Barclays Center Progress Thread

[Teletopez]

FCR is Requesting Federal Stimulus Funds to Help Construct Arena with no more Local Funds

 

“Can Forest City Ratner comment on why there have been public requests for federal stimulus funds to help with the construction of the arena?” asked moderator Craig Hammerman.

 

“It’s shovel-ready construction,” shouted Marie Louis of BUILD (Brooklyn United for Innovative Local Development), a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) signatory.

 

Gilmartin at first looked a little uncomfortable with the question--perhaps because there's no good answer--but quickly recovered: “Because it is shovel-ready construction, and the fact of the matter is that the project, like other projects around the country, have suffered, based on the economic downturn, and it’s our responsibility to try to do what we can to make the project happen and to maintain its viability.”

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHL4nIR3ois&eurl

Edited July 27, 2009 by Waldo

[Teletopez]

The final hearings are this week, but Forest City Ratner does not have the architect's final renderings of the BC ready.

[Teletopez]

Critics, as expected, aren't happy that there isn't a final rendering of the Barclays Center ready. They're threatening another round of lawsuits. Great.

[Carmelamare]

I don't care if they move to Brooklyn.

[Guru]

I don't care if they move to Brooklyn.

congrats

[Teletopez]

Mayor Bloomberg said Ratner should use the Gehry design. That's unlikely now, though, considering Ratner and Gehry didn't get along very well. Ratner pretty much hated the design also.

 

Bloomberg also criticized the critics for stalling the project into these economic times.

[Teletopez]

New designs of the Barclays Center by Ellerbe Beckett and SHoP Architects have been released.

 

From this...

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/fort-greene/posts/ellerbe-350.jpg

 

To this...

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/fort-greene/posts/shoparena-350.jpg

 

Mixed reviews, though they still seem better than the original designs.

 

Slideshow and Article

Edited September 9, 2009 by Waldo

[Teletopez]

A New York state agency’s approval today of the proposed Atlantic Yards project near downtown Brooklyn may lead to another lawsuit against the long-delayed basketball arena and housing plan, an Atlantic Yards opponent said.

 

“Our commitment to the project, including the housing, the jobs and, of course, bringing the Nets to Atlantic Yards, has remained steadfast, even as the changing economic conditions made the project more challenging,” Atlantic Yards spokesman Joe DePlasco said. “Today’s vote means the Atlantic Yards project can go forward.”

 

The Nets want to break ground by Dec. 31 to take advantage of an expiring Internal Revenue Service provision that would save them more than $100 million in expenses. The team anticipates an opening “during the 2011-12 Nets season” because the typical 24-month time frame to build an 18,000-seat arena would not leave enough time for an October 2011 franchise shift.

Full Article