Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn

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DEVELOP DON'T DESTROY BROOKLYN (DDDB), is a volunteer-run and community-funded 501c3 non-profit corporation. DDDB was founded in February 2004.

DEVELOP DON'T DESTROY BROOKLYN leads a broad-based community coalition fighting for development that will unite our communities instead of dividing and destroying them. DDDB is opposed to Forest City Ratner's 8 million square foot "Atlantic Yards" development proposal for an arena and 16 high-rises in Prospect Heights and Park Slope, Brooklyn. The $4 billion project would use at least $1.6 billion in public money and would abuse the state's power of eminent domain–taking private property from one owner to give to a private entity for a private use, instead of a public use.

Our coalition consists of 21 community organizations and there are 51 community organizations formally aligned in opposition to the Ratner plan.

DDDB believes that New York City is always about change, but we ask the question: How do we, the people, want that change to occur? We want smart collaboration that creates decentralized, diverse, exciting urbanscapes that New York and Brooklyn can point to with pride. We do not accept the abuse of eminent domain. And we do not want top down, sweetheart mega-deals that give one real estate developer carte blanche.

DDDB supports growth at the MTA's Vanderbilt Rail Yards, with truly affordable housing and career creation; that development must respect the quality of life in surrounding neighborhoods, the well-being of existing businesses, the scale of local architecture and the health of nearby residents. Zoning changes MUST benefit residents, while allowing for new uses. There must be oversight by local officials from community boards to the City Council. And most importantly there must be genuine input from affected communities.

DDDB is fighting the Forest City Ratner plan so that we can have responsible development in our community. We are fighting and will continue to fight in the court of public opinion, political opinion and eventually in the courts of law.

DDDB is a volunteer-run organization. We have over 5,000 subscribers to our email newsletter, 7,000 petition signers, and a nine-person steering committee. Over 800 volunteers have registered with DDDB to form our various teams, task-forces and committees and we have over 150 block captains. We have a 20 person volunteer legal team of local lawyers supplementing our retained attorneys.

We are funded entirely by individual donations from the community at large and through various fundraising events we and supporters have organized. We have the financial support of well over 3,500 individual donors, with a median donation of $50.