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June 16, 2009
What's supposed to happen at the Vanderbilt Yard? And why did the MTA initially resist Ratner's money-saving changes?
Atlantic Yards Report
What was approved in December 2006 by the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) is surely to be changed in new plans likely to be released at the June 24 board meeting, but the below graphic, Figure 1-13, from the Atlantic Yards Final Environmental Impact Statement, shows what was supposed to happen.
The ten-track railyard for servicing the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), located in the western third (Block 1119) of the Vanderbilt Yard, would be given up, replaced by a nine-track yard in the eastern third (Block 1121) capable of storing, cleaning, and toilet servicing longer trains, given that the LIRR now has longer cars.
The new yard would be reduced to just seven tracks, and that change, I'm told, was initially resisted by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). (Click to enlarge)
NoLandGrab: To extend outgoing Empire State Developerment Corporation exec Marisa Lago's kitchen renovation metaphor, it's like getting a new kitchen, only smaller.
Add this to the list of incredible shrinking "public benefits" touted by developer Bruce Ratner and his political supporters.
Keep in mind that Ratner also proposes to pay only $20 million up front, instead of the $100 million that he previously promised to pay.
MORE FOR RATNER = LESS FOR THE PUBLIC.
Posted by lumi at June 16, 2009 5:47 AM