The Illuminator strikes again!
The audio-visual “Occupy Wall Street” activists that famously project their opinions on the walls of buildings as if they are calling out for Batman were in Williamsburg last week to let everyone know that their not happy with the plan to build high-priced rentals around the Domino Sugar Factor.
Beaming the words “Buy Back Domino” and “Ka-Boom” on the side of the landmarked edifice that once processed more than half the sugar used in the United States, the activists are hoping to convince the public to donate enough money to help the group Williamsburg Independent People buy back the property from Two Trees Management and build a cultural center that would include a musuem, hotel, and well-below-market rate housing on the site.
“We have commitments to do this from people who believe in our vision of an alternate plan to develop Domino,” said Leah Kreger, who organized the protest.
About three dozen people came to the protest.
Kreger said the money from the hotel and museum would be enough to be able to offer the housing at 100 percent of the Williamsburg area median income of $38,000.She wouldn’t say how much money the group has raised so far, but claimed it would be in able to make the offer soon.
Two Trees bought the site last year for $185 million and plans to spend up to 15 years developing several buildings as offices, retail spaces and housing.
Two Trees is unlikely to entertain buyout offers.
“Our vision for Domino has broad community support because it delivers affordable housing, brings thousands of jobs to the long dormant, preserved factory building, and adds acres of desperately needed open space, and because we have the ability and desire to deliver these benefits as soon as possible,” said company spokesman Jeremy Soffin.
Reach reporter Danielle Furfaro at dfurfaro@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2511. Follow her at twitter.com/DanielleFurfaro.
