Atlantic Yards Opponents Raise $50,000 in Walk-a-Thon

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

Opponents of the $3.5 billion plan to build more than a dozen commercial and residential towers and a basketball arena in and around downtown Brooklyn yesterday marched the outline of the 22-acre site’s footprint.


A cheerful, quirky crowd of about 400 opponents, some dressed as if for a Mardi Gras celebration on an unusually warm autumn day, raised more than $50,000 in the walk-a-thon to help fund a court challenge to the development, a spokeswoman for Develop, Don’t Destroy, which organized the rally, said.


The state is now studying an environmental impact statement produced by the project developer, Forest City Ratner, to determine if revisions are necessary. The results are expected before the end of the year.


Area residents are far from united in opposition to the development. Yesterday, three amused onlookers were visible inside the offices of Brooklyn United for Innovative Local Development, a group that supports the development because of the thousands of jobs and affordable housing units promised by the developer. Other supporters of the development include the mayor, the gover nor, and the president of Brooklyn, Marty Markowitz.


Participants in yesterday’s march varied in the severity of their opposition. Some said that any large development would hurt the character of the surrounding neighborhoods. Others said they support some degree of development but are offended by the size and scale of the plan, what they see as a lack of transparency or oversight in the approval process, excessive or inappropriate state and city subsidies, and the probable use of eminent domain to evict property owners in the footprint. Both the state and the city will contribute about $100 million to the development.


The co-chairman of the Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods, Candace Carponter, predicted that opponents would be united when the opposition takes the fight to court.


She said the funds raised yesterday could be used in lawsuits against the Metropolitan Transit Authority, which elected to sell its rail yards to Forest City Ratner even though a higher bid for the site existed; the state agency shepherding the plans through the approval process, the Empire State Development Corporation, and against the use of eminent domain, should it be in voked to condemn property.


“Who is going to feel sorry for the MTA if we sue?” Ms. Carponter asked.


Some opponents said they sense winds of change in their battle against the development. They point to what they see as a softening of support for the project among some local politicians, including Mr. Markowitz, City Council Member David Yassky, Assemblyman James Brennan, and Assemblywoman Joan Millman.


Yesterday, there were few elected officials on hand. State Senator Velmanette Montgomery addressed the crowd, and an expected congressional candidate in 2006, Chris Owens, the son of Rep. Major Owens, led the march wearing a tuxedo and waving a baton.At one stage, in front of Freddy’s Bar on Sixth Avenue and Dean Street, Mr. Owens stood on a bench and led the crowd in a cheer: “Brooklyn, united, we’ll never be defeated.”


A Manhattan resident who participated in yesterday’s march, George Locker, called the event “democracy in action.”


“I find this inspiring. It started out as a handful of people against a $3.5 billion development, the governor, and the mayor. Now, they are going to win,” he said.


The New York Sun

© 2024 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use