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All charts and graphics by Abby Weissman, copyright 2006 Weissman Consulting
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All numbers are based upon research and speculation. If you have the exact figures email us.
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| The total Atlantic Yards development will cover 22 acres. The Vanderbilt Railyards (the real name of the yards) encompasses 8.4 acres. To create the required 22 acre development swatch, an additional 13.6 acres of homes and businesses will be eliminated. This will destroy century-old buildings and entire blocks, and displace up to 3,000 people. The once-thriving blocks on either side of the upscale Newswalk condo building (from Pacific to Dean Street, and Flatbush to Vanderbilt), will be history. (see above). For some reason, the million-dollar condo building, Newswalk, has been spared the wrecking ball. How come there a million-dollar condo building smack in the middle of a blighted area? |
| How our government works for the people: The 26-acre West Side Hudson Rail Yards have been appraised at more than $1.2 billion dollars, while the 8.3-acre Atlantic Yards Rail Yards* are being sold to Bruce Ratner for a measly $100 million dollars by the perpetually cash-strapped MTA (the same "public" company which keeps raising our subway & bus fares), And there were higher bidders. Based on the Hudson Yards price, the Atlantic Yards should cost almost $400 million. The Atlantic Yards were appraised three years ago by the MTA at $214 million. (see email from Marty Markowitz about this.) Incidentally, the MTA just announced $20 million cuts for 2007 with a looming $1-billion dollar deficit - which will reduce the frequency of both subway and buses. |
| The above illustration is originally from the DEIS proposal and has been enhanced to show the true extent of the planned destruction of a large chunk of Prospect Heights – a wonderful low-rise historic neighborhood. Some real estate in the footprint will be claimed by the controversial use of eminent domain. |
| Click on the image to view a larger version of this enhanced image. |
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Click here to view or download the original Ratner PDF file: Figure_1-3.pdf. |
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For those nostalgic Brooklyn Dodgers fans who are still despondent about their move to L.A. in 1957, the arrival of a Brooklyn Nets Arena will hopefully set their souls right for eternity. Ironically, an important part of Baseball history (and Brooklyn's past) sits smack in the middle of the Arena's wrecking ball. The old Spalding factory, the company which made professional baseballs in Brooklyn since 1876, is slated to be destroyed on Pacific Street.
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Like many of the buildings in the path of destruction, this century-old structure was converted into upscale condos a few years ago. So much for preserving Brooklyn's baseball history and the validity of the claims of neighborhood blight.
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| Another Brooklyn Dodgers' shrine, their 1913 stadium, Ebbets Fields, was torn down in 1960 to make way for another housing project, named the Ebbets Field Apartments. The Spalding Company is still the number one sporting goods manufacturer, which makes not only Major League baseballs, but soccer, golf, and volleyballs. Also, the Spalding basketball is the official ball of the NBA. |
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| Above is another group of images straight from the Development Environmental Impact Study (DEIS). |
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| Click on the image to view a larger version of this collage. |
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