NEW YORK, NY June 16, 2006 —The Municipal Art society says the Brooklyn Atlantic Yards project violates accepted planning principles as currently envisioned. WNYC's Andrea Bernstein has more.

REPORTER: Broadening the debate over the proposed arena/high rise project beyond the borders of Brooklyn, Kent Bartwick, head of the the civic planning group told a packed forum last night that 20 urban planning professionals examined the project for eight months. The group looked at whether the project respected surrounding neighborhoods, would create real parks and an active street life, and whether it would clog streets.

And the Municipal Art Society decided the project - as currently envisioned - failed to meet those goals.

BARTWICK: Does this project work for Brooklyn? As it currently stands, we don't think it does.

REPORTER: Jim Stuckey, Vice President for developer Forest City Ratner, wouldn't say if the project could be scaled back, saying only that there are competing concerns, including the cost of the development and building affordable housing.

The project is currently under review by the state's economic development authority. A small state board has final say over the project.