Brooklyn Reflection
Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 | Assignments for TLEP 4830
Brooklyn Reflection
The Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn, New York has sparked a very controversial argument between the public and the developers of the project. As an outsider looking in, Atlantic Yards sounds like a wonderful idea, because it can provide a new basketball stadium, new apartments, and new businesses that may flourish. The whole thing sounds great until you realize that there are currently residents living in this 24 acre area. I understand that many people do not want to leave Brooklyn or want it to change, so for me to sit here and say yes or no to the construction of this billion dollar investment is just unfair. However, the least I can do is educate others on both sides of the story.
Looking at the Barclays Center (home to the newly named Brooklyn Nets team, and the first building constructed in the development) website, Atlantic Yards seems like an amazing, positive development. The Atlantic Yards section of the website provides insight on the positive effects of the development with facts such as the creation of over 16,000 union construction jobs, 8,000 permanent jobs, and the ability to generate billions of dollars in tax revenue for the next 30 years. According to Barclays, the development of Atlantic Yards is one of the most important developments in Brooklyn history (Barclays Center).
During the video there were many people who were for the idea of Atlantic Yards. Declared at one point, was the fact that everyone affected by the development (in terms of housing) would be offered a new apartment in one of the facilities built. It was said that renters are going to be provided with apartments that were of the same square footage, number of rooms, and tenants are going to be allowed to pay the same amount of rent as they had been paying in their previous housing establishments (PBS).
As I stated above, these opinions are the Barclays’, the developers, and the investors, not the current residents of Brooklyn. After reading a few articles and viewing websites of those opposed to the Atlantic Yards development, it is very difficult to choose a side I agree with most. I came across an article written by Nicole Gelinas, in which she talks about a local Brooklyn man, Dan Goldstein, and his wife who are fighting the city about being forced to move. With Mr. Goldstein’s luxury apartment right in the way of construction, he received a notice stating that he would be compensated $510,000 for their property. Although many people believe this is fair compensation, it is unjust in the minds of the Goldstein’s. The truth is, the amount offered to them is less than what they bought their property for and is half of what Mr. Ratner, a developer, offered them for it four years ago (Gelinas).
Others who are opposed to the current development are bringing up the amount of change that has gone underway since the construction plans were first approved in 2006. A number of residents even believe that politicians are abusing their power in order to get this development underway (Cavaliere). After researching on a few sites, I came across a chart signifying how Atlantic Yards has changed from 2006 until December of 2009. If the facts on this chart are true, then nearly everything from their project proposal to three years later has changed. The chart shows that within three years, the project manager has changed the architect, the projection of structures built, what year buildings will be constructed, and the number of jobs that will be produced. The number of jobs that are going to be produced have gone down and the projects have been extended. These extensions include the number of years it will take to build Atlantic Yards. In 2006 the team configured 10 years of construction time, in 2009 the number rose to 25 years with possible extensions (Brooklyn Speaks)!With all these changes happening within just 3 years, it is no wonder that the Brooklyn residents are so strongly against the development.
After having watched the video and reading the article over the controversial 24-acre development in Brooklyn, it has been very hard to choose a ‘correct’ side. All in all, I do not believe that everyone will be satisfied in the end. No matter the situation, if all of Atlantic Yards is built or only bits and pieces, some Brooklyn residents will always be against the change. However, others will embrace what has come and think of it as a positive outlook to the future. In my opinion the best way to develop Atlantic Yards is to do it piece by piece and slowly. A portion of the residents in Brooklyn are willing to embrace the change, nevertheless, some are still opposed to the idea. The people still opposed to the construction can be persuaded by building Atlantic Yards at a slower rate, because they will be able to see the positive changes it has brought to the community.