Must See: Battle For Brooklyn

Photo: Tracy CollinsAfter eight years of filming over 500 hours of footage, filmmakers Suki Hawley and Michael Galinsky have chronicled the ultimate "If you see something, say something" in their rightfully raved about film, Battle For Brooklyn.

When the Atlantic Yards Project was announced back in 2003, there were mixed emotions about the proposed 16 skyscrapers and a large sports arena that many of us have now come to loathe. Sadly, our community was divided. While many strongly opposed the looming eviction of nearly 1,600 tenants whose property fell into the footprint of the design plan, some residents supported the project for the promise of jobs and the excitement of having a major sports team in our neighborhood.

Daniel Goldstein, a man whose apartment sat on what would be the site of center court in the Barclays arena, is the film's protagonist and a member of the project's opposition group, Develop Don't Destroy. Through the eight years of the film's production we witness the graphic designer live through major life changes -- including the death of his mother, a separation from his fiancé, a marriage and the birth of his daughter -- all while fighting for his home and community.

Here's the film's trailer:

I attended a screening of this film last week and was impressed at how well it was paced and edited, especially when considering the painstaking task of condensing seven years and 500 hours of material into a cohesive 93 minute film. It played out like a Hollywood drama. Suki Hawley, one of the two directors, edited the piece, pulling dailies and constructing the film as the events played out. During a Q&A after the film, both Suki and Michael admitted that they didn't initially have a time frame in mind when the documentary started.

At the film's end, the Atlantic Yards Project has stalled because of the declining economy. With the exception of the Barclays arena, no new structures are being built, leaving stagnant, vacant land behind; land, which Daniel Goldstein said after the screening, that he's hoping will be loosened from Forest City Ratner's grip.

Toward the end of the Q&A Goldstein also mentioned one final pending lawsuit, which he was reluctant to speak about, but said would be wrapping up soon. This was just posted to Develop Don't Destroy's website:

Today New York State Supreme Court Judge Marcy Friedman issued a stinging decision against the Empire State Development Corporation. Judge Friedman ruled that the "ESDC's use of the 10 year build date in approving the 2009 Modified General Project Plan (MGPP) lacked a rational basis and was arbitrary and capricious," and that the ESDC failed to evaluate the impact of extensive delays, at least 25 years, in the build-out of Phase II of the project.

Develop Don't Destroy released this statement:

"While the Court felt it could only reverse the approvals for Phase II and require a new environmental review, it is time for Governor Cuomo to assert control over the ESDC and the project site and require a complete reassessment of the Atlantic Yards project," said DDDB attorney Jeffrey S. Baker. "We regret that the Arena is going forward. However, the project was never justified in phases. All of the purported benefits would have come from full development, not a stand-alone arena and a couple of high-rises.”

"DDDB has always argued that the claimed benefits were illusory and would never occur and the community would be burdened by a poorly conceived project. It is now clear that the timeframes and benefits of the original project were never even remotely feasible,” said DDDB Legal Director Candace Carponter. "We call on Governor Cuomo to ensure that the ESDC do an honest, unbiased analysis of the redevelopment of Atlantic Yards and consider a project that truly provides affordable housing, public opens space and meaningful benefits in a timely and financially feasible manner. ESDC should look at all aspects of the project, except the arena, and utilize the Unity Plan or other similar community inspired approaches to redevelop the area."

The petitioners in the lawsuit, 26 community and neighborhood organizations led by Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn (DDDB), were very pleased about the ruling and the changes it must usher in politically.

The stunning news that the community won a surprise victory in their lawsuit concerning the Atlantic Yards environmental impact statement could throw the rest of the project into doubt and brings new attention to "Battle for Brooklyn".

"For those people who have seen 'Battle for Brooklyn' it should come as no surprise that a Judge called foul on the process. Anyone who sees the film can see that the fix was in from the beginning, and hopefully now people will pay more attention," said co-director Suki Hawley. 

Battle For Brooklyn is currently playing at Brooklyn Heights Cinema.