No reaction to new Atlantic Yards arena design?

it seems the atlantic yards has gone from a multi-purpose project to now strictly an arena. i don't care what the arena looks like.

homeowner wrote: It hasn't changed to simply an arena. Ratner is simply planning on building an arena first, laying claim to the other land and biding his time until the market is moving his way so that he can complete the project.

This is actually a worse outcome since none of the benefits that were supposed to accrue to the neighborhood (green space, affordable housing, new schools) will result. And then by the time the rest of the project is finished all of those promised "benefits" will disappear by the wayside.

well put, homeowner.
the only positive I see thus far is the low/flat design won't blot out the sun in Ft Greene as much as the original plan.

this is the city: shade should not be the reason for supporting/opposing a project like this one. i've said all along that the opposition's priorities are out of line. if you think the city is going to give this land over to the development of a park, less than a mile from prospect park and not far from numerous other green spaces, you're mistaken.

even i am now against this atlantic yards after being very optimistic about forest city ratner actually making good on their promises to build something for everyone. i thought the miss brooklyn building would have been impressive.

all we're going to get is the barclays center. or further blighted/undeveloped space on a valuable intersection.

Chekhovian wrote:
all we're going to get is the barclays center. or further blighted/undeveloped space on a valuable intersection.

I would point out that that intersection is blighted because of the AY project, and the demolition of buildings seized by eminent domain...

Beyond being the only way Ratner can make money from purchasing the Nets, why should an arena need to be there at all? Just look at what Madison Square Garden did for that swath of midtown...Why choose to have that in your back yard when there are so many better alternatives (Mixed retail, open space, residential housing, etc)...Personally, I prefer a hole in the ground to *ANY* arena...

it's not my only reason, but i think it is one reason to not be a fan.

pitu wrote: I posted when they announced the architect change last week...similarly,
no reax.

I'm back to being bummed about a ginormous stadium and ensuing mess.
(someone just called it a George Foreman grill on WNYC. ha.)

hahaha... holy shit. I see it now. Priceless.

Lo Kee wrote: [quote=pitu]I posted when they announced the architect change last week...similarly,
no reax.

I'm back to being bummed about a ginormous stadium and ensuing mess.
(someone just called it a George Foreman grill on WNYC. ha.)

hahaha... holy shit. I see it now. Priceless.
I thought it was a George Foreman grill on the Death Star.

Since the Russian oligarch Mikhail Prokhorov has taken over the Nets, now what do people of the Atlantic Yards' chances?

I'm not sure a Russian owner of the Nets is the right spokesperson to see the project through to completion.

I would be more supportive of AY if it weren't all centered around the Nets basketball arena. The other aspects of the original plan (i.e. 90% of it) were far more encouraging to progress in the area. I think this recent development might work in favor of those opposed to an arena, because Prokhorov will have no idea how difficult it will be navigating the bureaucratic mess to actually build something on the site.

Here's Prospect Heights resident Keith Gessen on the news:

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2009/09/keith-gessen-mikhail-prokhorov.html