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June 8, 2009
Gehry leaves Brooklyn megaproject
Good news for the architect, bad news for the neighbourhood
Toronto Globe and Mail
by Simon Houpt
Why does it take a north-of-the-border author/columnist/art critic to see through Forest City's smoke and mirrors?
So much for architecture.
Late last week, the developer of Atlantic Yards, the massive insta-neighbourhood planned for downtown Brooklyn, confirmed the rumour that had been swirling since late last year: Frank Gehry is off the project.
...Gehry should pour himself a glass of Champagne at the news: He just safeguarded his legacy.
...It's clear now that Ratner doesn't have much regard for architecture, no matter his words of praise when he first signed Gehry. His choice of replacement architects, Ellerbe Becket, has a numbing track record of uninspired sports complexes: Their other professional sports arenas include the Memphis Grizzlies' FedEx Forum and the Washington Wizards' Verizon Center, both buildings about as lacklustre as the teams inhabiting them.
With all of the changes to the master plan, New York State should be calling for a new environmental-impact review, which would cause a potentially crippling delay to the project. (Ratner needs to break ground by the end of this year in order to be able to sell tax-exempt bonds.) And will Barclays, which pledged $400-million for 20-year naming rights to the arena, really want to put its insignia on what critics are already calling a tricked-out airplane hangar?
Posted by eric at June 8, 2009 11:35 AM