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August 17, 2006
Boom burg
This week's groundbreakings for Yankee Stadium and Gateway Center prompted a Daily News editorial on NYC's building boom which mentioned Atlantic Yards amongst projects on deck:
And there's much more in the pipeline. A new stadium for the Mets, Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn and countless projects large and small in every borough will push 2006 construction spending in the city well past last year's record $19 billion. That money will generate the vital benefits of well-paying jobs, affordable housing and renewed neighborhoods. Silvercup West, planned for Long Island City, is a prime example in that the movie studio is expected to have 4,000 permanent jobs, and residential towers will add 1,000 units to New York's housing stock.
Why is all this happening now? Two reasons. First, the economy is on an upswing. Second, Mayor Bloomberg devised zoning reforms and smart public investments, often in partnership with the state, that served as catalysts to development. This is a city on the move.
NoLandGrab: In some twisted way, the state override of local zoning for Atlantic Yards could be considered one of the Mayor's "zoning reform" initiatives. Lack of transparency and more top-down state control isn't what usually comes to mind when one says "reform."
Posted by lumi at August 17, 2006 6:37 AM