Celebrity Architect Dropped From Urban Renewal Scheme

World-renowned architect Frank Gehry became a victim of the economic downturn when he and his designs were dropped from the Nets Arena and the rest of  the Atlantic Yards urban renewal and development scheme in New York City's Brooklyn borough (what are called counties elsewhere in New York State and the USA are known as boroughs in New York City).  The developer is Forest City Ratner, which is headed by Bruce Ratner. 

See www.nolandgrab.org for several reports.  A representative example is Theresa Agovino "Gehry Off The Case" in Crain's New York Business http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20090611/FREE/906119979

As a Libertarian activist against corporate welfare and eminent domain, I have followed this case avidly.   Atlantic Yards is an example of corporate welfare, which is contrary to the New York State Constitution.  See "Stop The Pork Lawsuit Butchered In Supreme Court" http://groundreport.com/articles.php?id=2890386

Celebrity architects are nothing new in eminent domain and corporate welfare schemes.  The new New York Times headquarters building was designed by Renzo Piano.  Their partner in this scheme, which I dubbed "Time$cam" , was Forest City Ratner.  Not suprisingly, the Times has supported Atlantic Yards.  (See "NY Times Building Climbers Protest Wrong Causes" http://groundreport.com/articles.php?id=2862703 .

The financial difficulties of the Atlantic Yards scheme which led to Gehry being dropped by Forest city Ratner come as no suprise.  See "Atlantic Yards Eminent Domain Abuse Scheme Confronts Reality" http://groundreport.com/articles.php?id=2857809.

As a Libertarian, I believe that corporate welfare and eminent domain are legalized theft.  Because Libertarians believe in personal responsibility, I must regard Frank Gehry as an accessory profiting from the theft of land from the property owners and the theft of money from the taxpayers for this project.  This comes despite my admiration for many of his designs including that for the Nets Arena for basketball.   Let us hope that professionals like architects, bankers, lawyers, planners will take a pledge not to be accessories to the legalized crime of urban renewal.   -30-

Urban Renewal Schemes Seeking Planning Consultant Accomplices http://groundreport.com/articles.php?id=2857322

About the author: Richard Cooper is an international trade executive with a manufacturing firm on Long Island, New York, USA. He is active in the Libertarian Party on eminent domain and other issues. He was chair of the Libertarian Party of New York www.ny.lp.org

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

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