SCALING BACK: ANY IMPROVEMENT?

This from New York 1, word that developers say they’ve scaled back their plans for a new complex at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Rail Yards, but community groups aren’t sure whether it’s actually an improvement.

Forest City Ratner chopped about 23 stories from all of the buildings combined in its proposed complex that includes a new sports arena for the Nets. Yet, at 620 feet, the tallest roof would still dwarf the nearby Williamsburg Savings Bank, the longtime tallest building in the borough.

The developer also cut nearly half a million square feet, and added more open spaces to the layout. But the group Develop Don’t Destroy calls the changes a joke, arguing that the plans have actually ballooned over the last two years.

Another community organization called ACORN says the reduction in density is a step in the right direction. It’s also glad no affordable housing was cut.

Forest City Ratner already got permission to start tearing down a few of the buildings on the land for its project. It expects to hear back about the Environmental impact of the plans as early as May