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September 25, 2012
A Treat Grows in Brooklyn
NY Observer, Editorial
The Observer should've quit while it was ahead.
The new Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn has become a reality after nearly a decade of discussion, debate, compromise—and hard work. The neighborhood, the borough and indeed the entire city will reap the project’s benefits for decades to come. Developer Bruce Ratner deserves congratulations for his determination and his vision, now realized.
...The owner of the Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, said the arena could become a milestone in Brooklyn history—like the famous bridge that bears the borough’s name. That claim might sound outlandish, but remember that the arena is part of a larger, even-more ambitious plan to redevelop Downtown Brooklyn. When the entire Atlantic Yards project is done, Mr. Prokhorov’s boast could easily become reality.
That's odd, 'cause they located the project in Prospect Heights.
The Barclays Center will get another burst of attention on Nov. 1, when the Nets play their first regular-season NBA game against the Knicks. But as the season wears on, attention will focus on the rest of Mr. Ratner’s vision. He plans to build a series of more than a dozen buildings on 22 acres surrounding the arena. Ground will soon be broken for a 32-story skyscraper that will be home to more than 350 apartments—and half of them will be reserved for tenants with low or moderate incomes.
We've been hearing the "ground will soon be broken" line for at least three years. And only a literal handful of the apartments planned for the first tower will be big enough, or cheap enough, for families earning the borough's median income.
The development will continue to create hundreds of construction jobs in the years to come, and when the project is complete, Downtown Brooklyn will have a new look and a new vibe.
That's too bad, because Ratner promised thousands of construction jobs, not hundreds, and when — or more accurately — if the project is completed, it'll still be in Prospect Heights.
Related coverage...
Atlantic Yards Report, Observer: A Treat Grows in Brooklyn (and forget our reporting)
Norman Oder points out that the Observer is run by a real estate magnate. Surprise, surprise.
Posted by eric at September 25, 2012 10:51 PM