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July 31, 2012
"Roof sponsorship signage" coming to Barclays Center: does Forest City's plan meet Design Guidlines?
Atlantic Yards Report
Guess what: "roof sponsorship signage" is coming to the Barclays Center, according to the latest two-week Atlantic Yards Construction Alert, released yesterday by Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) after preparation by Forest City Ratner.
Preparation for the installation of the such signage will begin this week or next, according to the document, which does not explain the nature and extent of such signage.
I've asked for more details; for example, will look like the rendering above right, released in early 2010, announcing the Barclays Center?
Either way, however, roof signage was never officially permitted. So it should be seen as a multi-million-dollar giveaway.
Raising the question in 2010
I reported 3/8/10 that rooftop Barclays Center logo that appeared in the latest arena rendering arena seemed to violate the Design Guidelines as stated in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) issued by the ESDC.
Asked in March 2010 the pictured rooftop signage would be allowed, ESDC spokeswoman Elizabeth Mitchell repsonded:
Images of the arena used for promotional purposes are renderings. Anything that is built out -- including final signage -- will meet the design guidelines, which we continue to review with Forest City Ratner Companies as specific elements of the design are finalized and evolve from renderings to reality.
From the FEIS and Design Guidelines
The documents approving the project in 2006 did not mention roof signage, likely because there was supposed to be a green roof. There's been no update of the Design Guidelines nor disclosure of permission for roof signage.
NoLandGrab: ESD really should consider changing their name to Endless Stream of Doublespeak.
Posted by eric at July 31, 2012 11:56 AM