Atlantic Yards Development - Commercial, Residential, Retail, NBA Arena

[BrooklynLove]

press feeding fenzy. project is okay. it's moving faster now then ever before.

[ablarc]

All NYers should be cheering that this project -- which is clearly not well funded and would end up costing the taxpayers a bundle -- looks like it will be put on hold.

Nonsense; this is only true if taxes actually went up. If they don't, it's a discretionary use of taxpayer money like any other civic expenditure --and better than the genuine boondoggles.

No doubt Ratner would have come out OK if the project went forward, but NYers would have gotten the shaft.

New Yorkers ARE getting the shaft: railroad yards, rats, vacant lots, general dishevelment, lack of progress, absence of Nets.

press feeding fenzy. project is okay. it's moving faster now then ever before.

Hope you're right. Where do you get your info?

[BrooklynLove]

Hope you're right. Where do you get your info?

i walk by there all the time. ever since the most recent cases were dismissed the demo prep and actual demo kicked up a notch, carlton ave bridge closed, and excavation and pile testing in the cut picked up. not a sign of distress.

this whole press frenzy finanancing doomsday scenario started with a court document arguing in ratners favor for expeditious dismissal of remaining cases. lawyers plus press - not a good combo for acurate portrayals of reality.

[MikeW]

Ablarc beat me to it.

Yeah what NYC need to do is keep a decrepit rail yard and neigboring slum, and give up thousends of jobs and housing units, and in the end a substantial amount of ongoing tax revenue (after it's built and the deals expire).

However, I think to many people have to much invested in this for it to go down that quietly. I agree with the others who said that this is just an attempt to light a fire under the courts to clear out the nuisance cases.

All NYers should be cheering that this project -- which is clearly not well funded and would end up costing the taxpayers a bundle -- looks like it will be put on hold.

No doubt Ratner would have come out OK if the project went forward, but NYers would have gotten the shaft.

[MidtownGuy]

The rail yard is horrible. I want to see construction begin...I'm concerned about the final design though, the last version was uninspired.

[Tectonic]

I'm getting really impatient over this project.

[BrooklynLove]

for example ...

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownston...a.php#comments

[antinimby]

Federal appeals court says Atlantic Yards project can go forward



By LARRY NEUMEISTER | Associated Press Writer 12:29 PM EST, February 1, 2008

NEW YORK - A federal appeals court gave a green light Friday to a $4 billion, Frank Gehry-designed project that would bring a new arena for the NBA's Nets to Brooklyn.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a lawsuit by a group of property owners and tenants facing eviction, agreeing with a lower court judge who had ruled that the seizure of the property under eminent domain would not be unconstitutional.

The appeals court wrote: "For affected property owners, monetary compensation may understandably seem an imperfect substitute for the hardships of dislocation and the loss of a home or business.

"But federal judges may not intervene in such matters simply on the basis of our sympathies. Just as eminent domain has its costs, it has its benefits."

The Atlantic Yards project envisions 16 skyscrapers, an 18,000-seat arena for New Jersey's basketball franchise and thousands of apartments rising from a stretch of Brooklyn now occupied by a rail yard and mostly industrial buildings.

The development planned by Nets principal owner Bruce Ratner has been approved by state officials and praised by Mayor Michael Bloomberg as "the most exciting private development Brooklyn has ever seen."

Matthew D. Brinckerhoff, who argued for property owners opposed to the deal, said he would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"We're certainly disappointed. We believe the decision is wrong. And we think it will present an opportunity for the Supreme Court to re-examine the use of eminent domain," he said. "This case is all about their ability to forcibly take my client's property."

He said the plaintiffs will sue in state court if the federal case is rebuffed.

Ratner praised the decision, saying it was a victory for the public good and underscored the importance of "investing in diverse communities."

"Atlantic Yards will bring thousands of affordable homes and needed jobs to Brooklyn," he said. "We believe, and the courts have repeatedly agreed, that these are real benefits that will have a significantly positive impact on the borough and the city."

Ratner announced plans to develop the area in 2003. Three years later, the property owners sued, claiming the development would overwhelm existing neighborhoods and unfairly enrich Ratner.

Another legal appeal seeking to block the development is pending.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press

[Alonzo-ny]

I can understand why construction isnt moving forward on the parts of the project that are on land being seized by eminent domain buy why hasn't construction started on the yards themselves where no one is being displaced?

[Tectonic]

From Crains NY Business



Federal appeals court OK's Atlantic Yards

The court agreed with an earlier ruling that said seizure of property to develop the $4 billion project falls under eminent domain.
February 01. 2008 1:35PMBy: Tommy Fernandez

Bloomberg News
Forest City Ratner’s controversial $4 billion Atlantic Yards project won another major legal battle Friday when a federal court rejected a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state’s use of eminent domain for the site.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court judge in Brooklyn who had ruled that the seizure under eminent domain would not be unconstitutional. The suit, filed in October 2006 by property owners and tenants facing eviction, had sought to block the seizures and also sought unspecified damages.

“For affected property owners, monetary compensation may understandably seem an imperfect substitute for the hardships of dislocation and the loss of a home or business,” wrote the appeals court. “But federal judges may not intervene in such matters simply on the basis of our sympathies. Just as eminent domain has its costs, it has its benefits.”

The project will comprise of 16 skyscrapers and an 18,000-seat arena that will house the New Jersey Nets, whose principal owner is none other than Bruce Ratner. The development, designed by noted architect Frank Gehry, will provide over 6,400 units of housing, 336,000 square feet of office space, 247,000 square feet of retail space and a 180-room hotel.

Although another legal appeal seeking to block the development is pending, Bruce Ratner, chairman and chief executive of Forest City Ratner Companies touted today’s decision as a significant victory.

“Atlantic Yards will bring thousands of affordable homes and needed jobs to Brooklyn,” Mr. Ratner said in a statement. “We believe, and the courts have repeatedly agreed, that these are real benefits that will have a significantly positive impact on the borough and the city.”

The company says the project would generate 15,000 union jobs; over $40 million worth of contracts; over 6,400 permanent jobs and $5.6 billion in tax revenue over the next 30-years. Activists against the project vigorously dispute these figures.

Attorney Matthew Brinckerhoff, who represented the plaintiffs who filed the suit, vowed to take the case to U.S. Supreme Court and “will continue to pursue every avenue available” to prevent the seizures.

“It should trouble all citizens who, unlike Bruce Ratner, lack the power and money to co-opt the government's power of eminent domain for their private use,” he says.

[Eugenious]

From Crains NY Business



Federal appeals court OK's Atlantic Yards

The court agreed with an earlier ruling that said seizure of property to develop the $4 billion project falls under eminent domain.
February 01. 2008 1:35PMBy: Tommy Fernandez

Bloomberg News
Forest City Ratner’s controversial $4 billion Atlantic Yards project won another major legal battle Friday when a federal court rejected a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state’s use of eminent domain for the site.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court judge in Brooklyn who had ruled that the seizure under eminent domain would not be unconstitutional. The suit, filed in October 2006 by property owners and tenants facing eviction, had sought to block the seizures and also sought unspecified damages.

“For affected property owners, monetary compensation may understandably seem an imperfect substitute for the hardships of dislocation and the loss of a home or business,” wrote the appeals court. “But federal judges may not intervene in such matters simply on the basis of our sympathies. Just as eminent domain has its costs, it has its benefits.”

The project will comprise of 16 skyscrapers and an 18,000-seat arena that will house the New Jersey Nets, whose principal owner is none other than Bruce Ratner. The development, designed by noted architect Frank Gehry, will provide over 6,400 units of housing, 336,000 square feet of office space, 247,000 square feet of retail space and a 180-room hotel.

Although another legal appeal seeking to block the development is pending, Bruce Ratner, chairman and chief executive of Forest City Ratner Companies touted today’s decision as a significant victory.

“Atlantic Yards will bring thousands of affordable homes and needed jobs to Brooklyn,” Mr. Ratner said in a statement. “We believe, and the courts have repeatedly agreed, that these are real benefits that will have a significantly positive impact on the borough and the city.”

The company says the project would generate 15,000 union jobs; over $40 million worth of contracts; over 6,400 permanent jobs and $5.6 billion in tax revenue over the next 30-years. Activists against the project vigorously dispute these figures.

Attorney Matthew Brinckerhoff, who represented the plaintiffs who filed the suit, vowed to take the case to U.S. Supreme Court and “will continue to pursue every avenue available” to prevent the seizures.

“It should trouble all citizens who, unlike Bruce Ratner, lack the power and money to co-opt the government's power of eminent domain for their private use,” he says.

They should lock this attorney up ! Jeesus...

[BrooklynLove]

I can understand why construction isnt moving forward on the parts of the project that are on land being seized by eminent domain buy why hasn't construction started on the yards themselves where no one is being displaced?

i'd need to go back into the latest project plans (or reports on the plans), but from what i recall the plan here was to do all demo and site prep before beginning work on individual sites. the ongoing litigations on varous sites had been holding up the full tilt demo due to the wasted expense, inefficiency and prolonged neighborhood disruption of doing the demo in a piecemeal fashion.

anyway, now that most of the cases are gone, and about to be entirely gone, you can see that the building demos and earthwork in the cut is kicking into a higher gear. this is FINALLY happening. exciting times for the boro.

[lofter1]

An article above states that the actual transfer of properties / payment of funds has not taken place.

Perhaps that is why the work hasn't commenced.

Could be that it's now time for Ratner to pay up so he can get to work.

[Alonzo-ny]

Seems now he should have aquired the yards and got to work and maybe he would at least have something by now.

[ablarc]

Federal appeals court says Atlantic Yards project can go forward

A federal appeals court gave a green light Friday to a $4 billion, Frank Gehry-designed project that would bring a new arena for the NBA's Nets to Brooklyn.

Keeps getting green lights.

Somebody, see if you can find the crank.