By Robert Proudfoot

Can Atlantic Yards work for Brooklyn? The Municipal Art Society, organizers of the 9/11 Tribute of Light and the revitalization of Grand Central Terminal, said last Thursday it doesn’t think it will work at its current stage. MAS gave five design recommendations for improving the Forest City Ratner Atlantic Yard 8.7 million square foot development: respect neighborhoods, don’t eliminate streets, create real public parks, promote lively streets and don’t choke the streets. After the press conference in the basement of the Hudson Place United Methodist Church in Greenpoint, MAS and neighborhood organizations sponsored a public forum about the design recommendations. Underneath a drab crystal chandelier, concerned citizens shot questions at the MAS panel about the project. However, Forest City Ratner’s Vice-President Jim Stuckey didn’t stay for the questions at the public forum. After giving quotes to the press about MAS not understanding cost concerns but being receptive to design suggestions, he stepped out for the evening. The more than 350 person public forum opened the floor for soapbox speeches ranging from discussions about the impact of the skyscrapers’ shadows on surrounding solar panel rights to the war on terrorism. The key issues brought up were concerns about the Nets arena, traffic, inclusion of neighborhood communities and real public parks adjacent to streets. State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, who arrived later, drew applause with occasional off-the-cuff remarks criticizing the Forest City Ratner proposal. Brooklyn neighborhood associations and community coalitions such as Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn continue to voice their opposition to the Forest City Ratner in favor of something smaller than a proposal the size of three Empire State Buildings in downtown Brooklyn.