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NARR: The development firm Forest City Ratner is spearheading the 4 billion dollar Atlantic Yards project. The state's development commission worked in concert with developers last year to detail the environmental impacts on the area. In a lawsuit filed today against the Forest City Ratner as well as state and city agencies, plaintiffs say the environmental assessment is inadequate. As speakers warned development would overwhelm the area with traffic problems, Patti Hagen stood behind them waving a protest sign. She says she also worries the gleaming glass of Atlantic Yards will be a target for terrorists.
They did nothing to deal with terrorism... It's a great target and if you put up 16 buildings all glass... we know what goes on in Baghdad everyday. All you need to do is drive a truck by.
Lead attorney Canadace Carponter said concerns about terrorism are not off base. She says, it's already difficult to maneuver through traffic in the area. And once the buildings go up, getting care in an emergency could be a nightmare.
Carponter: There aren't enough lanes in any of these streets for emergency vehicles to bypass gridlock. And you all know that because we've all seen ambulances stuck in traffic.
These are just a few of the issues raised in the lawsuit. City Councilmember Leticia James said Atlantic Yards was evidence of governmental oversight gone awry.
James: Every elected official has put their head in the sand. When we ask for over sight from state, it's city. city it's state and no one is taking responsibility for this project.
James says she signed an affidavit to the lawsuit. She said the high rise buildings would completely change the character of the neighborhood made up of townhouses and brownstones.
James: This project will destroy the community. It's as simple as that.
Across the street, work crews removed asbestos from a building labeled Tasty Provision. The building is one of the first slated for demolition. It's already been marked by graffiti. Spokesmen for the state development commission would not comment on the lawsuit. Developer Forest City Ratner released a statement saying that the environmental assessment was adequate and that development is going ahead. Jennifer Collins, Columbia Radio News.