Ratner's Brooklyn dream being hijacked by Extell.

It seems that history is repeating itself, with developer Bruce Ratner's plans for a Nets arena in the Atlantic Yards area of Brooklyn being threatened by a rival proposal for a project consisting primarily of apartment housing and small scale retail. In a sequence of events eerily reminiscent of the struggle over the West Side Stadium, Extell Development Company has submitted a plan to build 11 residential buildings on the site just a day before the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's deadline.

Not surprisingly, Extell's bid has gathered much more community support, with groups like Develop, Don't Destroy Brooklyn claiming that it will work within the context of the borough's small scale architecture, as opposed to Forest City Ratner's plans for a slew of skyscrapers about 60 stories high.

Extell's plan calls for 10 high-rise apartment buildings and one four-story building marked for community use, as well as landscaped walkways and recreation areas.

In addition, Extell won't need to use the power of eminent domain or extensive public subsidies to finish its project, in stark opposition to Forest City Ratner.

Bruce Ratner's plan, on the other hand, calls for 17 high-rise buildings, including 1.9 million s/f of office space and up to 6,000 housing units, in addition to the sports arena.

The project, which calls for subsidies from both city and state governments, is estimated to cost $3.5 billion.

Despite the new proposal, Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz insists that his support is still behind the Ratner plan, which will create more jobs and provide the borough with a coveted sports arena.

"The Extell proposal may benefit the small number of people who are opposed to the Ratner plan, but it certainly doesn't benefit most Brooklynites," he said. "Where's the affordable housing? Where's the job outreach for the community? I've always said that competing proposals are welcome for the rail yards site and it is certainly a healthy thing that another bid has been put forth. I expect the MTA to make the best possible comprehensive deal for the State, New York City, Brooklyn and public transit.

"That deal should produce significant tax revenue, jobs and housing for this and future generations of Brooklynites. It should also include an arena."

"In my opinion, at first blush the Extell proposal falls short on each of these essentials, which are the basis of my support for Forest City Ratner's plan. Extell's proposal appears to provide minimal affordable housing. It does not include an arena and lacks the significant job training and job creation of FCRC's bid."

On the other hand, community agencies such as the Pratt Institute Center for Community and Environmental Development, expressed optimism about the possibility of a rival bid.

"My first reaction is that it's good that we have generated other proposals, even if it's only one," said Mafruza Khan, associate director of the Center. "One of the first criticisms [about the Ratner plan] has been that the proposal process has not been made accountable to the public to ensure that it's getting the best project. The [Extell] proposal is obviously a much smaller scale project, so in terms of the benefits it is going to be smaller. But we don't have a lot of the details yet."

The Pratt Institute has not voiced opposition to the Ratner project, but the surveys its staff has conducted have raised questions about such issues as traffic gridlock. Khan also doesn't think the Nets arena should be the central issue in the decision on who should get the bid.

"I don't think the arena is an absolute must have for economic development, though it has sentimental associations for some people," she said. "Stadiums usually don't make money--they are cross-subsidized,--so I don't think a stadium is what's needed. If you bring that many new residents into the neighborhood what you really need is supporting infrastructure."

According to councilwoman Letitia James, who cautioned that she is not yet familiar with all the details of the Extell proposal, "The alternate [development] option is more consistent with the design guidelines that have been put forth by the community."

"It is my understanding that Extell is willing to build on scale with the surrounding neighborhood, Extell is willing to do more affordable housing if it gets the same subsidies as Forest City Ratner, Extell is willing to negotiate a labor agreement with the community and Extell is willing to hire minority and women-owned businesses," James said. "And Extell is open to and willing to undergo full disclosure and they will put their plan through legislative review."

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority would not reveal what guidelines it plans to use in choosing a winning bidder, but the agency did confirm that Forest City Ratner's and Extell's plans were the only ones submitted for the Atlantic Yards redevelopment.

According to Tom Kelly, an MTA spokesman, it will be a while before the agency makes its choice.

"There is no firm time to make a decision. The earliest will be the 27th, a decision could not be made before that date, but that doesn't mean that it will be made then," he said.