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May 17, 2009
When Is Atlantic Yards Groundbreaking? Bruce Ratner Doesn't Seem to Know
Develop Don't Destroy
Is there any reason to take Bruce Ratner's words at face value when it comes to Atlantic Yards? Of course not.
In the aftermath of yesterday's Appellate Divsion ruling against nine property owners who sued to keep NY State from seizing their homes and businesses to enrich Bruce Ratner, Bruce Ratner was trotted out to talk directly to the press. It has been rare that the man behind the Brooklyn Boondoggle has spoken directly to anyone in the press or public over the years of the Atlantic Yards saga. Yesterday's performance explains why.
Three daily newspapers came away with three different stories after talking to sports baron and blight maven.
The NY Post had Ratner saying he'd break ground on Atlantic Yards in September.
The New York Daily News had him saying "this summer."
And the New York Times had him saying "this October."
And the official statement from the developer on the Barclays Center website (not the AtlanticYards.com website, which appears to be moribund) says "this year."
(All this inconsistency must have had lead flack Joey DePlasco muttering to himself.)
It was September 2008 when Bruce Ratner told the New York Times he'd break ground in December 2008. (In the same article DDDB commented that was impossible and we were correct.)
It was late March 2009 that Nets President and marketing guru Brett Yormark told WFAN sports radio that they'd break ground "this summer."
Now they are saying (see above) summer, September, October and "this year." Take your pick.
We'll tell you again, all are wrong—for legal and financial reasons.
Posted by steve at May 17, 2009 8:52 AM