The New York Observer, run by a real estate magnate, offers A Treat Grows in Brooklyn:
The owner of the Nets, Mikhail Prokhorov, said the arena could become a milestone in Brooklyn history—like the famous bridge that bears the borough’s name. That claim might sound outlandish, but remember that the arena is part of a larger, even-more ambitious plan to redevelop Downtown Brooklyn. When the entire Atlantic Yards project is done, Mr. Prokhorov’s boast could easily become reality.
The Barclays Center will get another burst of attention on Nov. 1, when the Nets play their first regular-season NBA game against the Knicks. But as the season wears on, attention will focus on the rest of Mr. Ratner’s vision. He plans to build a series of more than a dozen buildings on 22 acres surrounding the arena. Ground will soon be broken for a 32-story skyscraper that will be home to more than 350 apartments—and half of them will be reserved for tenants with low or moderate incomes.
The development will continue to create hundreds of construction jobs in the years to come, and when the project is complete, Downtown Brooklyn will have a new look and a new vibe.
Actually, the arena's not part of a plan to redevelop Downtown Brooklyn. And, even if you argue that the arena block extends downtown, the rest of the project is surely in Prospect Heights.
As to the number of construction jobs, well, isn't Ratner's goal to lower the number of jobs or (at least) spending on labor?
Wouldja believe that the New York Times editorial was actually tougher than the Observer on this (though both were gentle, with some selective reality)? And that the Observer's editorial diverges significantly from the paper's more skeptical reporting?
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