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November 26, 2006
Coalition Asks State Board To Consider Terrorism Protections for Atlantic Yards
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
The coalition, consisting of 40 neighborhood organizations including four community boards, raised several concerns in its letter to the board, sent Tuesday, that were not addressed when the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the project earlier this month.Those concerns included whether an insurance company would cover buildings in a development made largely of glass with an arena above an underground parking garage and one of the city’s main transportation hubs, and how affordable that insurance would be to low-income tenants.
The CBN also contends that the project violates several post- Sept. 11 codes that the Freedom Tower was required to follow, such as increasing its distance from the street and constructing the first few levels of impermeable concrete and steel.
“The ESDC has claimed that it does not have a specific mandate to look at post-Sept. 11 issues,” said Jim Vogel, secretary of the Council. “But you’re talking about thousands of people’s lives. I’m sorry, but that doesn’t cut it.”
Posted by amy at November 26, 2006 11:48 AM