DEIS: Neighborhood impacts; Impacts from proposed stadium structure

IMPACTS FROM PROPOSED STADIUM STRUCTURE

Draft EIS states:

The height of the proposed stadium, at its tallest point—the top of the canopy—would be on average approximately 138 feet above grade (since the grade changes around the site, all figures are approximate). (Field light towers would extend above this canopy.)

It is anticipated that the lighting at the proposed stadium would control glare and light spill in a more efficient manner than currently exists, with light spill during night games anticipated to be an indirect glow.

The effective relocation of the proposed stadium one block north of East 161st Street would introduce a land use that is large enough to potentially affect property values for residential buildings along Jerome Avenue between West 161st and 164th Streets.

With the proposed project, residents living in these buildings would be subject to noise, bright lights, and large crowds during game nights. Living across the street from the stadium could make it less likely that someone would want to rent an apartment, thereby decreasing the value of the properties.

Even if the proposed project would reduce the value of these three buildings, they represent only a small portion of the overall value and investment in the study area, and would not offset positive trends in the study area, nor impede efforts to attract investment to the area.

The construction of the proposed stadium would eliminate the continuous, open, generally landscaped, area that currently exists within Macomb’s Dam Park and John Mullaly Park, between East 161st and East 164th Streets, and would create strong streetwalls anticipated to possess visual interest due to the arcaded façade design and fenestration along River and Jerome Avenues and East 161st Street.

Although it would have a somewhat larger footprint...the proposed stadium would rise to a height similar to the existing stadium, and as such would not result in a structure of a significantly larger mass or height than presently exists in the neighborhood.

Response:

The DEIS is forthcoming with the statement that the proposed stadium project is likely to negatively impact apartment buildings located on Jerome Avenue. This will mean decreased property values for these buildings and the potential to create a blighting effect. This is not fair to the residents and owners of these buildings. The DEIS is dismissive about this, however, by saying that it is only a small number of people, so it does not matter. This is insulting to these people and an example of arrogant and autocratic top-down planning that the public has generally come to despise over the years. “You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs” should not be the attitude used when dealing with ANY residential community.

SUMMARY OF NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACTS
Those unfortunate enough to live across from the new stadium will have to deal with traffic, noise, light-spill effects and an imposing, 13 story stadium wall in front of their windows. Compared to the current situation (open parkland) this is a dramatic change and will only serve to blight these buildings. The buildings immediately in front of the proposed stadium also have historic significance to them which would be disregarded by this blight-inducing action.