Community District
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Brooklyn CD08 Projects
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Brooklyn Community District 08
1291 St. Marks Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11213
Phone: 718-467-5574
Fax: 718.778.2979
Quick Links
PICCED: Preliminary Planning Analysis of the Atlantic Yards Project (PDF)
Zimbalist economic impact report (PDF)
Kim/Peebles economic impact report (PDF)
Develop Don't Destroy - Brooklyn
Community Benefits Agreement (PDF)
ACORN/Ratner Memorandum of Understanding (PDF)
Forest City Ratner Companies NYC Website
ACORN Report on Brooklyn Housing
EIS Final Scope of Analysis (PDF)
Draft EIS and General Project Plan from ESDC
University of Miami Design Studio--Atlantic Yards Example Plans
Eminent Domain Federal Lawsuit Complaint (pdf)
Eminent Domain Federal Lawsuit Documents
Report and Recommendation of U.S. Magistrate Judge Levy Regarding the Use of Eminent Domain (PDF)
Eminent Domain Challenge -- Dismissal Ruling
U.S. Supreme Court Response to Petition for Certiorari (6_23_08)
Atlantic Yards
Forest City Ratner Companies is developing the 22 acre site known as Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn. The site is at the intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues and much of the site consists of a current open-air rail yard controlled by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). The development plan includes an 18,000-seat basketball arena; over 6,400 units of housing; 748,000 square feet of office and retail space, including a hotel; eight acres of open space; and, parking for approximately 3,800 cars. The developer also negotiated a community benefits agreement (CBA) with a group of community stakeholders, covering a number of issues including affordable housing and local hiring. On March 3, 2005 the City and the State signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the developer. On December 20th, 2006 the Public Authorities Control Board approved the project, the last official approval needed to begin construction.
For supporters, the project would bring jobs, housing, a world-class sports and entertainment complex and economic development to the affected neighborhoods and the borough. For opponents, it is an ill-conceived, out-of-scale proposal that would squander taxpayer dollars, displace existing residents and businesses, bring few benefits to the area, and swamp adjoining neighborhoods with traffic.
Opponents of the plan have filed several lawsuits seeking to stop the development and/or change the way it is being implemented. These include:
1) A Federal lawsuit concerning the appropriateness of the Empire State Development Corporation's (ESDC) use of eminent domain. The suit contends that the use of eminent domain is almost exclusively for private benefit, rather than public benefit. While a federal circuit court has ruled in ESDC’s favor, opponents are appealing that decision;
2) A State lawsuit challenging the environmental review of the project based on the contention that the review did not fully address traffic and security issues; and,
3) A State lawsuit claiming ESDC did not provide proper compensation for residents being displaced by the project. This suit was dismissed by a State panel, but the residents are planning on appealing that decision.
Recent headlines
Latest Atlantic Yards Lawsuit Sparks Legal Interest
August 14, 2008
Brooklyn Papers
Opponents of Atlantic Yards Project File Lawsuit in State Court
August 6, 2008
Queens Ledger
Prospect Heights Historic Designation Seen as Protection from Further Development
July 13, 2008
New York Sun