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April 22, 2010
Daniel Goldstein, Shabnam Merchant and The Fight Against Corrupt Development
COUNTDOWN TO MAIN STREET
Daniel Goldstein and Shabnam Merchant, leaders of the fight against the corrupt development proposed by Forest City Ratner at the Atlantic Yards, negotiated a settlement to leave their apartment quickly. This has been reported in the press as "selling their home." They did not sell their apartment: it was seized by eminent domain. They were able to negotiate the terms of their leaving. They have been leaders in an historic fight, which has helped many of us to understand how developers pull off these deals to steal people's homes and change our cities without our consent. The Development Don't Destroy Brooklyn website has helped to expose every detail of how the process unfolded. This is a great contribution to all of us.
Related coverage...
Reason Hit & Run, Eminent Domain Abuse Finally Forces Daniel Goldstein Out
Much like the news that Freddy's Bar is closing at the end of the month, this is sad but not really shocking. These folks were up against an atrocious Supreme Court precedent, the state and city of New York, and a corrupt and politically-connected real estate tycoon. Thanks to their long battle, this shameless case of eminent domain abuse got some of the scrutiny that it deserves.
Field of Schemes, Atlantic Yards opponent takes $3m to vacate site
That whole Zimbabwe sanctions thing notwithstanding, the path to construction of the Nets' new arena in Brooklyn seems to be getting smoother of late. First, Freddy's Bar, which has been a main gathering point for arena opponents and even installed chains last year so patrons could help it resist eviction, announced it was moving to a new location, though owners promised to continue to fight the project. And then yesterday, Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn leader Dan Goldstein agreed to take $3 million from developer Forest City Ratner in exchange for vacating his condo apartment by May 7.
Gothamist, Goldstein: "I Refused to Accept Any Kind of Gag Order"
Despite accepting $3 million in exchange for moving out of the Atlantic Yards, longtime Bruce Ratner enemy and last Atlantic Yards holdout Daniel Goldstein insists he is not giving up the fight. "I've not been silenced, and I am not leaving DDDB as it transitions into a new phase of fighting Atlantic Yards," he said in a press release sent out this morning. He claims that at yesterday's hearing with the Empire State Development Corporation, he had no idea he would be offered a settlement, and did not have a press statement ready. However, "Forest City Ratner saw it as a big press event and sent out a press release immediately," which Goldstein says led to biased reporting.
Cleveland Plain Dealer, Forest City reaches settlement with vocal opponent of Atlantic Yards project
The most vocal opponent of a Forest City Ratner Cos. project in Brooklyn has settled with the developer, the New York arm of Cleveland's Forest City Enterprises Inc.
WCBS-TV, B'klyn Arena Holdout: 'I Don't Feel Like A Winner'
Activist Daniel Goldstein isn't popping any champagne corks Thursday even though, as the last holdout, he's getting $3 million to move out of his Brooklyn condo to make way for the controversial Atlantic Yards project.
...Goldstein fought a five-year battle to stop the project. But since it's going forward he says he's doesn't feel like a winner.
"Ratner's a winner. He's got control of 22 acres in the heart of Brooklyn that he got cheaply on a no-bid deal that makes him a winner," added Ratner. "It's abuse of eminent domain. It's abuse of billions in tax subsidies."
Gideon's Trumpet, The Atlantic Yards Settlement - Lowball Thwarted, or a Big Score Made?
The moral also seems to be that sometimes it may be cheaper to pay off a determined holdout, than to go to the mat with him. It would be interesting to learn what this caper has cost both the city and the redeveloper, considering the cost of litigation and delay.
NJ.com, Come May, will prospective Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov be playing the lotto?
There’s a rumor circulating that Daniel Goldstein’s phone rang as soon as he received his lovely ($3M) parting gift from Ratner Inc. On the line was Brett Yormark, asking him if he wanted to buy a suite. We can officially confirm this rumor as “not necessarily true, but sounds really plausible.”
The Brooklyn Ink, VARYING OPINIONS ON GOLDSTEIN’S HOLDOUT AND PAYOUT
Websites and blogs dedicated to opposing the Atlantic Yards project have published myriad opinions on Daniel Goldstein’s $3 million payout to vacate his apartment.
The following items, which we include solely as part of the Atlantic Yards record, fall into the following categories: Daniel Goldstein was in it for the money (patently absurd); OMG, Daniel Goldstein made a mint (not really, and let's remember how much it was worth to Ratner to settle); Daniel Goldstein shouldn't have settled (moronic — the state already owned his home); Daniel Goldstein should move to another neighborhood threatened by eminent domain (just plain dopey). Proceed at your own risk.
BOCOCA Land, $3 Million? When Do You Want Us Out?
Housing Watch, Brooklyn Development: Atlantic Yards' Last Holdout Gets Monster Settlement
NetsAreScorching, BARCLAYS CENTER FINALLY WITHIN REACH…I HOPE…
Culture Monster [LA Times blog], Yet another chapter in the Atlantic Yards saga
NY Post.com Real Estate blog, New York State not such a great negotiator
Cobble HIll Blog, Open Thread – Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn or What Would You Do with the Money?
City Room, For Developers’ Foe, Suggestions for the Next Battleground
Posted by eric at April 22, 2010 10:05 PM