« On Brian Lehrer, HPD Commissioner says FCR's request for additional housing subsidy "was not a good public investment" | Main | Ratner Creates 1,786 New Artists »
March 29, 2011
Can a prefab skyscraper work well with the urban landscape? "You can, but it's not been done yet," professor tells Brian Lehrer
Atlantic Yards Report
The biggest Atlantic Yards news this morning on the Brian Lehrer Show was the blunt statement by Rafael Cestero, Commissioner of the city Department of Housing, Preservation, and Development, that his department felt an additional housing subsidy request by Forest City Ratner "was not a good public investment."
But there were some enlightening moments in another segment, Pre-Fab At Atlantic Yards, notably observations that it's difficult to create an esthetically satisfying modular tower, and Forest City Ratner is working in uncharted territory.
Lehrer started off the discussion by pointing out that the developer is considering a 34-story modular tower, the tallest in the world. Modular construction is untested at this height and, while it could cut construction costs in half, unionized construction workers would lose many jobs they expected.
Click through for Norman Oder's transcription of the discussion, with his commentary.
Posted by eric at March 29, 2011 10:55 PM