Work continues on Bruce Ratner’s Atlantic Yards mega-project — and even though the state hasn’t appointed its promised ombudsman to oversee construction work (186 days and counting!), Empire State Development Corporation minions are getting increasingly good about filling us in on what’s going on in the project footprint.
Here’s what went on this week and what is expected to transpire next week (“Please note: the scope and nature of activities are subject to change based upon field conditions,” according to the ESDC fine print):
• At the Vanderbilt Rail Yards, pile-driving and excavations will continue.
• Continued demolition at 465 Dean St. (between Flatbush and Sixth avenues) and 538 Vanderbilt Avenue (between Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Street), though the latter is pending repairs to 540 Vanderbilt Avenue, which was damaged during demolition work last week.
• Completion of demolition at 814 and 818 Pacific St. (between Vanderbilt and Carlton avenues).
• Beginning of demolition at 542 and 546 Vanderbilt Ave.
• Installation of a jersey barrier in front of the Ward Bakery plant on Pacific Street (between Carlton and Vanderbilt avenues) — a request of the Department of Buildings.
• Utility upgrades begin on Dean Street between Flatbush and Sixth avenues. This work is part of major water and electrical upgrades to the area to accommodate Ratner’s proposed 6,200 units. Opponents say the work is premature because Atlantic Yards is a “phantom project whose very viability is in the hands of the courts and the financial markets,” according to Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn spokesman Daniel Goldstein.
Source: Empire State Development Corporation
