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Develop-
don't destroy
BROOKLYN Press
Release Main Page
For Immediate
Release: May 11, 2006
New Atlantic
Yards Proposal, Same as the Old Proposal
New Design Is 16 Skyscrapers Worth of Window-dressing
BROOKLYN, NY Today sports baron/developer Bruce
Ratner's architect Frank Gehry unveiled updated plans for their "Atlantic
Yards" proposal in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. Except for handpicked supporters
on Forest City Ratner’s payroll, the community was barred from the press
conference, held in the architecturally and economically failed Atlantic
Center Mall which happens to house the state agency (ESDC) charged with
“reviewing” Ratner’s plan.
Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn (DDDB) spokesman Daniel Goldstein said, "The
new design unveiled by Gehry and Ratner today is 16 skyscrapers worth of
window-dressing. It puts a Gehry sheen on top of repudiated 1960's style
urban renewal. It's still way too big, and does not change the fact of 16
skyscrapers slammed on top of and next to low-rise, historic neighborhoods.
It does not change the fact that the proposal abuses eminent domain, spends
at least $1.6 billion in taxpayer dollars, creates a traffic nightmare at
Atlantic and Flatbush, is a security risk or that this project is a land
grab by a wealthy sports baron developer.”
“The proposal remains an urban planning disaster in waiting, and this is
because Mr. Gehry and Mr. Ratner continue to ignore the community. We are
disappointed with Mr. Gehry, as he has never met with the communities surrounding
the proposed development site. Thus DDDB and the community's fight continues
with great strength," said DDDB President Eric Reschke.
The design unveiled today is over 600,000 square feet bigger today when
the proposal was first announced and unveiled in December 2003. “Ms. Brooklyn,”
the developer’s brand name for the 620 foot tower that would be built at
the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic hulking over and blocking views
of the borough’s landmark Williamsburgh Bank Building has not been reduced
in size. Three buildings along the Western end of Dean Street, across from
low-rise brownstone type buildings would be 322 feet, 428 feet, and 272
feet. The heights of the buildings in the project overall would range from
190 feet (approximately 19 stories) to 620 feet (approximately 60 stories),
with 11 of 16 buildings
over 300 feet.
“Nothing released today comes even close to making a meaningful change in
the proposal’s overwhelming impacts and size, and does not respond at all
to the communities’ concerns. In fact, the proposal shown today is 600,000
square feet larger than when unveiled in 2003. Forest City Ratner and its
architect Frank Gehry pretend that they are working with and listening to
the community. They must be living in a sound proof booth.” Goldstein concluded.
DEVELOP
DON’T DESTROY BROOKLYN
leads a broad-based community coalition
fighting for development that will unite our communities instead of
dividing and destroying them.
We oppose Forest City Ratner's "Atlantic Yards" proposal in Prospect
Heights, Brooklyn.
www.developdontdestroy.org
Over 5,000 members.
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