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June 6, 2009
Bloomberg, who once said we don't have to settle for the conventional, now praises new arena design, ignores other AY changes
Atlantic Yards Report
Earlier today, on the radio show Live from City Hall with Mayor Mike and John Gambling, Mayor Mike Bloomberg offered expected support for Forest City Ratner's vastly changed design for the Atlantic Yards arena and arena block, saying the new design was more affordable.
Bloomberg, not unexpectedly, did not bring up the loss of the planned office building that was supposed to bring significant new revenues, or the attached Urban Room. Nor was he asked about the Independent Budget Office testimony that the arena would actually be a money loser for the city.
Nor did anyone bring up that the reported $800 million price tag is significantly more than the $637.2 million figure announced when the project was approved in December 2006. No one has explained why the cost of the arena has gone up so much.
Bloomberg did say that Forest City Ratner and architect Frank Gehry "decided to part company," even though Gehry, at least in some accounts, remains the project's master-planner. But Bloomberg sure sounded like he got his information secondhand.
Posted by steve at June 6, 2009 6:49 AM