Trouble! In Prospect Heights:engaging the community in development

discussions

an urban intervention project designed and facilitated by

Brandon Fischer and Ashlee Tuttleman

Case: Ratnerization.

Atlantic Yards. Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. Atlantic Ave and Flatbush.

By invoking eminent domain, the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) and Ratner Enterprises have begun a process of displacement and encroachment upon locals and businesses. By Sept. 2012, 20 high-rises, a state of the art basketball stadium, hotels, office buildings and 1 housing complex is expected to be completed. Construction commenced in March 2010.- No amount of community-based needs assessment or similar exercise was conducted.

Crimes Against Humanity,

Article 7.2.d

”Deportation or forcible transfer of population’ means forced

displacement of the persons concerned by expulsion or other

coercive acts from the area in which they are lawfully present…”

Eminent Domain

Eminent domain is an exercise of the power of government or

quasi-government agencies (such as airport authorities,

highway commissions, community development agencies, and

utility companies) to take private property for public use.

Sometimes these entities may propose to use their eminent

domain authority to take public housing property.

Point of Departure.

Ratnerization of

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

Who determines how public land is used?

Intervention Iteration I.

“Planning’s pretence to facilitate the social and economic improvement of an abstract ‘public’ has long been ignored, and physical development now largely manifests itself as the executive arm of a geopolitical strategic or market-driven agenda. Large scale development […] responds to political and market demands by displacing huge populations across national space […] act as a form of spatial exclusion – creating wedges that separate the habitat of a population of citizens marked as political ‘outsiders.’”

Eyal Weizman, The Evil Architects Do: Crimes of Urbicide and the Built Environment

V.01 25 APRIL 2011 13.00H

AIM:

Intervene in the lives of Prospect Heights resident’s life. Transect their walk. Provoke.

TARGET:

Prospect Heights street amblers, lingerers and restaraunteurs

MATERIALS:

1. Lg White Board

2. Markers

3. Camera(s)

4. Signage

PROMPT:

I love Prospect Heights because _____,

But it could be better if _______.

BAM!

I love Prospect Heights because _______.

But it could be better if ______.

Our quandary:What’s all this

Plz ask during story time (Highline).

business bout?

Second IterationIn the form of Trouble! and some drank

Materials :I.Trouble Board GameII.Informational FlyersIII.Mixers – Clamato, Pomegranate Juice, Lemon JuiceIV.2 CamerasV.Drank

Actors:AshleeBrandonMama Suzi

Site: Washington Commons, Prospect Heights NYC

DESIGN.

Resident Pool.Here lie the homes of each of our new friends.

Notice their distance from the Yards.

Their response, you ask?

QOTD: “What’s your cracker ass up to tonight?” txt sent to Malda, one of our test subjects

But wait, there’s more!

Patience, child. At the Highline ..

BAM!

What could have been done differentlyw/ Iteration 2

VS.

W/ SAME INTERVENTION MODEL

Penetrate more diverse circles.

Install an undercover camera in Brandon’s purse (the subjects were frightened).

Arrange to visit multiple different bars.

Costume / character persona.

Input from canines and small children.

BALLS TO THE WALL

Get a space. Set up an installation.

Media coverage.

Sponsorship.

Involve the cohort of organizations with Develop Don’t Destroy.

Understand, don’t apologize.

Beirut Parallel:

Mar Mikhael.(Page Under Construction)