2010-02-09T08:39:01.000-08:00 Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn contact@developdontdestroy.org http://www.dddb.net/ http://www.dddb.net/php/latestnews_Linked.php?id=2632 2010-02-08T06:33:57.000-08:00

Senator Bil Perkins has introduced a bill that would bring critically needed reform to the New York State utilizes eminent domain particularly for the purposes of remediating "blight." Most sweeping would be the bill's clarified and narrow definition of blight.

http://www.dddb.net/php/latestnews_Linked.php?id=2631 2010-02-03T13:59:32.000-08:00

More close-reading of the ESDC master closing documents today from Atlantic Yards Report, this time on the fine-print waffling over just how big the development actually would be.nbspnbsp Norman Oder deciphers the small printnbspto discover that the Ratner organization would be allowed to build something a bit less than 65 the size initially promised.nbsp Oder explains why that matters:What's wrong with the picture? Some much-touted benefits of the project, as calculated in new construction jobs, new permanent jobs, and new tax revenues, were all predicated on a full buildout.

http://www.dddb.net/php/latestnews_Linked.php?id=2630 2010-02-02T08:30:43.000-08:00

After posting a plethora of signs proclaiming that streets around the proposed Arena site would close February 1, FCR and the ESDC followed through on their promise to defer closing until after Judge Abraham Gerges' decision on the transfer of title.nbsp But in the course of so doing, the organizations revealed just how entangled the two entities have become, and how once again, there's no one looking out for the public interest.nbspnbspAtlantic Yards Report explains:nbsp Forest City Ratner waited well over two days to change digital signs warning that Fifth Avenue between Atlantic and Flatbush avenues would close on February 1--despite a judge's decision last Friday to defer any decision on transferring title to properties and streets in the Atlantic Yards footprint to the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC).So a lot of people walking and driving this weekend had a right to be confused when the street turned out to be open this morning.Who's in charge?And no one really knew who was in charge.Was it the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT)? Not really, even though FCR said it would have to ask for DOT permission to close the streets without a judicial order.

http://www.dddb.net/php/latestnews_Linked.php?id=2629 2010-02-01T05:43:34.000-08:00

Atlantic Yards Report reveals todaynbspthat the August KPMG report on housing in Brooklyn--which the ESDC used to prove that the massive dose of housing in the Atlantic Yards project could be absorbed in ten years--was, to put it kindly, fanciful.nbsp It reported entirely incorrect sales figures for the Oro Condos and Richard Meier's On Prospect Park.nbspnbspAs Norman Odernbspreports:...the report claimed that Richard Meier's On Prospect Park was 75 sold.

http://www.dddb.net/php/latestnews_Linked.php?id=2628 2010-01-29T17:46:19.000-08:00

We were heartened today, but not surprised, that Judge Gerges chose to reserve his decision on the ESDC's petition seeking to condemn private properties to make way for Forest City Ratner's basketball arena and parking lots.It's clear that Judge Gerges appreciates the gravity of the issues at stake in this case, and that he'll weigh very seriously the arguments put forth today by counsel and in the motion submitted on behalf of the property owners and leaseholders fighting to retain title to their homes and businesses.We're confident that after he reviews the facts, he willnbspagree with the respondents and dismiss the state's petition, denying the ESDC and Forest City the right to take title to our neighbors' businesses and homes.nbsp

http://www.dddb.net/php/latestnews_Linked.php?id=2627 2010-01-29T12:35:50.000-08:00

Here's breaking news (more to come)nbspfrom Norman Oder's post on today's condemnation hearing:After nearly two hours of oft-contentious oral argument before Kings County Supreme Court Judge Abraham Gerges--argument that, according to counsel for the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) went well beyond the proceeding at hand--the judge chose not to rule on the motions and counter-motions filed in the last two days."While the court will proceed promptly, the parties are entitled to a review of their claims," Gerges said at the end of the hearing, promising to "proceed expeditiously."That means, most likely, that streets planned for closure February 1 will not close, even though developer Forest City Ratner seeks the closure of Fifth Avenue between Flatbush and Atlantic avenues for sewer work needed before arena construction will go forward--and has said it wanted that street closed even if the case was delayed."We will not even ask that streets be closed until after vesting of title," ESDC attorney Charles Webb told the judge.Read the restnbsphere.

http://www.dddb.net/php/latestnews_Linked.php?id=2626 2010-01-29T07:17:06.000-08:00

For Immediate Release: January 29, 2010 Property Owners and Leaseholders Seek Dismissal of Atlantic Yards Condemnation Petition Today Will vigorously defend their homes and businesses against New York State's attempt to hand their properties to Forest City Ratner for basketball arena and parking lots Brooklyn, NY- Today at 9:30 a.m., Brooklyn property owners and leaseholders will seek dismissal of the state's petition to condemn their homes and businesses in New York State Supreme Court in Kings County.

http://www.dddb.net/php/latestnews_Linked.php?id=2625 2010-01-28T05:16:56.000-08:00

This Friday, January 29th, at 9:30 a.m., the Empire State Development Corporation will present its petition in New York State Supreme Court seeking the condemnation of private properties to make way for Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards boondoggle.We invite and urge you to attend the arguments and spread the word as we carry on with the fight to stop this misguided project once and for all.

http://www.dddb.net/php/latestnews_Linked.php?id=2624 2010-01-27T07:25:08.000-08:00

Tomorrow, Thursday January 28, the Coalition to Preserve Community, the community group fighting to prevent Columbia University from bulldozingnbsp18 acres of West Harlem, is holding a demonstration at the Empire State Development Corporation offices.nbspA recentnbspNew York State Appellate Division court declared the use of eminent domain in this $7nbspbillion expansion to be unconstitutional.nbsp(In light of this, DDDB has requested that its own challenge to eminent domain in the Atlantic Yards project be reconsidered.) nbspThe Coalitionnbspis calling on Governor Paterson and the ESDC to not appeal thenbspappellate court decision.Thenbspdemonstration will be 11:30am --1:00pm at the ESDC offices, 633nbspThird Ave, between 41st amp 40th Streets).At the same time, CPC is sending a letter to Gov.

http://www.dddb.net/php/latestnews_Linked.php?id=2623 2010-01-26T10:16:55.000-08:00

It's no surprise that in this era of financially-troubled professional journalism, when journalism pundits talk optimistically about the future ofnbsp "citizen journalism" they like to point to the Atlantic Yards Report as an exemplar of what an unpaid yet dedicated journalist can accomplish.nbspLeaving aside for now the question of whether there are a lot of (or even one) additional Norman Oders out there, it's fair to say that the citizens of New York City got awfully lucky that a talented reporter decided to take on this story.nbspnbspAnd now, with Monday'snbsp semi-releasenbspof the AY master closing documents, Oder has gone into hyperdrive.nbspThe unveiling isnbspa "semi-release" because the voluminous documents, contained in ten largenbspbinders,nbspcan only be viewed atnbspthe ESDC office, under the gaze of ESDC staffers.nbsp (The ESDC might check into this new thing callednbsp"the Internet", where some democracies, including our own United States, post documents so that average citizens can take a peek also.)nbsp But Oder isnbspon it, and in his first set of dispatches he finds enough smoking guns to film a Western: briefly, that FCR's costs have been exaggerated, that the money thenbspCity is giving the developernbsphas been under-reported, and that therenbspare additional loopholes to let the developer skatenbspaway from that nagging "affordable housing" promise.nbsp And, we are promised, there is evennbsplarger news to come.nbsp For now,nbspthe links below are the place to start.nbsp nbspnbspnbsp"All-affordable buildings" with no low-income unitsIs new subway entrance to arena block worth $50 million (as MTA claimed)?Did the city give Forest City Ratner $31 million more for arena land? YesThe payments to bond counsel and underwriting counselDid Forest City Ratner have the power to sell naming rights three years ago?FCR must reinforce subway supports on its own dime, but what's the cost?More details on the arena block, thanks to new schematics