"You're blighted!" - neighborhood woman to Brooklyn real estate developers

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This is an article about the proposed Nets stadium in Brooklyn...most hilarious thing I've read all year...

IN 1979, when Patti Hagan moved to St. Mark's Avenue in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, there were scores of boarded-up buildings and nightly scenes of drug dealing and prostitution. Twenty-five years and countless renovations and community meetings later, about the biggest daily annoyance she faces are fliers slipped under her door announcing the latest million-dollar apartment sale.

It was with notable frustration, then, that Ms. Hagan, an activist who opposes Bruce Ratner's plan to build a basketball arena for the Nets and several skyscrapers two blocks from her home, waded into the latest brouhaha in the continuing struggle over the project, a war of and about words. Specifically, the word "blight."

As reported in The Brooklyn Paper, a local weekly, the latest skirmish began on Nov. 29 at a community meeting. James Stuckey, an executive vice president at Mr. Ratner's firm, Forest City Ratner, was explaining the process of eminent domain, under which the state can acquire private property needed for a public use.

Forest City officials have emphasized that they hope to obtain the land they need by buying it, but do not rule out asking the state to obtain property for them as a last resort.

That option, Mr. Stuckey said, would involve declaring properties in the proposed arena footprint "blighted." The word drew jeers from members of the audience, the newspaper reported, including one woman who yelled back, "You're blighted!"

More than two weeks after the exchange, emotions were still raw.

"This whole blight thing, it's just ludicrous," said Ms. Hagan, a founder of the Prospect Heights Action Coalition. "My house happens to be 135 years old, but that's what people seek here."

Besides, she said, few of her neighbors are fond of Mr. Ratner's recent work, especially the Atlantic Center mall.

"I don't know if one is allowed to make a counter-blight argument," she said, "but it could be made for everything that Ratner has built around here thus far."

Forest City representatives say the incident has been blown out of proportion.

"This is a technical term that is used as part of the eminent domain process, and he was explaining the term," said Joe DePlasco, a company spokesman. "Yes, you're cognizant of what people think of their houses and their city, but you still have an obligation to explain the procedure."

The criteria used to determine blight include the presence of deteriorating or obsolete structures, but, Mr. DePlasco said, "obviously that doesn't include every building in a proposed site." He also noted that a large part of the site is a railroad yard that he called "an empty scar dividing the community."

Craig Hammerman, district manager of Community Board 6, which covers part of the site for the proposed stadium, acknowledged that the word had a technical use but added that a less evocative term could also have been used.

"I don't think any part of my district is blighted from an emotional standpoint," he said. "From a legal standpoint, I'm not a lawyer and I can't tell you whether it fits the state's definition of the term."

― 57 7th (calstars), Thursday, 23 December 2004 19:50 (twenty years ago)

It's a wish of mine that all real estate developers in Brooklyn dangle by the pubes until they agree to build some affordable housing for those of us who aren't multi-fucking-millionaires.

― Je4nne ƒury (Jeanne Fury), Thursday, 23 December 2004 20:02 (twenty years ago)

the atlantic center mall is disgusting. but... target! and i've been going to that circuit city for years.

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 23 December 2004 20:04 (twenty years ago)

have you seen this yet?

ihttp://www.curbed.com/archives/2004_12_billyflyer.gif

― S!monB!rch (Carey), Thursday, 23 December 2004 20:05 (twenty years ago)

why would people who wanted luxury move to williamsburg?

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 23 December 2004 20:06 (twenty years ago)

Okay, that's grounds for a protest march. Incidentally, I was literally in tears a week ago over all the luxury development in the area. WHY CAN'T THEY ALL STAY IN MANHATTAN AND LEAVE US IN PEACE? xpost THANK YOU JBR!!!!!!

― Je4nne ƒury (Jeanne Fury), Thursday, 23 December 2004 20:08 (twenty years ago)

Carey nice link. I imagine if that goes forward the residents will be relentlessly egged and ranked on by the locals...I certainly wouldn't want to live there. And aren't there zoning laws about how tall a building can be?

― 57 7th (calstars), Thursday, 23 December 2004 20:10 (twenty years ago)

"BQE Exhaust Fumes Included With Rent"

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 23 December 2004 20:11 (twenty years ago)

The block I live on, about a 5 minute walk from the Graham L stop has, like 4 new condo buildings going up. Although, with the amount of time I see the construction guys standing there doing nothing, it might take awhile before completion.

― S!monB!rch (Carey), Thursday, 23 December 2004 20:13 (twenty years ago)

Same here.

― Je4nne ƒury (Jeanne Fury), Thursday, 23 December 2004 20:16 (twenty years ago)

they're union. they get mad overtime for standing around doing nothing.

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 23 December 2004 20:17 (twenty years ago)

These guys are set to eat Brooklyn: http://www.thedevelopersgroup.com/

― Je4nne ƒury (Jeanne Fury), Thursday, 23 December 2004 20:25 (twenty years ago)

i have to say, these prices really aren't too bad.

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, 23 December 2004 20:30 (twenty years ago)

Why don't they build brownstones anymore? The house I just bought is a brick rowhouse and is kind of non curb appealing, but at least it is not one of those new boxy college dorm looking buildings. Those greenpoint ones look nice though.

― S!monB!rch (Carey), Thursday, 23 December 2004 20:40 (twenty years ago)

I loathe how modern developers will build nothing but 'luxury' housing because they see everything else as a loser.

They only build affordable units to bribe city officials to let them build taller or more than they'd normally be able to, and usually then it's still only 10-15% of the units (sometimes even lower, sadly). Developers seem to think that becuase they've been twiddling their thumbs for the past 60 years and not keeping up with housing demand they can now build only luxury apartments since the demand has driven prices up so high with the slow pace of supply in the housing market. Fuckers created the problem and now they're just making it worse. I honestly havent' seen a single bit of new construction in Boston that isn't upscale or luxury. It's completely asinine that developers seem to be catering to a tiny portion of the population, while a huge portion just takes it continually in the ass.

Isn't it bad enough that rich professionals gutted the citys back when they moved to the suburbs? Now they have to force everyone who stuck around out of town because they don't have enough money to live there anymore.

AUUUUUUUUUUUUGH.
Sorry, the whole housing issue just really makes me angry.

― LORD OF ALL THINGS HOMOELECTRONIC (trigonalmayhem), Friday, 24 December 2004 01:44 (twenty years ago)

oh also, the idea of using city powers of imminent domain to take property to give to a private developer also is WRONG WRONG WRONG.

― LORD OF ALL THINGS HOMOELECTRONIC (trigonalmayhem), Friday, 24 December 2004 01:45 (twenty years ago)

It's completely asinine that developers seem to be catering to a tiny portion of the population, while a huge portion just takes it continually in the ass.

welcome to america, 2004.

― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 24 December 2004 01:51 (twenty years ago)

not just 2004
it's been going on for a while
no thanks to tax codes and government planning

― LORD OF ALL THINGS HOMOELECTRONIC (trigonalmayhem), Friday, 24 December 2004 05:15 (twenty years ago)

fuck williamsburg, i'm so sorry i moved here and perpetuated the gentrification. i wish i could pay penance but it's too late now. all the developers will build up luxury condos on bushwick avenue and tout the neighborhood as "edgy". a hip noise-rock combo will play a show at asterik that the village voice reports as being "in a quiet space in east williamsburg... a portent of things to come" and before you know it the trust-fund kids from Gallatin move in and it's all over. ye-fuckin-gods, wish i'd stayed in jersey.

― mrshiverinariver, Friday, 24 December 2004 10:42 (twenty years ago)

yeah, jersey is so much fucking better! woo!

― cutty (mcutt), Friday, 24 December 2004 15:44 (twenty years ago)

what the hell to people expect to happen when a bunch of 'arty' white folk with money (but front like they don't have any) move into a cheap'ish neighborhood and open galleries, bars, restaurants, and boutiques that stock APC & Martin Margiela?? i love it when i hear kids who recently moved to williamsburg whining about all the hipsters and gentrification. Like what the fuck did you move there for? the pre-war townhomes and pretty tree-lined streets? you're not sorry you contributed to the gentrification, as if one more new school sophomore would at all make a difference - you're just feel self-conscious that you were part of like the 18th wave of williamsburg immigrants. it's okay, don't worry, you'll get over it. if not, i guess you there's always the south bronx if you want something "real"

― phil-two (phil-two), Friday, 24 December 2004 17:22 (twenty years ago)

phil so tragically otm

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 24 December 2004 17:25 (twenty years ago)

What's tragic about it?

― 57 7th (calstars), Friday, 24 December 2004 18:17 (twenty years ago)

I moved to Wburg 2 years ago because of the cheaper rents, proximity to Manhattan, and to live in a quiet & safe old-school Italian neighborhood. My grandfather was born and raised in Wburg and I love how it makes him so happy that that's where I wound up. I don't care about the hipster influx -- I'm part of it. What gets my goat is the rich developers who want to turn this great little hood into some kind of Upper East Side for the next generation of trust-fund ass-wipes.

― Je4nne ƒury (Jeanne Fury), Friday, 24 December 2004 18:38 (twenty years ago)

eight years pass...

prescient

am looking at some BK real estate with my family, wondering where to go. prices are so expensive. i am looking at some listings in Sunset Park now

― surm, Friday, 11 January 2013 18:27 (twelve years ago)

two weeks pass...

still looking ...

just saw a terrific listing northern crown heights for actually not a ridiculous price but the owner has accepted an offer :/ i need to set up email alerts for this shit

― surm, Thursday, 31 January 2013 14:13 (twelve years ago)

three weeks pass...

stuyvesant heights?

― surm, Sunday, 24 February 2013 05:56 (twelve years ago)

eh there are some nice brownstones out there but the neighborhood is p gully

― lag∞n, Sunday, 24 February 2013 12:11 (twelve years ago)

yeah i'm seeing. i just feel like, i'm trying to think about the future and my boyfriend thinks the JMZ line is going to blow up soon so being near the stuyvesant heights/bushwick border might not be so bad?

some seriously beautiful buildings though

and all the young ppl seem to be moving there now, or something?

― surm, Sunday, 24 February 2013 18:00 (twelve years ago)

Hi, new here. wanted to introduce myself. I'm from queens and long island but live in brooklyn now specifically Stuyvesant Heights (ie Bed Stuy). I play in a few bands. Thank you.

― Francis, Tuesday, July 7, 2009

― buzza, Sunday, 24 February 2013 18:44 (twelve years ago)

apparently there's a rly great recording studio in the heights too

― surm, Sunday, 24 February 2013 19:53 (twelve years ago)

the atlantic center mall is disgusting. but... target! and i've been going to that circuit city for years.
― stockholm cindy (Jody Beth Rosen), Thursday, December 23, 2004 8:04 PM (8 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

! talkin shit about my mall!

― surm, Sunday, 24 February 2013 20:02 (twelve years ago)

the only thing i hate more than going to target is going to ikea!!

― i guess i'd just rather listen to canned heat? (ian), Monday, 25 February 2013 01:33 (twelve years ago)

id rather be out on the other side of pros park in that leferts/ditmas/kensington/sunset park belt than styvy heights/bushwick/etc personally

― lag∞n, Monday, 25 February 2013 02:49 (twelve years ago)

yea that's been my other big lead. quieter. sunset park has some beautiful, beautiful blocks. and i just visited ditmas for the first time, it is so nice.

― surm, Monday, 25 February 2013 05:07 (twelve years ago)

sunset is seeming like the most viable option. i just worry i am going to turn into an old fogy there?

― surm, Monday, 25 February 2013 05:08 (twelve years ago)

ya you prob will

― lag∞n, Monday, 25 February 2013 05:11 (twelve years ago)

I live officially in Sty Heights but everyone calls it Bed-Stuy and considers the former name a realtors' invention so I stopped trying to call it that.

It's totally quiet and neighborly btw, but if you never want to shovel your sidewalk or put plants on your stairs or meet your neighbors, then don't bother moving here.

― lets just remember to blame the patriarchy for (in orbit), Monday, 25 February 2013 06:44 (twelve years ago)

I mean if you are not into talking to ppl and getting to know the kids riding bikes and playing tag around you and stuff, go somewhere more insular. This is a family neighborhood.

― lets just remember to blame the patriarchy for (in orbit), Monday, 25 February 2013 06:46 (twelve years ago)

Also if you say bad things about my neighborhood I will fight you btw! I love it, but I realize a place with basically no walkable bars is not for everyone. Just don't try to say it's not "nice" or "safe" or anything like that. We may have just gotten our first pizza place near the subway stop but I still love it.

― lets just remember to blame the patriarchy for (in orbit), Monday, 25 February 2013 06:49 (twelve years ago)

iirc the logic behind the stuy heights name is bed stuy is between bedford and styvesent aves, of course in actual usage its larger than that

― lag∞n, Monday, 25 February 2013 10:23 (twelve years ago)

and nyc is p safe overall but thats not particularly one of the safer areas, shootings etc are relatively common

― lag∞n, Monday, 25 February 2013 10:26 (twelve years ago)

i'm actually really happy to hear that stuy heights is a family type place. my thinking is if i live near enough the bushwick border then there will be bars and stuff i can walk to? no?

― surm, Monday, 25 February 2013 15:16 (twelve years ago)

I...guess? I don't know Bushwick very well and it's a big place. The edge of Bed-Stuy that abuts Broadway isn't the nicest part, though. I live about 15 blocks south of Bway and it's a lot nicer and quieter here, there's just not very much to do. That is actually changing like as I write this though, there's a wine bar a few blocks away now, and more restaurants opening all the time. I think it's just been a slow process for businesses.

― lets just remember to blame the patriarchy for (in orbit), Monday, 25 February 2013 15:55 (twelve years ago)

yeah. i mean that area (your neighborhood) has been getting writeups, like, this month. building just sold there for 900k.

― surm, Monday, 25 February 2013 16:00 (twelve years ago)

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