Brooklyn Politicians Seeking To Cut Size Of Arena Complex

N.Y. Politicians Introducing Bill To Reduce Size Of Ratner’s Atlantic Yards Project

New York Assembly member James Brennan and five other Brooklyn politicians “are introducing a bill that would cut the size” of Nets Owner Bruce Ratner’s Atlantic Yards project from 9 million square feet to 6 million, according to Elizabeth Hays of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. The bill would also “slash the amount Ratner has to pay to the MTA” from $450M to $140M. Brennan said that the state would “pick up the tab for subsidizing the roughly 2,000 affordable apartments proposed for the site,” meaning Ratner would not “have to build so big to reap a profit.” Assembly member Roger Green, an arena supporter, is part of the group proposing the bill (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/13). In a separate piece, Hays noted Ratner “plans to project images directly onto the glass [arena] building during games,” but they will be turned off at other times “to help it blend in with the surrounding area.” Officials are also considering putting LED images “into the glass that also could be turned off” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/13).