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May 31, 2009
Atlantic Yards hearing: “It’s Déjà vu, all over again”
Not Another F*cking Blog
This blog entry considers the possibility of bridging the divide between opposing sides of the Atlantic Yards fight.
What’s more depressing for me is that most Atlantic Yards opponents and supporters, and particularly those living in and around the footprint, all really want the same things, but we stand on opposite sides of a seemingly impenetrable divide. I believe we all want:
development over the MTA’s Vanderbilt Rail Yard, which only makes up 8 of the 22 acres of the proposed project site development that produces, first and foremost, affordable housing and living wage jobs for area residents development that does not displace residents development that’s funded prudently and makes the most of our limited tax dollars (seems that Atlantic Yards would be a net loss, per the Independent Budget Office [pdf] ) development that enhances and encourages diverse and robust growth of local business and amenities How we attempt to achieve these goals is where we part ways.
Supporters seem to believe that Forest City Ratner’s Atlantic Yards development is the way to go, despite the fact that the basketball arena, a structure that nobody needs, would be built first. The touted affordable housing would be built soon thereafter, so says the developer. Supporters point to their Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) as a guarantee that FCR is legally-bound to follow-through on its promises, although it’s not legally binding. I doubt the penalties in the CBA would ever be enforced if (when) FCR reneges on its “guarantees,” and I know that the supporters aren’t naive enough to take FCR’s word at face value. I suppose they figure any agreement with the developer is better than no agreement.
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You can view more of my photos from the hearing here.
Posted by steve at May 31, 2009 8:05 AM