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December 19, 2006
Atlantic Yards Heads For Final Lap In Albany
Courier-Life Publications
By Steven Witt
An article on the big push to the Atlantic Yards final approval features copious quotes from Forest City Ratner Atlantic Yards Development Group President Jim Stuckey and Empire State Development Corporation head Charles Gargano:
“Today, we are a step closer to creating thousands of new jobs and much- needed affordable housing. We also are one step closer to bringing professional sports back to Brooklyn,” said ESDC Chair Charles Gargano.
“The new arena will not only be home to the Nets, but will host local community events, as well as concerts and school athletics for neighboring high schools and colleges. The Atlantic Yards project will be an architectural gem and eliminate blight in the area. It also paves the way for a dynamic and thriving future for the community and Brooklyn,” he added.
Jim Stuckey, President of the Atlantic Yards Development Group and Executive Vice President for Forest City Ratner Companies, said the company was extremely pleased with the ESDC vote.
“We have worked very hard over the last three-plus years to ensure that a large and diverse group of community groups and leaders were included from the start in this exciting project,” said Stuckey.
“We strongly believe that the very real benefits for Brooklyn -- including an unprecedented affordable housing program and thousands of new jobs, including valuable union construction jobs -- are directly related to the input of these individuals and organizations,” he added.
NoLandGrab: Yeah, yeah, it's, "Jobs, Housing and Hoops," not "Eminent Domain, Boondoggle and Bruce," though the article does mention that eminent domain will be used even though the developer promised to "substantially reduce" the need for condemnations.
Posted by lumi at December 19, 2006 8:56 AM