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June 6, 2009
'NET' LOSS IS DEVASTATING
DREAM PROJECT DEAD WITHOUT GEHRY
NY Post
by Steve Cuozzo
The Post columnist is bereft over what he believes is Atlantic Yards's fate.
There's no way to sugar-coat the calamity. There's near-zero hope for Ratner's declared plan to proceed. With apologies to "King Lear," nothing more will come of nothing.
You'll never guess where he lays the blame.
Great enterprise requires great ambition and courage. Ratner had both, but he needed to start work immediately. The main reason he couldn't was the Orwellian-titled Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn -- a cunning, well-financed advocacy group that sued, lied and bullied for four years, all with the purpose of foiling development.
DDDB co-founder Daniel Goldstein gloated time and again over the effectiveness of his delaying tactics. He ran Ratner ragged until the bottom fell out of the market and made financing impossible.
So, don't expect Brooklyn's ugliest wasteland of exposed rail tracks and rat-strewn lots to blossom -- the Dodgers will return sooner.
NoLandGrab: Cuozzo appears to be off his meds, or maybe suffering from hallucinations. We really shouldn't waste our time on this brand of twaddle, but we feel a duty to correct his "Orwellian" load of bull.
Courage? Ratner may have ambition, but courageous he ain't. Try greedy.
Orwellian-titled? Not even close. DDDB, and nearly everyone else opposed to Atlantic Yards, has advocated tirelessly for the UNITY Plan, a version of which Vanderbilt railyard high-bidder Extell Development was ready to build — more than three years ago.
Well-financed? That's priceless. Shall they buy or lease a corporate jet? DDDB has been supported by 4,000 community donors whose median donation is about $50. Forest City Ratner has been given $305 million cash money by the City and State, and total subsidies pledged for Atlantic Yards are most likely north of one billion dollars.
Lied? We invite Mr. Cuozzo to point out any lies by Atlantic Yards opponents. To help him better recognize lying, we point him to Forest City Ratner's "liar fliers."
Bullied? Apparently, Mr. Cuozzo is confusing project opponents with project supporters, many of whom are recognizable by their spotless hardhats, brand-new safety vests and ear-piercing whistles.
Lastly, those rat-strewn lots, Mr. Cuozzo, are courtesy of the "courageous" Bruce Ratner."
Hope you're right about the fate of Atlantic Yards, though. Have a nice day!
Posted by eric at June 6, 2009 12:56 PM