| Bruce Ratner's project
for Prospect Heights, in the heart of historic Brownstone Brooklyn
envisions a footprint24 acres - 1.3 times that of the World Trade
Center site and includes a 19,000-seat arena, 17 tower buildings
ranging from 210 to 610 ft., 2.1 million sq. ft. of office space
(equal to that in the Empire State Building), and 4.5 million sq.
ft. of (mostly rental) housing. Development and job creation are
to be encouraged, to be sure, but not on these terms.
Here is the Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn Position position
statement.
(Click to Download this position
statement in pdf format) |
| March,
2004
NO ONE wants a secret, taxpayer subsidized sweetheart deal
forced on the community. We want a development plan that maximizes
its benefits for Brooklyn, rather than for Forest City Ratner.
DEVELOP DON’T DESTROY BROOKLYN leads a broad-based
community coalition fighting for development that unites our communities
instead of dividingand destroying them.
WE OPPOSE the anti-democratic process that Forest
City Ratner has used and continues to use to push his arena development
plan on the people of Brooklynwithout our input or consent.
WE SUPPORT community-based proposals and a fair,
public, democratic, andtransparent development process. We support
proposals that allow ourcommunities, the people who live, work and
run small businesses in Brooklyn, to shape our futures. This is best
accomplished through the City’s ULURP process. (A visionary
plan to develop the Atlantic Rail Yards can be found at: www.dddb.net/public/UNITY.pdf)
WE SUPPORT local hiring, local businesses, sustainable
jobs, job training, career development and truly affordable housing.
WE SUPPORT utilizing the Brooklyn model of horizontal
density found in thecommunities surrounding the proposed site.
WE SUPPORT an RFP (Request for Proposals), open-bidding
for multipledevelopers, and an independent appraisal for the MTA-owned
rail yards.
WE OPPOSE the use of eminent domain for Mr. Ratner’s
private development; its use for this proposal is inappropriate, abusive,
and appears to be unconstitutional.
WE OPPOSE the use of taxpayer subsidies for a private
arena. We oppose the use of taxpayer subsidies for a high-rise, private,
for-profit development inbrownstone Brooklyn.
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