Security and the AY arena, an update

So, would the glass walls of the Atlantic Yards arena be as close to Flatbush and Atlantic avenues in Brooklyn as the Prudential Center seems to be to streets in Newark, necessitating the partial closure of streets there during arena events?

The situation seems similar if not directly parallel, and Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn and the Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods will have a press conference Sunday, calling for a state hearing on Atlantic Yards and terrorism security.

We don't have the clearest information, but the rendering (above) from AtlanticYards.com suggests that the glass-walled arena, as well as the glass expanse of Miss Brooklyn and the attached Urban Room, would be pretty close to the Flatbush Avenue. (The Atlantic Avenue arena facade also would have significant amounts of glass.)

What about Dean Street

And what about narrow Dean Street? The rendering, which shows Dean Street at the far right, suggests that the arena would be buffered by two residential buildings, as does the New York magazine rendering reproduced today. So does the site plan, below.

(From the General Project Plan, issued 12/8/06. Click to enlarge.)

On the other hand, there is a gap on Dean Street for an entrance to the preferred seating area and for the loading area. According to the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), "while security screening and loading functions would take place entirely within the building, the residences along this street would experience some localized adverse impacts."

In that case, the ESDC seemed to be assuring the public that there would not be long lines in the street checking people or vehicles entering through Dean Street, thus affecting the residential district.

However, security measures may indeed require more of a buffer, leading to potential street closings, partial closings, or just additional traffic impacts.