The new open spaces of crowded New York City:
A New York City contractors’ group has tracked over 100 projects in the city either stalled or canceled since last fall’s credit crisis dried up developers’ financing. The city’s Department of Buildings said more than 30 construction sites have been idled during recent inspections, and “we suspect that there are more,” spokeswoman Kate Lindquist said.
One of the biggest is Atlantic Yards in Brooklyn, a 22-acre development where a new arena for the New Jersey Nets and up to 16 towers are planned. Construction activity stopped in December and won’t resume until a residents’ opposition lawsuit is resolved. The developer, Forest City Ratner Cos., has delayed closing on a deal to purchase all the land until enough financing is there for the $4 billion megaproject.
Here in Seattle we’ve got our share of new wide-open spaces. There’s the excavated expanse at 5th and Columbia; the sunny hollow at the site of the Vitamilk plant near Greenlake; the earthen bowl at 40th and Stone Way; the razed remains of the Pande Cameron building on 9th and Pine; the gravel-kissed parking lot at Belmont and Pine….
I’ve sometimes wondered if a “derelict tax” would be effective in prodding these projects towards completion. Developers are content to wait until market conditions favor their original plans; meanwhile, we’re stuck with a hole in the ground (I walk by the ONE hole at 2nd & Steward every day).
Would a 1% property tax increase per year of inactivity, which kicks in after a year of inactivity, be an effective measure?
@1 That would be tantamount for punishing developers because banks aren’t lending and tenants (i.e. commercial tenants) aren’t willing to make new investments in a bad economy. I don’t like the holes either, but your idea would attack the symptoms, not the root causes.
“gravel-kissed” parking lot??? Sunny hollow?? hmmmm….must still be riding a post coital valentines day high.
Don’t forget the giant hole in the ground behind the Macy’s garage on Pine between 3rd and 4th.
And I’m with 1 on this tax idea. Developers should not be given carte blanche to blight our landscape with holes in the ground and parking lots where local business used to thrive so they can protect their profit margins.
Density ain’t nuthin’ but a hole in the ground!
That NY neighborhood’s character must be “single family.”