Unlike most things involving the Atlantic Yards, this was quick and quiet. City planning commission members approved recommendations to shrink the project–a little.
"It will bring vitality, investment, energy, and excitement to this great borough," said City Planning Commission Chair, Amanda Burden.
City planners, who consulted developer Bruce Ratner, want to reduce the height of three of 16 planned towers, eliminating around three hundred and eighty apartments. The buildings would stand alongside a new arena for the NBA’s Nets.
The recommendations do not call for lowering the building that the architect, Frank Gehry, calls ‘Miss Brooklyn.’ It would be the borough’s tallest building, towering 100 feet above long time skyline king, the Williamsburgh Savings Bank. Commissioners touted the project’s potential to create affordable housing and jobs, and the developer’s promise to employ local contractors.
"The number of construction jobs created, the number of housing units created, and the opportunity for low and middle income housing is fabulous," said a city commissioner.
"With this project, the whole design and development of the area can only allow this area to flourish even more," added another commissioner.
Of course not everyone is enthusiastic about the decision. Councilwoman Leticia James, who represents the area that would be impacted, is an outspoken opponent.
"The adverse impacts of this proposed project outweigh all the social benefits,” said James. “They include traffic mitigation; they include the displacement of a significant number of poor people, and people of color, which will result in instant gentrification."
This project certainly has not received its final okay. The Empire State Development Corporation Board has to say ‘yes’ to the final environmental impact statement and the New York State Public Authorities Control Board has to approve the project. This panel is controlled by the governor and the leaders of the state senate and state assembly.
How does New York State Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, who polls show is poised to become the next governor, feel about the plan? He has the power to get the assembly speaker to delay the board’s vote until he takes office. For now, all Spitzer will say is he wants to take a closer look at the changes approved by the planning commission before he takes a position.
– Richard Clark
