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September 17, 2012
Brooklyn Holds Court: Road To Barclays Center A Long One, Developer Says
NY1
by Jeanine Ramirez
Brooklyn is getting ready for a new era as it welcomes its first professional sports team since the Dodgers left town. All this week NY1 is taking a look at the impact of the Nets and the Barclays Center on the community, on the borough and on the national stage. In part one, Brooklyn reporter Jeanine Ramirez has an exclusive interview with the developer and a look at how the controversial project evolved.
The Barclays Center is getting its finishing touches and developer Bruce Ratner is happy with what he sees.
"Even I was a little surprised at how magnificent and beautiful it is. I almost started crying because it's been a long haul, a long time," says Ratner.
[Sniff, sniff.]
We're a little [sniff, sniff] choked up ourselves [sniff, sniff]. In fact, we need a moment to collect ourselves.
[Sniff, sniff.]
article [with video]
Related coverage...
Atlantic Yards Report, Ratner calls arena "public building," says "I think everyone right-thinking realizes that this was well worth it"
"I think everyone right-thinking realizes that this was well worth it," Ratner tells Brooklyn reporter Jeanine Ramirez, implicitly suggesting that the New York City Independent Budget Office, which called the arena a loss for the city, is wrong-thinking.
"That's the right place for a public building like this," Ratner tells his interviewer, which prompts some editorial pause:
But whether a privately owned arena is a public benefit sparked much debate and prompted lawsuits over the use of eminent domain.
The debate continues. After all, while the building may be open to the paying public, Ratner famously told Crain's New York Business 11/8/09, "Why should people get to see plans? This isn't a public project."
Posted by eric at September 17, 2012 10:11 PM