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September 6, 2006
Daily News deuce
Ratner offers to downsize again
By Elizabeth Hays
The Nets arena development planned for downtown Brooklyn could be scaled back by 8% - drawing cheers fom Borough President Marty Markowitz, but jeers from opponents who says the cuts aren't nearly enough.
The News covers Bruce Ratner's delicate tango with public opinion over the size of the project:
In 2003, the housing, office and basketball arena project was originally slated for 8 million square feet, before it ballooned to 9.1 million square feet last September.
The plan currently stands at 8.65 million square feet, following a 5% cut in March.
A source confirmed yesterday that Ratner is now considering chopping an additional 500,000 to 700,000 square feet as he negotiates with the city, which critics noted would bring the development to just over or under its original size.
The New's editorial board continues to beat the drum in support for the project:
News that Nets basketball team owner and developer Bruce Ratner will scale down the $4.2 billion Atlantic Yards project - potentially chopping 7% of nearly 7,000 apartments and condos planned for Prospect Heights, Brooklyn - comes as no surprise in a city where too many economic development decisions are based on politics rather than merit.
...
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, who with Gov. Pataki will control approval of the project, have been quietly advising a small reduction in its scale, and the City Planning Commission is expected to make a similar recommendation in a few weeks.
Posted by lumi at September 6, 2006 8:22 AM