We are certain that the irony of Prospect Heights residents and others getting together on a Sunday in September to clean up trash in part of the Atlantic Yards “footprint” is entirely intended. In any case, the work will take place this Sunday (9/23) from Noon-5PM along Pacific Street from Fifth Avenue to Vanderbilt. Volunteeers […]

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There’s a meeting coming up on Monday (9/24) that asks “What if the Atlantic Yards project isn’t built?” or is only partly built and presents some alternate visions for the site. It’s called UNITY and will take place on Monday. The subject is “A realistic, community-sensitive proposal for the development of Brooklyn’s Vanderbilt rail yards. […]

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There’s a meeting coming up about the impact that Atlantic Yards is going to have on neighbors, especially as efforts to prepare for construction move forward. It’s on Monday, September 24 at 7:30PM and it will take place at Immanuel & First Spanish Church, which is located at 424 Dean Street. The objectives of the […]

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The Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods held a press conference yesterday to note that the ombudsman promised by the state to oversee the Atlantic Yards development has not been forthcoming. The ombudsman was supposed to be on his/her way after problems like the parapet collapse in April at the Ward Bakery. Therese Urban, who co-chairs the […]

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Brooklyn neighborhood groups are upset that the state has not followed through on a number of promises concerning the Atlantic Yards development, even though site demolition and preparation work are moving forward. Prime among the complaints is the fact that an ombudsman to handle problems has not been appointed. So, the Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods, […]

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If you’re looking to support the people that have been waging the ongoing, long legal struggle against the Atlantic Yards project, you can do so today at a fundraiser that will include readings from a number of noted Brooklyn writers. There’s also a live auction featuring: Tour of the set of USA-TV series Law & […]

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[Photo courtesy of dlemieux/flickr] Ever wonder what it would be like spending time in two possibly doomed bars at once? Tonight’s your chance. Via No Land Grab we find that the crew at Freddy’s Bar, which sits in the path of Forest City Ratner’s Atlantic Yards Project, is taking over Hank’s, the bar at Atlantic […]

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While there may be a lot of bulldozing and drilling going on in the vicintity of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues, the future of the Atlantic Yards development hinges on the various legal battles against it, which include a still active lawsuit against the use of eminent domain and a suit about the environmental review process. […]

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Check out the new City Limits for an interesting story on the trend that defines mega-projects in Brooklyn: the recruitment of advocacy groups and community development corporations by developers with promises of affordable housing. Atlantic Yards and developer Bruce Ratner’s virtual partnership with ACORN is the Gold Standard and one which the developers of the […]

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We often post about the issue of sewage and the Gowanus, which is one of the things that will doom any cleanup effort of the canal if left unaddressed. Unfortunately, there is ample evidence that –claims in the Atlantic Yards Environmental Impact Statement to the contrary–the massive development at Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue will […]

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The finances and future of the Atlantic Yards development are in the news today, partly thanks to the “Ratner Carve Out” given to the project by legislators in Albany. While there are a number of different ways one can count the public cost of the Atlantic Yards development, the total of the taxpayer-back financing and […]

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More than 100 opponents of what they call “epidemic abuse of eminent domain in New York City and New York State” gathered at City Hall yesterday to mark the second anniversary of a critical Supreme Court decision. The group included property owners, tenants, advocates and elected officials. “We haven’t seen this level of eminent domain […]

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Buried deep inside the complicated verbiage of the 421-a developer tax break reform legislation in Albany, are many goodies, including an extension until next year of the times that developers have to start buildings under the old regulations that were far more favorable to them. (That sound you hear are bulldozers revving so that luxury […]

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Will Atlantic Yards get special treatment under the 421-a tax exemption, which has provided massive tax breaks to developers building luxury condos and luxe condo buyers, but which is being tightened to require some affordable housing in return for the taxpayer subsidy and to make more neighborhoods off-limits for the subsidy? Apparently so. The 421-a […]

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There are two chances to catch the excellent documentary Brooklyn Matters tonight and tomorrow. Tomorrow night’s screening in Park Slope, in fact, includes a special panel discussion that’s sure to be interesting: Wednesday, June 20, 6:45PMSt. Gregory’s Roman Catholic Church991 St. Johns Place (Near Brooklyn Avenue). Crown Heights.Sponsored by the Crown Heights North Association Thursday, […]

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Photographer and Atlantic Yards footprint neighbor Tracy Collins showed us his new book of photos a couple of week ago. It’s called Atlantic Yards: [De]Construction of the Neighborhood and chronicles developments so far in the neighborhood that will be either (a). demolished for the huge Forest City Ratner project or (b). in its shadow. Mr. […]

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Fascinating news on the Atlantic Yards front: Jim Stuckey, president of the Atlantic Yards Development Group for Forest City Ratner, has resigned. Atlantic Yards Report writes that Mr. Stuckey, “the developer’s point man for more than three years on the project, has resigned from the company, ‘effective immediately, citing personal reasons and a desire to […]

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You’ve probably read about Daniel Goldstein and Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn at some point, but who are the lawyers in the middle of the legal challenges to Atlantic Yards? The New York Law Journal has an informative profile of what DDDB calls its “grassroots” legal team. Here’s an excerpt: Under the leadership of Candace Carponter, […]

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The Park Slope Civic Council honored blogger and journalist Norman Oder last night with a Lovgren Volunteer Award. Mr. Oder is the founder and writer of Atlantic Yards Report, which he has developed as New York City’s most authoritative source of Atlantic Yards reporting, information and analysis. Just this week, Mr. Oder combed through documents […]

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Yesterday, a Federal Judge dismissed the eminent domain lawsuit that had been filed to block the taking of property for the Atlantic Yards developments in Prospect Heights. He did not do so on the grounds that a magistrate had suggested–that the suit belonged in New York state courts–but because he found the central part of […]

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Here are links related to yesterday’s Atlantic Yards court decision: Judge Dismisses Federal Eminent Domain Lawsuit; Appeal Planned [AYR] Judge Rejects Main Argument of Effort to Stop Atlantic Yards Project [NYT] Judge delivers setback to Brooklyn arena foes [Newsday] Federal Judge Clears Obstacle from Path of Atlantic Yards [Sun] Atlantic Yards Suit Dismissed [Metro] Atlantic […]

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Have you seen the Atlantic Yards documentary Brooklyn Matters yet? If not, there are multiple opportunities coming up in the next two weeks, including one on June 21 that will include an interesting panel discussion afterward. You can always check the Brooklyn Matters website for up-to-date information. Here are some of the screenings: Friday, June […]

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A Federal judge has dismissed the eminent domain lawsuit brought against Atlantic Yards. Residents and businesses that refused to sell their businesses or leases to Forest City Ratner had filed the suit to stop the taking of property for the project. The judge ruled that the suit belongs in Federal court but said that the […]

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We thought it would be worth posting a couple of photos we shot of the Atlantic Yards “footprint” as it appears from several stories up. The photo above was shot from what would roughly be the middle of the Barclays Center, looking toward Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues. The photo below looks down the Vanderbilt Yards […]

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There is something about this relatively recent signage for the Atlantic Yards Community Liaison Office erected on a fence on Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights juxtaposed against this background that draws both the eye and the camera. The office itself is located several blocks away.

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