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September 5, 2006
More reaction to the scaleback shavedown
Though a mere 6%-8% shavedown would return the proportions of Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards to about the same size as when it was initially unveiled three years ago, most of the blogosphere — and the NY Times — missed that fact.
No worries; the Zelig-like Norman Oder of Atlantic Yards Report somehow managed to call attention to this fact in the comments section of nearly all of the local blogs.
Brownstoner, Word Leaks of Atlantic Yards Size Reduction
News today of Bruce Ratner's plans to reduce the size of the Atlantic Yards project comes as little surprise; we don't expect that the move will appease many of the projects strongest opponents, as it does nothing to address issues of density, services or environmental impact. In fact, a cynic might be forgiven for thinking that it smacks of well-choreographed political theatre.
Gothamist, Ratner to Put Miss Brooklyn on a Diet?
After the Atlantic Yards public hearing, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz had suggested the project could be scaled down. A revised plan is supposed to be announced later this month. The article notes that architect Frank Gehry has "objected to any changes in his design for Miss Brooklyn." Heh! Frank Gehry, welcome to building in the city (building for Barry Diller doesn't quite count) - you hand over your designs, they will get the city treatment.
Curbed.com, Atlantic Yards Trimmed, Propagandized
And speaking of the Atlantic Yards, the Ratner-produced propaganda for the development is turning up in some very interesting places, like—say—your mailbox, or even a seemingly harmless Brooklyn Cyclones game over on Coney Island. Corrupting the innocence of America's pastime, employees handed out free New Jersey Nets bags loaded with pamphlets explaining the virtues of the Atlantic Yards development. If what we see inside is to be believed, apparently the Atlantic Yards will make fathers reconnect with their sons, and young couples in love will frolic in grassy fields, taking camera-phone pictures of their creepy, gigantoid smiles. Play ball!
OnNYTurf, No Damn Difference In Size At The NYTimes-Ratner Dog and Pony Show
ONYT casts NY Times real estate reporter Charles Bagli as the Ringmaster:
Ah, welcome back from your summer slumber, hope you had a nice time at the beach, we now on your first day back present you with Positive Positve Positve, News News News!!! From the offices of your dear leaders, an all start lineup including Silver, Bloomberg, Markowitz, Quinn, Yassky, in conjunction with our sponsor Bruce Ranter... This is your announcer Charles Bagli, and today we bring you, ATLANTIC YARDS! Smmmmmmmaller.
The Neighborhood Retail Alliance, Less Dense? Not Daniel
Bruce Ratner pays consultant Richard Lipsky to lobby for the arena among the local amateur sports leagues. Lipsky probably scored bonus points with Bruce with his commentary on the NY Times piece, which gets into Daniel Goldstein's face with zingers like, "Dan the destroyer," "Well Daniel, as we have found out over the past twenty five years, it's never just about you!" and, "The attack on the arena underscores the scorched earth nihilism of the DDD agenda."
Lipsky did manage to squeeze this message into his verbal endzone dance:
The arena and the Nets team will be the centerpiece of a resurgent Brooklyn that will link all of its diverse neighborhoods into one unified whole.
Develop Don't Destoy Brooklyn, More Money for Ratner and an Unhappy Architect
While Richard Lipsky high fives himself, the "scorched-earth nihilists" over at DDDB take another close look at the NY Times article and notice two interesting points:
The Times:
Forest City, they say, will continue to set aside 2,250 apartments for low, moderate and middle-income tenants, even as it seeks additional subsidies for that part of the development. (Emphasis added)..
The Times treats those "additional subsidies" as a throwaway line, but for a project whose true public cost is still unknown (though we believe its around $1.9 billion) and whose profit for the developer is also unknown (all we have to go on is an estimate from New York magazine of $1 billion and this unintelligible profit-loss statement form Forest City) the specter of MORE subsidies or corporate welfare for Bruce Ratner is news in itself.
...
Frank Gehry, who has called that building his "ego trip" does not seem happy. We sense some client/architect friction:...But according to executives briefed by the developer, Mr. Gehry has objected to any changes in his design for Miss Brooklyn...
Posted by lumi at September 5, 2006 1:33 PM