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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