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April 1, 2008
It came from the Blogosphere...
Here's what folks are saying about Atlantic Yards, developer Bruce Ratner and the Nets in the Blogosphere:
Nets Net, Musing About the Future, Part II
Nets coach Lawrence Frank's job is safe for now:
We've said it in this very blog a couple of times. Ratner doesn't want a new coach. Even if he did, who'd take this lame duck job?
...
Ratner is saying the bad economy means an indefinite delay in the Atlantic Yards project, except that is for the arena.This is a team set adrift..
BizBash, Tishman Speyer to Develop Hudson Yards
Although new governor David Paterson and Mayor Michael Bloomberg dismissed those who believe the economic climate will cause delays, others aren't quite as optimistic. A particularly scathing New York Times piece, published yesterday, asserts that the [Hudson Yards] project "seems to be a wishful fantasy." The article goes on to compare the development with "the ground zero and Atlantic Yards fiascos" and criticize those involved, believing the project "signals a level of cynicism that should prod us to demand a moratorium on all such development until our public officials return to their senses."
Sonic Parthenon, Gotham City Development Update
We're not the only blog that carried both audio links from WNYC's Brian Lehrer and Leonard Lopate Atlantic Yards Double Feature Day:
It's been a busy last few days in the world of NYC development, primarily in regards to the Atlantic Yards and the Hudson Yards. There's also been a big step back in the future of building a new Penn Station... It wouldn't be a crime if the Nets don't get an arena in Brooklyn (don't worry, they will) but it will be a travesty if the 2nd Ave subway line is never built... It now looks like the big, gorgeous Fulton hub will not happen. Shame all around.
Urban Transport, May 12, 2006 New York, Developer Defends Atlantic Yards, Saying Towers Won't Corrupt the Feel of Brooklyn
One blogger provides links to coverage of designers Frank Gehry and Laurie Olin's plans for Atlantic Yards.
NoLandGrab: Since construction plans for everything but the arena has been stalled, we can kiss those plans goodbye.
The Skyline [The Chicago Tribune], Helmut Jahn plan under fire in N.Y.
Blair Kamin, Chicago Tribune's Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic, adds some thoughts to a NY Times review of a megaproject plan in Chicago:
Ouroussoff's piece is also worth reading because it links the apparently unimpressive Jahn/Tishman plan to other disappoinnting, large-scale developments efforts in New York, including the watering-down of Daniel Liebeskind's master plan for Ground Zero and the whittling away of Frank Gehry's Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn. There was much talk in New York last year about coming to terms with the legacy of the demonized uber-planner Robert Moses and finally getting big plans right. But these three pieces of the puzzle suggest that the biggest of America's big cities isn't ready to do big plans right.
NYPolitics.com, Visions of parking lots at stalled Atlantic Yards site
A political blog shares with its readers last week's MetroNY article about Bruce Ratner's plans to turn unused land in the Atlantic Yards footptint into a gigantic surface parking lot for the arena.
brooklynometry, Crowing Roosters
Here in Brooklyn it's illegal to keep roosters because the crowing makes for poor relations between neighbors, but hearts are not illegal, and thanks to the blogosphere, we hear more and more hearts crowing without any restrictions. In Brooklyn so many blogs maintain vigilance for the sake of the public good, asking for nothing in return. There are actually very few blogs running here in Brooklyn that don't express tremendous passion for justice, truth and beauty in some way. Posts from blogs monitoring the Atlantic Yards project intend to defy those who use power to violate individual rights and promote inappropriate development, others blogger's watchful eyes search for dangers in the form of thoughtless construction practices and other threats to public safety, and so many blogs lament losing an authentic, organically arising community for one spawned from corporate earning strategies and superficial values.
NoLandGrab: Best to be a rooster if you're gonna be chicken!
The Gowanus Lounge, An "Open Letter to the Brooklyn Museum"
GoLo posted a couple excerpts from Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn's posting of Michael D.D. White's open letter to the Brooklyn Museum.
The backlash over the Brooklyn Museum's Gala honoring developer Bruce Ratner continues. There will be protesters at the April 3 event, and today an "Open Letter to the Brooklyn Museum" went out and was posted on the DDDB website.
Posted by lumi at April 1, 2008 3:57 AM