A Turd Grows in Brooklyn

Let us turn for a nano-second from the site of Britney’s panty-less in-betweenness to a more important site — the Atlantic Yards project, a $4 billion office and residential development that would build an arena for the Nets and 16 skyscrapers along a 22-acre tract in downtown Brooklyn–the biggest real estate project in the borough’s history. (see before and after simulated photos above). Bruce Ratner, CEO of Forest CityRatner, isn’t bringing pro b-ball to Brooklyn because he’s a fan; he’s bringing pro b-ball to Brooklyn because he knows everyone loves the idea so much they won’t care about him building the skyscrapers and using eminent domain to destroy the surrounding neighborhoods. But opposition is growing. On Wednesday at 2 pm, a group of homeowners and businesses — including the great Freddy’s Bar — will meet Ratner in court as part of their eminent domain lawsuit (Ratner’s the defendent). If judge doesn’t throw out the suit, the anti-Ratner lawsuit will go forward.

From the website of DDB: “About two dozen people — including homeowners, a commercial property owner, Freddy’s Bar on Dean Street and families and individuals who rent — are arguing that use of eminent domain is unconstitutional.

“You have a Puerto Rican extended family, a Romanian immigrant, you have a Pakistani family with nine kids — this is New York. This is Brooklyn,” said plaintiff Daniel Goldstein, who helped organize the anti-arena group, Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn.

The 8-million-square-foot project will create 6,400 housing units, including 2,250 units for low- and middle-income families. About 600 of those affordable apartments will be for sale. A spokesman for Forest CityRatner declined comment for this story.”

Having lived a few blocks from the project from nearly 27 years, we have mixed feelings. While we are not crazy-in-love with Atlantic Avenue, we hate, hate, hate Ratner’s other project–the Atlantic Mall.