« The Atlantic Yards meme gets a boost in 2011, with more coming from a journalist's novel | Main | AY down the memory hole: Times says arena will "undoubtedly transform Downtown Brooklyn" »
December 31, 2011
Cognitive dissonance: Bruce Ratner, he of the ever-shifting Atlantic Yards vision, salutes DUMBO developer Jed Walentas because he "holds firm to the vision"
Atlantic Yards Report
In a front-page Real Estate section article tomorrow, headlined DUMBO on His Mind, the New York Times profiles Jed Walentas, son and successor to David Walentas, the wily and wise developer who bought up defunct manufacturing structures for a song and, over decades, alchemized them into residential gold.
And who does the Times find to salute Walentas?
Bruce Ratner, the president of the Forest City Ratner Companies, which is developing the Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn, said he had watched Mr. Walentas grow more confident as he took control of the company.
“What is really interesting about David and Jed is that they both have a vision for what they want,” he said. He pointed to other large-scale development projects across the city, saying the extent of their success had been dependent on the developer’s vision.
...
In Dumbo, he said, the guiding vision was to retain the area’s industrial flavor (without the industry), while providing a street-level experience both diverse and interesting — even if it means subsidizing rents for small-business owners and declining the high rents offered by big-box stores, or selling off properties and cashing out.
“Jed holds firm to the vision,” Mr. Ratner said. “And that is not a minor comment.”
...
Pause for just a moment of cognitive dissonance.
The guiding vision for Atlantic Yards has been... to make it work.
Architect Frank Gehry? Gone.
Four office towers around the arena? Gone (though one may come someday).
Running track and bird sanctuary above the arena? Gone.
A ten-year timetable? Never really believed it, Ratner admitted last year.
Affordable housing buildable as planned? Never really believed it, Ratner admitted this year.
Unionized on-site construction jobs? Far fewer than promised.
Independent Compliance Monitor for the Community Benefits Agreement? Promised, but never delivered.
Related content...
The New York Times, Dumbo on His Mind
Posted by steve at December 31, 2011 6:01 PM