Atlantic Yards Project Gets Lobby Boost Despite Opposition
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Brooklyn advocates and officials are speaking out about reports that a city developer is asking congress to help fund construction at the Atlantic Yards site.
Borough President Marty Markowitz is welcoming news that Bruce Ratner is lobbying for a portion of the stimulus package to jumpstart the $4 billion project.
The plan to build an NBA arena and more than a dozen apartments and office towers has reportedly been scaled back due to the stagnant economy.
"It has all the earmarks of exactly all the kinds of projects that Congress is looking for and President Obama is looking for. It will put people to work immediately and it will benefit the community at large," said Markowitz.
Critics of the plan to overhaul Prospect Heights say the project won't create long-term jobs, and federal stimulus money would be better spent on affordable housing.
"The bill is a bill to kick start the economy not to bailout a private developer who doesn't want to follow through on his commitments in this case to the MTA and to the public," said Daniel Goldstein, Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn.
Ratner refused to comment.