Crains New York - April 1, 2013 - (Page 10)

OPINION A sweet design for Domino D evelopment projects in the city generally follow a tedious script. First, a developer shows up with fancy renderings, maybe even a model. Critics howl that it’s too big, too exclusive and too expensive for locals. They say they weren’t consulted and that fat cats are ramming a monstrosity down their throats. The area’s City Council member demands size reductions, affordable housing, local hiring and grants for community programs. If the economics of the project manage to survive this tortured process, eventually it gets built. But now, Brooklyn-based Two Trees Management has found a better way. Its planned redevelopment of the Domino Sugar refinery site in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is a paradigm that others would be wise to adopt. First, Two Trees met with the community and did its homework before proposing anything. Rather than pitch something with excessive profit built in to withstand inevitable demands for concessions, it sought to integrate its project with the neighborhood and incorporate the desires of community members—especially those in undersize, dingy apartments. To do so, Two Trees did something bold. It proposed building higher than the local councilman, Steve Levin, had consented to for a previous Domino plan (which endured such a tortured history that its developer abandoned it and sold to Two Trees). While the company knew heights had been cut to win Mr. Levin’s vote, it also knew that extra CRAIN’S ONLINE POLL floors would pay for more affordable housing and parks, the community’s top priorities. Open space is far more useful on the ground than in the sky. We hope Mr. Levin sees that the taller heights substantially improve the project, and forsakes any outdated notions that shorter is better. The rationale is clear: Building higher maintains the previous plan’s economics—notably its promise of 660 affordable units, which is 30% of the total— while allowing for the removal of a bulky building that would have impeded community access to the waterfront. The new design provides ample open space for Two Trees’ tenants and community members alike to relax, with views of the harbor and Manhattan skyline.The plan also adds offices so more of north Brooklyn’s talented entrepreneurs can launch and grow businesses where they live. No doubt a few privileged homeowners will complain that Two Trees’ towers will cast evil shadows and mar the landscape. But when 400 working-class residents met recently about the project, not a single one said it was too tall. They had more practical questions, like whether it would allow them to stay in Williamsburg and enjoy its waterfront. Their prevailing conclusion was that it will do exactly that. The City Council should take its cue from them. Proposal is a paradigm for other developers COMMENTS Replanting the Garden Yes. To get to the top, you need to have gravitas and emotional discipline. No. New York needs a tough mayor. Politics is a blood sport best fought with an iron fist. Date of poll: March 27 171 votes 55% Yes 45% No TYPICALLY, the “planners” totally FOR THIS WEEK’S QUESTIONS: Go to www.crainsnewyork.com/poll to have your say. 10 | Crain’s New York Business | April 1, 2013 RAILROADED: Some officials have called for Madison Square Garden’s departure from the Penn Station site. editor in chief Rance Crain publisher, vp Jill R. Kaplan EDITORIAL editor Glenn Coleman managing editor Jeremy Smerd deputy managing editors Valerie Block, Erik Ipsen assistant managing editor Erik Engquist senior producer, news Elisabeth Butler Cordova news producer Amanda Fung contributing editor Elaine Pofeldt columnists Greg David, Alair Townsend crain’s health pulse editor Barbara Benson senior reporters Theresa Agovino, Aaron Elstein, Lisa Fickenscher, Matthew Flamm reporters Chris Bragg, Matt Chaban, Daniel Geiger, Andrew J. Hawkins, Annie Karni, Adrianne Pasquarelli web reporter, producer Nazish Dholakia art director Steven Krupinski deputy art director Carolyn McClain staff photographer Buck Ennis copy desk chief Steve Noveck copy editor Thaddeus Rutkowski data editor Suzanne Panara assistant data editor Emily Laermer researchers Eva Saviano, Amy Stern intern Ali Elkin ONLINE AND INTERACTIVE SERVICES senior web developer, interactive Chris O’Donnell ADVERTISING, MARKETING AND PRODUCTION director of sales and marketing Nancy Adler senior account managers Irene Bar-Am, David Harkey, Jill Bottomley Kunkes, Courtney McCombs, Suzanne Wilson director of custom content Trish Henry sales coordinator Danielle Wiener newsletter product manager Alexis Sinclair credit Todd J. Masura (313-446-6097) director of audience & content partnership development Michael O’Connor senior marketing manager Catherine Schutten director of conferences & events Courtney Williams reprint sales manager Lauren Melesio production and pre-press director Michael Corsi advertising production manager Suzanne Fleischman Wies TO SUBSCRIBE: than one year. And these people get paid to come up with this stuff? Amazing. –gerry maffia For print and digital subscriptions or customer service, e-mail customerservice@crainsnewyork.com or call 877-824-9379 (in the U.S. and Canada) or 313-446-0450 (all other locations). $3.00 a copy for the print edition; or $99.95 one year, $179.95 two years, for print subscriptions with digital access. www.crainsnewyork.com/subscribe Contact Nancy Adler at nadler@crainsnewyork.com or call 212-210-0278. www.crainsnewyork.com/advertise TO ADVERTISE: bloomberg news buck ennis WILL CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER CHRISTINE QUINN’S BAD TEMPER TRIP UP HER MAYORAL BID? NEW YORK BUSINESS POWER OF SUGGESTION ARENA FOOTBALL Finding an alternative use for the grand façade of the Farley building (CrainsNewYork.com) is a worthy civic project that deserves serious thought, not a stopgap solution that will make New York a less efficient place to conduct business. Relocating Madison Square Garden to the westerly or midblock portion of Farley would allow the grand colonnade to be restored as a functional entrance and provide a destination that draws traffic and economic value. Relocating MSG will allow Penn Station to be redesigned as a modern gateway worthy of New York City as a global city. –alan CRAIN’S ignore reality and economics. The Garden just spent $1 billion to transform itself, a major renovation is taking place at the Post Office to create a new entry to Penn Station, and these people want to turn the site into a giant skylight to bring daylight into Penn Station? Oh, and it will be funded by the MTA, which cannot maintain the subway and commuter fare for more How the Metropolitan Museum of Art displays its pricing (“Tourist flap,” March 11) appears to be a veiled attempt to have tourists—and others less in the know—pay the full suggested admission. Surely, with their extensive programs and exhibitions, museums in New York City need all the financial help they can get. And I am not suggesting that a visit to the Met is not worth the full freight. But the reality is that it is just not being upfront about suggested pricing. —george a. wachtel CRAIN’S WELCOMES SUBMISSIONS to its opinion pages. Send letters to letters@crainsnewyork.com. Send columns of 475 words or fewer to opinion@crainsnewyork.com. Please include the writer’s name, company, address and telephone number. FOR INFORMATION ON OUR EVENTS: Contact Courtney Williams at cwilliams@crainsnewyork.com or 212-210-0257. www.crainsnewyork.com/events TO CONTACT THE NEWSROOM: 711 Third Ave., New York, NY 10017-4036 editorial phone: 212.210.0277 fax 212.210.0799 Entire contents ©copyright 2013 Crain Communications Inc. All rights reserved. ®CityBusiness is a registered trademark of MCP Inc., used under license agreement. CRAIN COMMUNICATIONS INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS chairman Keith E. Crain president Rance Crain treasurer Mary Kay Crain Cindi Crain executive vp, operations William Morrow senior vp, group publisher Gloria Scoby vp/production, manufacturing David Kamis chief information officer Paul Dalpiaz founder G.D. Crain Jr. (1885-1973) chairman Mrs. G.D. Crain Jr. (1911-1996) secretary Merrilee Crain (1942-2012) http://www.crainsnewyork.com/subscribe http://www.CrainsNewYork.com http://www.crainsnewyork.com/advertise http://www.crainsnewyork.com/events http://www.crainsnewyork.com/poll

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crains New York - April 1, 2013

IN THE BOROUGHS
IN THE MARKETS
THE INSIDER
BUSINESS PEOPLE
OPINION
BOB PREVIDI
GREG DAVID
REAL ESTATE DEALS
HEALTH CARE REPORT
CLASSIFIEDS
SMALL BUSINESS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
SOURCE LUNCH
OUT AND ABOUT
SNAPS

Crains New York - April 1, 2013