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March 24, 2009
Reports of Atlantic Yards's death are greatly, OK, at least somewhat, exaggerated
Architectural trade publication The Architect's Newspaper today published an interview with Frank Gehry conducted about a month ago, and one line from that interview has caused a bit of an Atlantic Yards firestorm. Here's the rundown.
The Architect's Newspaper, Q&A: Gehry at 80
Which other unrealized commissions do you most wish had been built?
The Corcoran Gallery in DC, the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn—I don’t think it’s going to happen. There are projects underway that are being threatened, and may not be completed. That would be devastating to me. Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles is also on hold.
NY Daily News, Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn is dead, says its architect Frank Gehry
The News reads "I don’t think it’s going to happen," and starts administering last rites.
The multi-billion Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn is dead, according to one who should know: the "starchitect" who was going to build it.
Asked by a trade paper about "unrealized commissions" he most wishes had been built, famed 80-year-old architect Frank Gehry brought up Atlantic Yards.
"I don't think it's going to happen," he told the Architect's Newspaper in an interview published online.
The comment suggests the troubled relationship between Gehry and developer Bruce Ratner is over.
NoLandGrab: Dead? That seems a bit hyperbolic. Ratner and Gehry seeing other people? Most definitely. While the interview cited was conducted in late February, any chance of a reconciliation was likely dashed when Frank caught Bruce fooling around with the Beekman Tower.
Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn, Breaking News: Gehry Thinks Atlantic Yards Is Not "Going to Happen"
So. Is Atlantic Yards dead? Or is the "liberal do-gooder" Frank Gehry just speaking liberally?
Well, while the project may not be dead, its star architect certainly thinks so, and wouldn't say so were he still working for Atlantic Yards "developer" and his—apparently former—boss Forest City Ratner. What this statement makes certain and clear, is that Frank Gehry is no longer working on Atlantic Yards.
The $mart Asset [Village Voice blog], Frank Gehry on Atlantic Yards: 'I don't think it's going to happen'
The ailing British bank conglomerate is receiving bailout money from U.S. taxpayers, via AIG's "counterparties" scheme, yet has said it will go ahead and pay $400 million to name the arena Barclays Center.
Of course, if Atlantic Yards isn't built and becomes just money down the Ratner hole, the centerpiece arena won't be called anything, except a huge waste of time, money, people, precious residential space, resources, anguish, and anger.
Nets Daily, Atlantic Yards Architect Says “I Don’t Think It’s Going to Happen”
Posted by eric at March 24, 2009 9:17 PM