NEW YORK, NY July 07, 2005 —While some Brooklyn community groups are applauding a new proposal to develop the MTA's Atlantic Rail yards, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz says fugeddaboutit.

REPORTER: Markowitz says he can understand why neighbors in Prospect Heights would prefer the Extell Development Company's smaller plan to build two thousand units of housing. But he says it won't do as much for Brooklyn as developer Bruce Ratner's plan.

MARKOWITZ: It doesn't produce the jobs that we desperately need in the borough. It doesn't produce a significant amount of affordable housing, it does not. There's no arena which means no national sports team for Brooklyn or venue for national and international events or boro wide events.

REPORTER: Ratner's plan would build 17 towers of commercial and residential space with a new arena for the Nets. The MTA is considering both bids but has yet to say how much either developer has offered for building over its rail yards.