Land To Be Used
The proposed development is sited in an increasingly desirable neighborhood in New York City. Prospect Heights has seen remarkable explosion of real estate values, pushing out many of the less affluent residents.
However, the justification for eminent domain was blight, with building deterioration, sidewalk cracks, and graffiti cited as examples, but no market study was conducted. Critics charge that the site was a victim of "developer's blight"—buildings bought by Forest City Ratner and then left vacant.
The bulk of the 22-acre (89,000 m2) project site was a mixture of public streets, private homes and small businesses. Forest City Ratner bought much of this private property, under the threat of eminent domain, and has benefited from the state's use of eminent domain to acquire and close the streets.
The Public Authorities Control Board, which effectively ended the West Side Stadium plan, approved the state financing of the Atlantic Yards plan in December 2006.
The area around the Atlantic Terminal has been slated for redevelopment in the past, but plans for the area emerged only piecemeal. In the mid-1950s, Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley wanted to use the city to condemn a nearby site, allowing him to build a new stadium for the ballclub to replace Ebbets Field. City developer Robert Moses refused to consider an eminent domain taking for a private use in that instance, and the plan was shelved. Although O'Malley had several local options, he relocated the Dodgers to Los Angeles instead. Los Angeles offered him free land and a free hand in developing it including mineral rights, incurring the long-term hatred of Brooklynites.
Read more about this topic: Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn
Famous quotes containing the word land:
“In 1862 the congregation of the church forwarded the church bell to General Beauregard to be melted into cannon, “hoping that its gentle tones, that have so often called us to the House of God, may be transmuted into war’s resounding rhyme to repel the ruthless invader from the beautiful land God, in his goodness, has given us.””
—Federal Writers’ Project Of The Wor, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)