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September 10, 2008
It came from the Blogosphere... (Atlantic Yards bedside vigil edition?)
Not surprisingly, the Blogosphere is abuzz in the wake of this morning's New York Times article.
Gothamist, Ratner Vows to Break Ground on Atlantic Yards in December
Gothamist doesn't quite share Bruce Ratner's "mission accomplished" optimism.
That plucky developer Bruce Ratner is still rallying for his $4 billion plan to turn the MTA rail yards in downtown Brooklyn* into a sports arena, office and residential complex designed by Frank Gehry!
...All in all, the article is a study in contrasts, with the obstacles facing Ratner seemingly more insurmountable than ever, especially given the tanking economy. Yet the developer seems to be projecting Rumsfeldian confidence.
* The rail yard is not in downtown Brooklyn — it lies between Prospect Heights and Fort Greene; additionally, the rail yard only represents about 38% of the project footprint.
Curbed, Atlantic Yards Volcano Rumbles in Time for the Fall Season
Brownstoner, Plans to Break Ground on Yards, But What About Phase II?
Bavatuesdays, I heard the news today, oh boy…
This eulogy for Coney Island's Astroland finds a little solace in the increasingly murky future of Atlantic Yards.
Gowanus Lounge, Atlantic Yards Project Needs $100M More in Public Subsidy, Etc.
Yonkers Tribune, The Atlantic Yards Deal Is Coming Undone
The Neighborhood Retail Alliance, Net Gains Coming
Lobbyist Richard Lipsky must've read the Times article this morning while sporting his rose-colored glasses, though we do detect a softening in his tone.
But instead of sinking hundreds of millions of public dollars into a pro basketball arena to inspire "the thousands of young people that are playing ball in Brooklyn harboring the dream of playing professionally," dare we say it would make more sense to spend that money on schools, so the 99.9% of those young people who won't end up in the NBA at least have a fighting chance?
Nets Daily, Optimism Mixes with Doubt on Arena Ground-Breaking
Posted by eric at September 10, 2008 10:31 AM