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September 9, 2008
No Rendering: Does Ratner Plan on Building Phase 2 of Atlantic Yards?
Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn (dddb.net) is wondering when Bruce Ratner is going to release the most recent renderings of Phase II of the controversial Atlantic Yards megaproject, or if he even has any real plans to build the second phase, which, by chance, contains most of the pledged affordable housing.
In contrast with the first three sets of Atlantic Yards models and renderings, Phase II is conspicuously absent from the fourth set, released in May 2008:
But then we come to the most recent rendering of Atlantic Yards released by developer Forest City Ratner and their architect Frank Gehry in May 2008. From every angle, the model only displays Phase 1 floating in a dark vacumn—the arena and 4 or 5 skyscrapers. It's as if Phase 2 doesn't exist....does it?
It sure doesn't look like Ratner intends to build Phase 2. If the developer does intend to build Phase 2 it is bewildering as to why there is no Phase 2 in the most recent model when the first three renderings over 3 years included it.
With only Phase 1, the project would provide very little "affordable housing," even less than the meager amount of true affordablity proposed.
Does Ratner plan on selling off the Phase 2 land that he would have gained through eminent domain on private property, city streets and a well below market deal on the rail yards?
We'd like to know.
Click here to read the rest of the post and to view all four versions of Atlantic Yards renderings.
Posted by lumi at September 9, 2008 4:04 AM