Atlantic Yards Proposal/Renting in the area

anonymous

I recently saw a great apartment on Bergen St. near 6th avenue and considered signing a lease until I realized that this is next to the site for the proposed Stadium. I am VERY concered about the Stadium/construction nightmare that is planned for the neighborhood. After doing some research I discovered that demolition will begin April 2006 or possibly sooner. The weird thing is, I talked to a few people on the block and they seemed unconcerned about the whole thing. Can anyone give me some solid information about the timeline for construction? It seems to be a huge issue that will ruin a beautiful neightborhood.

thanks for any info.[/b]

anonymous

I don't know who you are talking to who is telling you that construction will start in 2006. This thing is far from a done deal in any way shape or form. He still needs to buy at least 20 -30 properties and if the supreme court rules against emminent domain next month this whole deal is off and Ratner is stuck with a whole lot of condos to rent. Not to mention the lawsuits that will be filed against this boondoggle. If you really want to help go to the develop dont destroy website and volunteer.

sje

Well, you sort of opened up a can-o-worms with that question. Truth is the arena project is very much NOT a done deal, and any "timeline" is purely guesswork/conjecture right now. That being said, you couldn't pay me to live on Sixth and Bergen, for other, very skanky reasons. My shop was there for 4 years. Because the block between Dean and Bergen is actually a police parking lot, the streetsweeper NEVER cleans it, and it's extra dirty and rodent-filled. I could go on and on, but won't.

anonymous

Joyce Baumgarten (Ratner's rep) told me that she wouldn't sign a lease for an apartment in the area.

sje

Do *any* of Ratners people live in PH? I bet not, so that means nothing. :?

emily

If you wouldn't mind renting for one year only and there's no broker's fee or a modest one, I would say definitely go ahead. Let's say that they really do start building in April 2006 (which I also believe they won't even if they do get permission--since when do construction projects start on time?). You'd get a noisy May and you'd move out in June. No big deal.

ETA: I love how Ratner's people are openly admitting that they won't want to live near their own project. So, that's how great it's going to be, eh? KILL KILL KILL. :evil:

anonymous

When I spoke to Ratner's VP for communications in February of 2004 and I asked her what she would be doing if she lived here, she told me she'd be fighting it the project.

HA!

Also, and this is not to fear-monger, but there is a very very real possibility that the block you are talking about would be condemned and demolished if the Ratner project goes through. The Bergen Bagel triangle and the Yummy Taco triangle are at great risk of being taken for the project. No kidding.

As for construction beginning in April 2006, that is FCR's spin, it is highly unlikely.