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July 29, 2009

BrooklynSpeaks, electeds call for Supplemental EIS; DDDB plans rallies, press conferences outside hearing today

Atlantic Yards Report

So, what should we look for at the public hearing today and tomorrow on the 2009 Atlantic Yards Modified General Project Plan (MGPP)? (The official times are 2-5 pm and 6-8 pm, at the the Klitgord Auditorium of New York City Technical College at 285 Jay Street.)

The cameras, most likely, will focus on the conflict, the signs and chants displayed by project supporters and opponents, both outside the venue--and, perhaps, inside. It would be newsworthy if disruptive people are ejected, as the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) promises.

But the news might more concern which elected officials--and candidates--show up, and what they say. There's not much to say directly about the ostensible purpose of the hearing, which concerns, among other things,the plan to pursue eminent domain in two stages rather than one and Forest City Ratner's revised deal with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the Vanderbilt Yard.

But there is a lot to say about the project, and the process.

Read on for more about BrooklynSpeaks latest stance, the political landscape, and catered lunch.

The Local [The NY Times], Atlantic Yards: Twice More, With Feeling

Ron Shiffman, a former city planning commissioner who co-founded the Pratt Center for Community Development and now sits on the advisory board of Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, said he thought the impact of the hearing would be “very little other than setting a record for what I’m sure will be another spate of lawsuits.”

The proposed changes in the project plan include:

  • Giving Forest City 22 years to pay the M.T.A. $100 million for a rail yard rather than making them pay the whole thing up front;
  • Letting Forest City scale down the replacement rail yard they will build.
  • Breaking the project up into phases to allow Forest City to proceed with the construction of the basketball arena while acquiring other land;
  • And other extensions of the timeline for the $4.9 billion project.

Mr. Shiffman said: “The fact that they’re holding the hearings without really many facts or details about what the changes are, the fact that the M.T.A. made its changes in such a pro forma way, indicates to me that this isn’t anything more than their attempt to meet the form requirements of a public hearing as opposed to the substance.”

Posted by lumi at July 29, 2009 6:11 AM