Visualizing Atlantic Yards

Here's a fantastic Google Earth model of the controversial Atlantic Yards development here in Brooklyn. This is a great example of the power of mixing open-ended geo software with on-the-ground local knowledge and passion. You don't have to rely on the developers' mockups anymore; you can just create your own in Google Earth and let others explore the environment and make their own judgments about the feasibility and appropriateness of the project.

I happen to be supportive of the general idea of the Atlantic Yards development, if not some of the details. Interestingly, the creator of the Google Earth model seems pretty critical of the scale of Atlantic Yards, and the screen grab he's put up emphasizes the discontinuity by capturing the buildings from the Boerum Hill/Gowanus area, where the buildings do seem to jut up out of nowhere. But Google Earth actually lets you see more clearly the continunity that I suspect we'll feel once they're built, as in this snapshot looking towards Manhattan from behind the project.

There's an almost direct line of 20-60 story commercial and residential buildings running from Atlantic Yards to downtown Brooklyn, and then, in fact, continuing on to Lower Manhattan in the distance. On either side, the low-rise neighborhoods of brownstone Brooklyn, nestled like little alpine villages on the side of a mountain ridge. It gives the downtown Brooklyn area a defined shape -- it's a corridor, not just a weird, anonymous empty space between vibrant neighborhoods, the way it is now. Yes, it's not the same scale of brownstone Brooklyn, but urbanism -- particularly New York City urbanism -- isn't just about continuity. It remains to be seen if Ratner/Gehry can actually build a downtown environment that has some genuine energy to it -- Ratner's existing commercial buildings in Brooklyn have been disasters -- but if they do manage to pull it off, I think the scale change will be exciting and romantic, not deadening.

Comments

[Norman Oder]

Continuity and discontinuity are also defined by zoning, and there's been no rezoning for the Atlantic Yards project. See http://timesratnerreport.blogspot.com/2006/02/too-tall-and-too-dense-atlantic-yards.html

[Jon Keegan]

Steven, thanks for taking interest in my AY placemark. All I could hope for is that this gets on to peoples' monitors and they get to fly around and see what the numbers in the developer's PDF really feel like.

Regarding your point about the string of tall buildings giving some shape to the neighborhoods, consider what lies at the base of all those tall buildings. Not much. Ever walk around MetroTech? Lower neighborhoods usually end up having the most vibrant community...consider 5th & 7th aves in Park Slope and Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights...

I like how much sky there is in Brooklyn. It's why a lot of people left Manhattan.

Thanks again for the mention, and keep up the good work. I'm totally on-board with what you have to say about video games, by the way! -Jon Keegan

[Tatiana Kornienko]

Welkome!
URGENT! Need help psychologicale for daughter for trip in USA, CANADA.....
No noy money, I and daughter live on 2,5 dollar in day, no work.

Olesia Kornienko - DAUGHTER

I dedicate this to Mother Theresa and Princess Diana
TWO STARS
I often ask no one
A question:
Why do the best ones depart?
But there probably is no
Answer:
Two stars lived here, on Earth.
One begged fate to fulfil
Her dream of a magnificent castle
And a fairy - tale prince.
The other asked life for nothing.
And dreamt only of giving.
One was happy just for
A moment in her dream, which
Came true.
That other one was happy always,
When she gave her hand to a leper
And carried him to a humble home.
One was deprived of a throne, but
Was the queen of people's hearts.
The other had nothing, but her frock.
And a heart so huge, that with it
She embraced the whole world.
One, not loved by the prince,
Chose the love of her subjects.
The other asked not for friendship,
But for help.
One, maybe, despised fame,
But had no choice, as a princess.
The other was so quiet and small, that
The word sometimes failed to notice her.
The greatest award for her was
The everyday touch of the dying Lord.
They both changed our insane world
To the better.
Who is to judge, which one did more?
Both departed, like on an old photograph,
Holding hands. Happy.
Or maybe they became little stars
In the sky.
Someone will someday open a window during
A sleepless night, look at the sky and ask:
Which one of you ran short of time to fulfil
Your mission?
Only laughter will be heard in reply.

Dear Sir/Mr!
I - Tatiana Kornienko and daughter Olesia Kornienko 28 year, inwalide move on carriage - russian.
Arrive I and daughter 1992 year from Russia on examination, rehabilitation in Poland.
Thanks kind, right Pole daughter no only accep country, but achieve succes.
Poetry daughter on compettion have reward, distinction.
On international tournament daughter get 6 medale in dance on carriage.
20 march in Warsaw daughter and healthly partnier on taurnament danca on carriage show - dance SALSA, probably first dance in Europe,make dancer on carriage and
healthly partner.
Passian daughter - climb on rock.
In Poland it nov.
Look for people, who perhaps interest fortunes daughter.
I'll be very much obliged for interest to my daughter.



Tatiana Kornienko
ul .Pienkowskigo 5/34
02-668 Warszawa Poland
0-22 253 48 08

[Tatiana Kornienko]

Wielkome!
Very need help my daughter, disabled on carriage, treatment psychologist.Daughter have problem psychological, need trip on
Wes on treatment psychologist. No noy money. I lonely 30 year bring daughter, I
pensioner, my pension 80 dollar in month.
Live with daughter on 2,5 dollar in day, no work.
I'll be very much obliged for YOUR help.
Tatiana Kornienko

[aj]

I've lived in Clinton Hill for about 11 years, since my buppie parents decided they had to have a brownstone, and left the studio they owned in the Village. While our house was being renovated, we lived in Park Slope- the Majestic- for a bit. For as long as I've lived in Clinton Hill, which would be all of my tween to adult years, it's always been a pretty diverse area; although I'm told that this wasn't the case. I think purchasing a brownstone in what was then an up-and-coming neighborhood was the brightest thing my parents could've done for themselves, and for me. The house that was then $30,000 is today worth $1.4 million. I am told that the building of Atlantic Yards will only double- or perhaps triple- the value of such homes. In other words, I think it will only be good for those who already own. As for those being displaced- due to either rising rent or what some would consider the 'instant gentrification' AY will bring- I think that it's been obvious for a while now that 'the city' would begin pushing into Downtown Brooklyn. It's my opinion that New Yorkers no longer have the privilege of living in a relatively cheap and 'untouched by Manhattan' world. As unfortunate as that is, that is the price it seems we have to pay to live here. Point being- I think the good of AY will far outweigh the bad.

[aj]

I've lived in Clinton Hill for about 11 years, since my buppie parents decided they had to have a brownstone, and left the studio they owned in the Village. While our house was being renovated, we lived in Park Slope- the Majestic- for a bit. For as long as I've lived in Clinton Hill, which would be all of my tween to adult years, it's always been a pretty diverse area; although I'm told that this wasn't the case. I think purchasing a brownstone in what was then an up-and-coming neighborhood was the brightest thing my parents could've done for themselves, and for me. The house that was then $30,000 is today worth $1.4 million. I am told that the building of Atlantic Yards will only double- or perhaps triple- the value of such homes. In other words, I think it will only be good for those who already own. As for those being displaced- due to either rising rent or what some would consider the 'instant gentrification' AY will bring- I think that it's been obvious for a while now that 'the city' would begin pushing into Downtown Brooklyn. It's my opinion that New Yorkers no longer have the privilege of living in a relatively cheap and 'untouched by Manhattan' world. As unfortunate as that is, that is the price it seems we have to pay to live here. Point being- I think the good of AY will far outweigh the bad.

[planb]

Steven, for a forward looking guy, why so backwards looking? You are endorsing old style, failed, urban renewal with a Gehry twist.

And your endorsement is based on a myth that Downtown does or should stretch all the way to Vanderbilt Avenue. Know where that is?

Yes, stitch the neighborhoods together, by all means. But Gehry's "ego trip" won't do this.

[cmon]

Hey Steven, since, for some reason, your post here is still coming up near the top of Google searches, perhaps its time for you to amend this piece since it's nearly 1 year old and surely things hae changed and played out to a point where you might have something new and pertinent to say.

thanks!