In a press release from Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn about the latest news that Forest City Ratner has decided to replace architect Frank Gehry with Ellerbe Becket on the Atlantic Yards project. Daniel Goldstein, a spokesman for the group calls for Governor Paterson to take control of the situation. "Then,
finally, stakeholders and our elected officials can work together with
multiple developers to construct affordable housing and reasonable
density over the Vanderbilt Rail Yards. The community has the plan—the
Unity Plan—and its viability and public benefits are light years ahead
of the zombie project known as Atlantic Yards." Here's an excerpt from that press release:
> With the focus on the arena, the "affordable" housing is barely
still in the picture, with the number of units and income levels
unknown and financing non-existent.
> The world class, one-of-a-kind Frank Gehry arena is now gone.
> The office jobs and their projected revenue are gone, as there are no plans to build the office tower.
> The so-called "urban room," a glorified lobby at the base of the
office tower and entrance to the arena, touted as a great public
amenity will not come to fruition without the office tower and with the
new hangar-like arena design.
> Last week the Independent Budget Office (IBO) testified that the arena would be a money-loser for NYC.
> Purported "blight" would be replaced with the real blight of Ratner's demolished properties and parking lots.