

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Excerpts from REBECCA MEAD’s “MR. BROOKLYN,” a profile of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz (“the man, the plan, the arena”) that appears in the Apr. 25 issue of the New Yorker and online here.

“…In the car, Markowitz’s cell phone rang, and the voice of a female assistant announced that ‘Bruce’ was on the line.”

“‘Yes, sir, how are you doing, Bruce?’ Markowitz said, picking up the handset and falling silent as he listened. Bruce Ratner, it appeared … had some urgent questions about the way discussions concerning waterfront development in Williamsburg and Greenpoint might affect his own project. Markowitz, whenever he could get a word in, tried to be both conciliatory and upbeat. ‘I understand,’ he said …”

“Across the street, a small huddle of Boerum Hill residents handed Markowitz a sheaf of plans showing an arrangement of planters and greenery they would like to see in front of the restored subway kiosk. Perhaps, a resident suggested, Forest City Ratner might be persuaded to contribute the funds.’Does Ratner want to prove he cares?’ someone asked. ‘I haven’t asked him,’ Markowitz replied testily …”

“…The car looped west and turned up Pacific Street, into the footprint of the proposed arena. ‘Just take a look at what’s coming down,’ Markowitz said. ‘I want you to look at this and tell me in any manner, shape, or form that this has historical significance.’ On the block where we were, there were a few warehouses and row houses looking shabby and forlorn … ‘You can see this is gorgeous—just a beautiful, beautiful sight,’ Markowitz said, with undisguised sarcasm.”

“…Markowitz said, ‘When you take a look and you close your eyes you can envision beautiful housing, and retail, and some commercial space, and an arena, and activity, and people here, and people excited about living here. . . . ‘ He trailed off into urban reverie. … ‘The developers, unlike me, are not in the business of being public servants or social workers or do-gooders,’ he said. ‘I hate to say it, but they are businesspeople, and they should be businesspeople.'”

Read more…