Brooklyn's Proposed $4.2-billion Sports Village Receives New York State Approval
Soon after New York state’s Public Authorities Control Board approved the $4.2-billion Atlantic Yards sports village, including an arena, housing and office space in Brooklyn, N.Y., the local developer, Forest City Ratner Cos. (FCRC) said it intends to further tweak the project to, among other things, reduce the height of the tallest building. The proposed office tower, dubbed Ms. Brooklyn, would then be no taller than the nearby 512-ft-tall Williamsburg Savings Bank building, currently Brooklyn’s tallest, says the developer.
There is some skepticism that the developer will deliver on its intentions, however, especially considering the long disclaimer following the list of possible initiatives, at the end of the company’s press release. The release was issued Dec. 20, after the development received the approval of the powerful state PACB, made up of Republican Gov. George A. Pataki (R), Democratic State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Republican Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno (R).