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January 10, 2009
Atlantic Yards lite is on 'last legs' - foes
NY Daily News
JOTHAM SEDERSTROM AND ADAM LISBERG
Trimming Frank Gehry's design for the Nets arena at Brooklyn's Atlantic Yards will help ensure it gets built, boosters said Friday- but critics say the scaleback is the plan's death knell."The project is definitely on its last legs, and the wicked witch is almost dead," Councilwoman Letitia James (WFP-Fort Greene) said after the Daily News reported that developer Bruce Ratner wants to hire "value engineering" firms to trim millions from Gehry's plans.
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"Atlantic Yards will happen, with the arena and everything else, and Frank Gehry-inspired for sure, but it may mean that some of the bells and whistles may have to be deferred," Borough President Marty Markowitz said."It's prudent to cut costs if you have to cut costs. You do without some of the bells and whistles."
DDDB provided the excellent graphic as well as this commentary:
Are the Councilwoman's comments overstated? Perhaps slightly. Norman Oder thinks so as he gauges the various spins.But not as overstated as Markowitz's, "Atlantic Yards will happen." How could he be so sure? There is no evidence he can point to to back up his claim. The evidence actually presents itself in favor of James over Markowitz. The developer doesn't have the land, doesn't have the money and doesn't even have the access to some of the money he needs to build his project. And wishful thinking by the BEEP won't get him these things.
Posted by amy at January 10, 2009 1:59 PM