Brooklyn, NY – Daniel Goldstein, the last stubborn guy living at the Atlantic Yards site, struck a $3 million deal with developer Bruce Ratner and the state to clear out of his condo by early next month.
It’s the biggest known payoff by Ratner to any resident standing in the way of his wrecking ball – and it came after opponents of the project lost their court battle to stop eminent domain seizures.
Goldstein, his wife and their 1-year-old daughter will move out of their three-bedroom Pacific St., Brooklyn, condo by May 7 so Ratner can demolish the building to make way for a new Nets arena and 16 towers.
He bought the Prospect Heights apartment in 2003 for $590,000. The state initially offered him just $510,000 to move.
Other condo owners in the building got million-dollar payouts when they sold to Ratner years ago, but Goldstein hung on for seven years, turning the fight against Atlantic Yards into a full-time job.
As part of the deal, Goldstein agreed to step down as the official spokesman for the activist group Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn – although he can remain a member.
Goldstein and other property owners took their battle against eminent domain all the way to the state’s highest court, but lost.
The Ratner camp said Goldstein asked for $5 million. Goldstein denied it, but he wouldn’t say how much he wanted.
Getting rid of Goldstein was crucial because his building sits at center court of the planned Nets arena.
Ratner officials claimed in court papers any delay would “cripple the project” and cost them $6.7 million a month.
With his bank account flush, Goldstein plans to look for an apartment in Park Slope, Fort Greene or Prospect Heights, Brooklyn – and take some time off before finding a job.
(Read More: NY Daily News / YWN-4705)
5 Responses
the bottom line is the money that he got and that is after the courts ruled against mr. goldstein.
good for him
these eminent domain seizures should be out lawed and if you are a developer pay as much as you think it’s worth for you and don’t use this outlawed action to make money….
So he sold out his neighbors for the money!
If he was the last hold out it seems that his neighbors sold him out.