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June 3, 2009
DOT says Ratner may be trying to stretch deadline past three years for completion of Carlton Avenue bridge
Atlantic Yards Report
Officials of the NYC Department of Transportation met with the Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods last night, and Forest City Ratner's lack of progress with reconstruction of the Carlton Avenue Bridge was a hot topic.
The state eminent domain case dismissed last week, [DOT Downtown Brooklyn Transportation Coordinator Christopher] Hrones said, was cited by FCR as "something that prevented them moving forward in their estimation, because it really put the project in doubt."
"Since that court case has been resolved, at least by the Appellate Division, I think we feel like, we'd like to get an explanation why they aren't proceeding," Hrones said, adding that DOT is seeking a meeting with the developer. "We definitely want some answers from them.
[CBN co-Chair Candace] Carponter pointed out, however, that, when the demolition began in early 2008, eminent domain litigation had already been filed in federal court. (It was coordinated by Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn, for which she is legal chair.)
"If that's preventing them now," she said, "it should've been preventing them from taking it down in the first place" and inconveniencing people with a half-demolished bridge.
NoLandGrab: Agencies like DOT and the MTA always seem to take heat from grandstanding elected officials, but DOT, especially, sure seems more responsive and straightforward than Forest City Ratner and its proxy, the ESDC.
Posted by eric at June 3, 2009 11:11 AM