"The Jets and the city have done an admirable job of trying to tame the stadium, but at the end of the day its construction still conflicts with the long-term goals for the West Side," says RPA board member Barbara Joelson Fife, a former deputy mayor. "Access to the waterfront is too important to the future of the city and the Far West Side to construct such an immense barrier in a prime location."
Last month, current Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff touted the benefits of the controversial New York Sports and Convention Center, which is expected to cost upward of $1 billion, saying it plays a "critical role in accelerating development in the area." He also noted that it is "absolutely essential" for the city to win the bid for the 2012 Olympics.
In regard to the city's bid for the Olympics, the RPA report states, "In the end, 17 days in 2012 should not drive the planning for a crucial part of the city for the next 50 years." The report also calls estimates of the economic benefits to the city "suspect." It also criticizes the placement of the stadium in a central business district, the potential traffic problems and the loss of waterfront access.
The report, in a three-pronged strategy recommends keeping the momentum for the redevelopment alive by first moving forward with the proposed rezoning, northern expansion of the Javits Convention Center, initial public space improvements and creation of an alternative plan for the Western Yards. The RPA sees an "explosive demand" for new housing and feels the proposed waterfront site for the center would be better suited for residential use. Once the residential is in place, retail and commercial space would follow.
Infrastructure improvements such as the construction of the No. 7 subway line and creating an open space network would be part of the second and third phases. The RPA cautions the city that "success will be achieved through flexibility and adaptation" and compared this arduous plan to large-scale developments such as Battery Park City and Times Square.
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