The Village Voice writes about the NYC Economic Development Agency's plan to confiscate and destroy an arts center, in order to build an arts center. Amber Waves of Pain: A black arts center will get bulldozed for a paler version focuses on some of the racial dynamics of this controversy:Todd Triplett and his two partners, Shaun Jenkins and Philip McKenzie, wanted to create a sort of modern-day Cotton Club right in the middle of downtown Brooklyn. And the three African-American businessmen were so in love with the idea of a do-it-yourself cultural revival, they put themselves in serious debt to make it happen....
Then, less than a month before the scheduled opening, a letter from the city arrived. Signed by a man named, ironically enough, Jack Hammer, director of Brooklyn planning, the letter informed them that the city was taking the building in an eminent-domain action.Why? So Brooklyn could turn the building into condos and . . . a cultural center.
The article goes into some interesting details, especially the questionable role of the Downtown Brookyn Partnership. To read more, click here.
