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Developing News

Monday, June 08, 2009

WNYC reporter Matthew Schuerman updates news about real estate around the city -- from Atlantic Yards to the Highline.

Guests:

Matthew Schuerman

Comments [14]

Tal Barzilai from Pleasantville, NY

The Atlantic Yards Complex should just end and the Nets should move into the Prudential Center with the Devils. Seeing that Frank Gehry will not be designing the arena and being slowly phased out is showing how less likely this project will happen. It's interesting that despite the fact that Bruce Ratner won the lawsuits, he was still unable to build this project despite that. I won't be surprised if comes New Years Eve, there is no groundbreaking, but Ratner will try to claim that there are minor setbacks. As for that hearing two weeks ago, those supporters acted very disorderly especially with their disruptions and whistle blowing. It really shows how hostile they really are. All the opposition has to do for the next six months is just run out the clock until the end of the year and it's over for Ratner.

Jun. 08 2009 04:44 PM
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Moshe Feder from Flushing, NY

I called in to talk about this, but apparently there wasn't time.

I'm not sure I would have liked Gehry's design for the arena -- the exterior doesn't approach the Biboa Guggenhiem or Disney Hall in LA, and I never saw any designs for the interior, which is often his strength -- but at least it was serious, ambitious, 21st century architectural design worthy of one of the premier locations in Brooklyn (my native borough).

What we're being offered instead is an embarrassingly second rate, characterless piece of generic architectural cut-and-paste that could be anywhere. It looks like a cross between an airplane hangar and a generic state college gymnasium. Brooklyn and New York City deserve better.

It's a shame that our few serious architectural projects so often get cancelled or scaled back (see the Fulton Transit Center and Calatrava's PATH terminal as other recent examples). In a case like this, we shouldn't put up with it. The project was sold to us as one thing and has turned into something else, something inferior. It's a clear case of bait and switch. If Ratner's development permit can't be withdrawn, at least the City should withdraw all subsidies. Ratner has changed the deal after the handshake. We the people should be entitled to do the same.

Jun. 08 2009 11:11 AM
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Rich from Union City

Why stop at two tracks? Why not make it four, and extend the Seven line to the Hudson Bergen Light Rail?

Jun. 08 2009 10:59 AM
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amy

is it handicapped accessible???

Jun. 08 2009 10:58 AM
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peter from Crown Heights

Don't discount the incredible work of the landscape architecture firm Field Operations in regards to the Highline.

Diller & Scofidio are getting the kudos, but this was a true collaborative project between two great firms.

Jun. 08 2009 10:58 AM
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Kevin Watkins from NYC

Just to correct something I just heard on the air - The Highline Park will officially be open to the public TOMORROW AM at 7. I tried to get up but a parks official informed me that its only opening tomorrow...

Jun. 08 2009 10:56 AM
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Priya from Brooklyn

Oh please, Gersh Kuntzman from the Brooklyn Papers is one of the most pro development journalists out there!

Jun. 08 2009 10:54 AM
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Noah from Brooklyn

What has happened in the entire Atlantic yards area in recent time including the Atlantic center is disgusting. I am not against growth and development as long as it is responsible. I think this whole idea of saying that "this is not the design for the times" is ridiculous because we will have to live with this for years out of this time.

A stadium in NYC should not be smack dab in the middle of a mostly residential area. The Malls must go, perhaps some nice mixed income residential buildings and some small commercial buildings, but this area can't handle an arena and especially shouldn't be getting a parking lot. Even another park would be great as well as an upgrade to the Atlantic Yards. Put a stadium on the water. With the amount of money the City/State/Fed will pay for this with bonds, it should be able to be used for free as a public good.

Jun. 08 2009 10:49 AM
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Voter from Brooklyn

Could someone please explain how construction cost (for publically subsidized and government projects) keep going up in a down economy with increasing unemployment, slowdowns in construction, and factory production down?

Jun. 08 2009 10:48 AM
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KC from NYC

Wait, so everything that Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn said turns out to be true, and everything Bloomberg et al said was a lie? I'm honestly sad I can't feel surprise about this stuff anymore...

Jun. 08 2009 10:47 AM
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Ed from Brooklyn

Ratner is a fraud. He never planned on having Gehry. Bait and switch, nothing more. And I'm now the idiot for thinking challenging architecture might come to Brooklyn.

Jun. 08 2009 10:47 AM
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Nina from East Village

The only thing Atlantic Yards had going for it was Frank Gehry (it's GEHry, Brian -- not GEAry.) Let it die now please.

Jun. 08 2009 10:45 AM
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David from Bklyn

As someone in an affected neighborhood, the only reason I was in favor of Ratner's project was the quality of Gehry's design. Now, whats the point? Move it to Jersey.

Jun. 08 2009 10:44 AM
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Darius from Prospect Heights

A nail in the coffin of this terrible project.

Jun. 08 2009 10:41 AM
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