Fw: [PSN] State approves Atlantic Yards; fate of project now lies with the Courts

 

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----- Original Message -----

From: Eric McClure

To: PSN Email Updates

Sent: Sunday, December 24, 2006 1:17 PM

Subject: [PSN] State approves Atlantic Yards; fate of project now lies with the Courts

In this Issue:

1) PACB Votes to Approve Atlantic Yards Project

2) Happy Holidays!

Dear Park Slope Neighbor,

PACB Votes to Approve Atlantic Yards Project

This past Wednesday, New York State's Public Authorities Control Board voted to approve Forest City Ratner's controversial Atlantic Yards project.  While the approval was widely anticipated, given the support for the project of the Governor, Mayor and Borough President - and the developer's relentless lobbying and public relations efforts - the vote still comes as a bit of a surprise, if only because Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver ignored the wishes of the four Assemblymembers whose districts will be most affected by the project: Hakeem Jeffries, Annette Robinson, and Park Slope's own Joan Millman and Jim Brennan.  All four had called for postponement of the PACB vote, citing a number of issues, including a lack of information about the project's financing, the development's overwhelming scale, and the insufficiency of proposed mitigations for the project's potentially adverse effects.

The Assemblymembers were joined in their opposition by Park Slope's two State Senators: Velmanette Montgomery, who's been an outspoken critic of the project, and newly elected Eric Adams, who has voiced numerous concerns and called for a review of security issues.

None of this appears to have caused much consternation for Mr. Silver, or the representatives of Governor Pataki and Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, who among them control the PACB's votes.  Despite a multitude of unanswered questions, they took just five minutes to approve the project on Wednesday, as recounted by Park Slope resident and Atlantic Yards Report-er Norman Oder.

What happens next?  While the project has passed its final political hurdle, it still faces multiple obstacles in the courts.  A group of home and business owners, who face the prospect of losing their properties through condemnation, in October filed a Federal lawsuit, organized and led by Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn, challenging the constitutionality of the state's intention to use eminent domain.  A group of rent-stabilized tenants facing condemnation have also recently filed suit in state court.  And a suit challenging the legality of the state's environmental review is certain to be filed in January.

Though Forest City Ratner expects to break ground sometime early next year, the arena, which is central to the first phase of their plan, can't be constructed without the use of eminent domain, even if they start knocking down buildings to rattle owners and tenants living in the footprint.  So while FCRC may want it to look like the battle is over - as did developers who lost a landmark court case in Ohio earlier this year - a Federal judge may yet stand in the way.

If you feel like you want to help, we urge you to consider making a year-end contribution to Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn's legal fund.  The legal fight is our community's last line of defense.  Every single dollar of your donation will go directly to the courtroom effort.

You can make a secure, online donation by credit card by visiting http://dddb.net/php/donate.php. If you prefer to give by check, you can mail your contribution to:

Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn

89 Fifth Avenue
PMB #150

Brooklyn, NY 11217

As always, we recommend that you stay tuned to NoLandGrab.org and Atlantic Yards Report for insightful coverage of the Atlantic Yards project.

Happy Holidays!

We want to wish all of our Park Slope Neighbors a joyous and peaceful holiday, and to offer our thanks to all of you for your support of PSN.

Sincerely,

Eric McClure

Atlantic Yards Campaign Coordinator

Park Slope Neighbors

eric@parkslopeneighbors.org

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