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June 2, 2006
Downtown Brooklyn Plan, we hardly knew ya
This week Brooklyn Papers covers the announcement of a Downtown Brooklyn Planning Czar to be named later (and here we thought that it was Ratner all along!) accompanied by Gersh Kuntzman's editorial reaction.
Downtown czar: Bloomy to name plan’s savior
Let the market rule
NoLandGrab: We spend way too much time explaining, "The "Atlantic Yards" proposal IS NOT in Downtown Brooklyn." Since it isn't, why do we care about Downtown Brooklyn?
Because the wheels are coming off of the Downtown Brooklyn Plan, previously envisioned as a large-scale commercial-residential high-rise neighborhood (sound familiar?) and packaged to politicians to stem the flow of jobs to New Jersey. Now there's little demand for office space in Central Brooklyn -- Bruce Ratner knows that, which is why he's converted millions of square feet of planned office space to luxury condos -- and the plan is in disarray. Brooklyn was supposed to gain jobs and a revitalized commercial district, and all City Hall has to show for its efforts is a drawing board full of luxury housing.
In addition, eminent domain has been authorized for the entire district in order to amass lots big enough for high-rise development. The result has been to suppress the growth and development of small businesses. We know what you're thinking, just use eminent domain and take back Metrotech to build affordable housing. Shame on you -- eminent domain is abusive in Prospect Heights and isn't doing anyone any favors in Downtown Brooklyn.
Eminent domain, commercial-vs.-residential real estate, luxury-vs.-affordable housing, city planning gone awry (similar to total lack of city planning gone awry) and small businesses getting the squeeze -- Downtown Brooklyn matters. The political and market forces west of Flatbush ought to have an effect on how development of the railyards proceeds, but it won't if Bruce Ratner has his way and is allowed to go ahead with his plans to re-invent Brooklyn.
Posted by lumi at June 2, 2006 9:32 AM