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March 25, 2009
New Jersey Nets: Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn still a 'go' despite architect Frank Gehry's claim
Star-Ledger
The Nets might not be building their new arena in Brooklyn after all.
At least that's what the famed architect who had been designing the project said. In a story posted on the New York Daily News' website Tuesday night, Frank Gehry told the Architect's Newspaper trade publication, "I don't think it's going to happen."
Bruce Ratner, the Nets' majority owner and CEO of Forest City Ratner Companies, dispelled the sentiment of Gehry's remark, and was placed in the awkward position of having to contradict the star of the project.
"Frank Gehry is a friend, a great architect and someone I have huge respect for," Ratner said in a prepared statement Tuesday night. "It is understandable how he and others have concerns about this project happening in the worst economic environment since the Great Depression.
"But that said, we've prevailed in 22 judicial decisions and are ready to proceed even at a time when other projects and industries have faltered. Atlantic Yards will get built and there has never been a time when this project is more important to the people of the state and city of New York and the borough of Brooklyn."
Still, the disconnect gave a great deal of hope to Daniel Goldstein, who founded Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn, the organization fighting the Yards project.
"Ratner needs to come clean about Gehry's status," Goldstein said Tuesday night in an e-mail response to a reporter's question. "If Gehry is no longer on the project, then obviously it is a severe blow for Ratner and a major impediment to Barclays actually keeping the naming rights.
NoLandGrab: Friends, sure, but did Bruce tell Frank he wants to be "just friends?"
More coverage...
Atlantic Yards Report, Ratner says AY will proceed, claims Gehry's in the lead; architect backs off comment
An update to Frank Gehry's "I don’t think it’s going to happen" quote about Atlantic Yards was inevitable, and so was the backpedaling.
Posted by eric at March 25, 2009 11:32 AM