atlantic yards

Atlantic Terminal Opens

The new Atlantic Terminal, one of the major cogs in the Atlantic Yards project, opened today. 

NY1: After six years of construction, the Long Island Rail Road's new Atlantic Terminal Pavilion opened in Brooklyn Tuesday.

The three-story limestone, granite and glass structure at Flatbush Avenue and Hanson Place, which cost $108 million to build, features new amenities, including a customer waiting area, ticket offices and restrooms.

The existing transit hub connects the LIRR to five bus lines and 10 subway lines – the B, D, M, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4 and 5 trains. About 57,000 commuters come through the station daily.

Photo: by Kathryn Kirk via Brooklyn Borough President's Office In photo, cutting ribbon (left to right): BP Markowitz; MTA Chairman Jay Walder; Council Member Letitia James; LIRR President Helena Williams; and former interim LIRR president Raymond Kenny

Atlantic Yards Master Closing Done Deal

Flickr photo by threecee

All the loose ends in the Atlantic Yards project appear to have been tied together with today's master closing of the deals between Forest City , ESDC, the MTA and the City of New York all being signed.

"Sai Baba" comments on Curbed, "Well done sirs! Suck it nimbots!"

Here are other accounts and reactions:

Atlantic Yards Signed Sealed and Delivered [Brownstoner]

Atlantic Yards Officially Closed for Business [Curbed]

As Master Closing Proceeds... [Atlantic Yards Report]

Developer: Brooklyn Brooklyn Arena Project's Participants Close Deal [WSJ]

Marty, Salvation Army Give Toys to Kids Donated by Barclays/Nets Community Alliance

 

Monday afternoon, the Salvation Army joined Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowtiz in handing out toys to needy kids donated by the Barclays/Nets Community Alliance.  The event, touted as a photo op to journos, drew representatives from sponsors National Grid and Forest City Ratner,  New Jersey Nets star Terrence Williams as well as surprise guest Sandra Lee of the Food Network.

While the Barclay Center is still  just a gleam in his eye, Markowitz told the crowd, "In just a few short years, Brooklyn will be back on the map in the national sports arena, when we welcome the Brooklyn Nets as they destroy the Manhattan Knicks!"

Also on hand for the event was Food Network host  Sandra Lee who told a touching story about her late grandmother who was an active member of the Salvation Army for 40 years. 

Freddy's Not Dead, Angry Santa Rattles Chain

As promised, Freddy's, which is basically the ground zero for the proposed Atlantic Yards project, added a chain to its bar this afternoon. The owners say patrons will  use it to tether themselves to the bar in the event the beloved watering hole falls victim to an Eminent Domain ruling to clear way for the controversial development project. On hand at the "ceremony" was Angry Santa. [via Around Brooklyn via No Land Grab]

Chain Chain Chain... Chain of Booze: Freddy's Will Install Chain at Bar and Defy Demolition

Flickr photo by micilin

Freddy's Bar in Prospect Heights is smack dab in the middle of the proposed Atlantic Yards footprint.  That means it's going to meet the wrecking ball if the project and its eminent domain scheme come to pass.  Curbed reports that the owners of the bar will not go down quietly announcing an initiative today called Chains of Justice.  What does that mean?  Here's their email:

An overwhelming number of Freddy's Bar patrons plan on chaining themselves to the bar if Scrooge Ratner and Grinch Paterson's Atlantic Yards Project attempts to shutdown and demolish Freddy's Bar and Backroom. This Sunday, we are installing chains onto the Bar itself for just such a purpose. In light of the recent decision against Columbia University and the Empire State Development Corporation’s attempt to steal properties by eminent domain, and the confusion in the Courts that seems to allow taking Brooklyn properties for Ratner, but not Harlem properties for Columbia…we are angry. We are giddy for the victory against Columbia, but angry that our neighborhood can be taken, that our bar can be taken. We will stand in support of the Prospect Heights neighborhood, and the extended neighborhood of 5000+ supporters who have donated time and money to fight against eminent domain. We believe the links of the chain represent all the individuals unbreakably locked in a chain gang seeking fair rights for the individual in the contemporary flurry of land-grabbing corporate greed. The Backroom at Freddy’s Bar was the birthplace of this particular rebellion for fair treatment, the front room is where we bring out the hardware to back it up. The Chain will officially be installed on Sunday, December 20th at 12:00 noon.