Frank Gehry Doesn't Think Nets Arena Will Get Built

By JOSH ALPER

Updated 10:07 AM EST, Wed, Mar 25, 2009

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From the very beginning, Bruce Ratner's plan to build a huge complex of residential towers, commercial space and an arena for the Nets in the middle of Brooklyn has been controversial. Local residents rallied against it, because of its use of taxpayer subsidies and its use of eminent domain to allow the state to seize land for the project's use.

Until the bottom fell out of the economy, though, it looked like the project would go through. Lawsuits to stop it failed, and Mayor Bloomberg was a fervent supporter of the project. They landed $400 million from Barclays bank for naming rights to the arena, and the celebrated "starchitect" Frank Gehry designed an unusual but distinctive look for the massive project.

But the bottom did fall out, and the project has been beset by delays as the developers try to line up financing. Now Gehry has told the Architect's Newspaper that he doesn't think it's going to happen. While the Daily News declares the project dead as a result of Gehry's comments, it seems he was speaking about his own involvement. Earlier this week, Mayor Bloomberg said things can still go forward without Gehry's design, which would save a fair amount of money, and Ratner responded to Gehry's comments by reiterating that the project moves forward. The question is if the financiers and Barclays are still on board without the involvement of the famous architect.

Barclays may have trouble staying on board even if Gehry's departure didn't bother them. New Jersey congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. is urging Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to put the kibosh on the naming rights deal because Barclays received $8.5 billion in bailout funds via AIG. Unlike Citigroup, they haven't yet paid any money as part of the deal and, according to Pascrell, there's an escape clause in the agreement. Barclays hasn't shown any signs of pulling out, beyond setting a deadline for the end of the year for construction to start.

Pascrell obviously has self-interested motivations in keeping the Nets in New Jersey, but at some point you have to wonder when the obstacles will become too many for the arena. Ratner's shown a lot of resolve in keeping this project alive in tough times, but if Barclays is off the table, by choice or governmental fiat, it wil be tough to keep it alive.

Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.