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March 12, 2010
It came from the Groundbreaktaking Ceremony...
Field of Schemes, Shovels fly at Nets arena groundbreaking
More than six years in the making, Brooklyn's Atlantic Yards project (aka the Barclays Center arena, aka the place the New Jersey Nets plan to play when they finally leave New Jersey) finally had its ceremonial groundbreaking yesterday. As you might expect, there were lots of shovels brandished and giant cardboard faces donned in protest. I didn't go myself, but you can read Curbed's blog for all the gory details, including photos of trays of turkey-lobster sliders.
If the word "ceremonial" didn't tip you off (let alone the turkey-lobster sliders), nothing of substance was discussed or revealed yesterday, about when the arena will open, when the associated apartment buildings will be built, when the state plans to seize the private properties that still stand in the way of construction, or anything like that. But Jay-Z was there!
NY Post, Brooklyn shines at AY groundbreaking
“This is a big day for Brooklyn. A long time coming, actually 53 years,” said Borough President Marty Markowitz, referring to when Major League Baseball’s Brooklyn Dodgers left the borough for Los Angeles.
“I’m looking forward to a new city center being created here with the Barclays Arena and Brooklyn back in national major league sports. It’s an exciting rejuvenation and frankly we deserve it,” he added.
NoLandGrab: The idea that the Nets somehow equal the Dodgers, and that Brooklyn or any other place, for that matter, "deserves" a pro sports franchise, is just utter nonsense.
Bergen Record, Groundbreaking marks start of Nets' Brooklyn arena
Atlantic Yards construction formally kicked off in grand fashion near downtown Brooklyn on Thursday, with a crowd of about 700 gathering for a ceremonial groundbreaking at the planned site for the Barclays Center basketball arena.
“I can’t believe I’m standing here today,” said a beaming Bruce Ratner, the overall project developer and the principal owner of the New Jersey Nets.
Frankly, Bruce, neither can we.
Security was tight at the invitation-only event because of concerns that protestors might disrupt the proceedings. Instead, the opponents gathered about 100 feet away with picket signs, air horns and other noisemakers.
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Long-Awaited Groundbreaking Held for Atlantic Yards
[Ratner] also thanked Bob Diamond, president of Barclays Capital (not to be confused with the Brooklyn railroad enthusiast), and last but not least, “lawyers, lawyers and more lawyers.
“There have been 24 lawsuits, and we’ve won every one. We’re batting 24-and-0.”
NLG: Proving that Bruce Ratner knows as much about baseball as he does about basketball.
NY1 News, Groundbreaking Ceremony Held For Atlantic Yards Project
Opponents wearing masks of the governor, mayor and Brooklyn borough president and a crowd of angered residents and business gathered near the site to hold a mock funeral for the "soul of Brooklyn." Their chants could be heard throughout much of the ceremony.
Protesters said the controversial project will transform multiple neighborhoods surrounding the site.
"I think it's a very bad day for democracy in New York," said a protester. "It's very sad. They're supposed to stand for us, but they serve the developers. They don't serve the people."
The New York Times, After Years of Controversy, Ceremonial Shovels Come Out
Daniel Goldstein, a spokesman for Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, the main community group that has fought the Atlantic Yards, pointed out that there was still one lawsuit pending. But on Thursday, he and other protesters were left to make their case in satire.
Standing under the faded green awning of Freddy’s Bar and Back Room, which sits on the project site and is scheduled for demolition, protesters wore masks of Mr. Markowitz, Mr. Paterson, Mr. Ratner and others whom they see as complicit in advancing Atlantic Yards.
Poking fun at Mr. Markowitz’s penchant for official proclamations, his doppelgänger read from an imagined scroll. “Whereas, Brooklyn’s cherished traditions of fairness and respect for all are deemed moot and quaint,” the pretend borough president read.
At one point, protesters wandered into traffic on Atlantic Avenue. The police went to corral them back to the sidewalk. One man was arrested for disorderly conduct.
Courier-Life Publications, AY protesters march on groundbreaking
Impersonator Elliot Crown, wearing a three-foot long Marty Markowitz mask, stood in front of Freddy’s Bar and bellowed.
“We’re here to mark the greatest urban planning blunder since Cleveland,” said Crown, in his best Brooklyn warble.
...Park Slope resident Dennis Hurley said he initially supported the Atlantic Yards project, but lost faith once eminent domain and shrinking budgets came into play.
“Look! These aren’t derelict buildings they’re knocking down,” said the 32-year-old, motioning to the buildings around him as the protesters marched. “It’s sad they managed to get all these people out.”
Laurika Harris, 21, who lives in the area, said that she doesn’t believe that the proposed low-income housing is coming anytime soon, and doesn’t believe the stadium will help locals.
“Stadiums are self-contained. People don’t want to wander around the neighborhood,” said Harris. “They park there and eat inside the stadium.”
Newsday.com, Thousand attend groundbreaking for Brooklyn arena
At the site where the long-demonized Walter O'Malley once proposed a baseball stadium to keep the Dodgers in Brooklyn, a conga line of shakers and movers Thursday staged a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for a proposed 18,000-seat arena designed to bring the Nets to the borough's Atlantic Yards site, possibly by 2012.
NLG: Six-and-a-half years and some media outlets still confuse the Atlantic Yards site with the spot where the Dodgers had wanted to build a successor to Ebbets Field. That site lies across the street, beneath Bruce Ratner's state-subsidized Atlantic Center mall.
GlobeSt.com, Amid Protests, Atlantic Yards Breaks Ground
Before the Barclays Center groundbreaking, two street corners full of protestors chanted "Shame on you!" while officials entered the ceremony. They were there to voice their concerns about a lack of affordable housing attached to the development and the eminent domain of residences and businesses in the area.
NLG: We should point out that despite claims that Atlantic Yards is "transit-oriented" development, most "dignitaries" arrived at the ceremony in SUVs or limos, including a pair of city-issue black behemoths that roared up Atlantic Avenue with sirens wailing and lights flashing. It was not, unfortunately, the U.S. Attorney with a Ridge Hill indictment.
The Epoch Times, Amidst Protest, Atlantic Yards Begins Groundbreaking
"The Barclays Center at Atlantic Yards is the first piece of what will be one of the largest private investments and job generators in Brooklyn's history," said Bloomberg. “The world-class arena will bring the Nets to Brooklyn, and the entire project will bring with it tens of thousands of construction and permanent jobs, thousands of units of affordable housing, and tremendous economic activity.”
NLG: Um, sure.
Only The Blog Knows Brooklyn, The Day They Broke Ground
Posted by eric at March 12, 2010 1:47 PM