3m_unfiltered_200.DOCX

3m_unfiltered_200.DOCXHOLDOUT NETS 3M TO QUIT HIS APT. WHAT A DEAL FOR ATLANTIC YARDS FOE! Daily News (New York) April 22, 2010 Thursday CITY FINAL EDITION Copyright 2010 Daily News, L.P. Section: NEWS; Pg. 3 Length: 461 words Byline: BY ERIN DURKIN DAILY NEWS WRITER With Jake Pearson Body HOLDING OUT really paid off for the last stubborn guy living on the Atlantic Yards site. Daniel Goldstein struck a $3 million deal with developer Bruce Ratner and the state to clear out of his threebedroom Pacific St. condo by early next month. It's the biggest known payoff by Ratner to any resident standing in the way of his wrecking ball - and it came after opponents of the project lost their court battle to stop eminent domain seizures. "If I'm going to be forced out of my home in very quick measure, I want to be paid for it," said Goldstein. "But I would much prefer to stay in my home." Goldstein, his wife and their 1-year-old daughter will move by May 7 so Ratner can demolish the building to make way for a new Nets arena and 16 towers. He bought the apartment in 2003 for $590,000. The state initially offered him just $510,000 to move. Other condo owners in the building got million-dollar payouts when they sold to Ratner years ago, but Goldstein hung on for seven years, turning the fight against Atlantic Yards into a full-time job. "Good for Daniel," said Erin Coffer, 37, who sold for $1.1 million in 2004. "I'm a little shocked that they gave him $3 million, but . . . Daniel's been in that apartment building for five years by himself, so I guess he deserves it." Brooklyn Law School property law Prof. David Reiss said Ratner was really paying for time. "Forest City Ratner is getting a lot from getting him out on a [certain date]," he said. As part of the deal, Goldstein agreed to step down as the official spokesman for the activist group Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn - although he can remain a member. Harryson HOLDOUT NETS 3M TO QUIT HIS APT. WHAT A DEAL FOR ATLANTIC YARDS FOE! "I won't lay down in front of a bulldozer," he said, then fired a parting shot. "Atlantic Yards is an illegitimate project that never should have gone forward to where it is today and still shouldn't," he said. Goldstein and other property owners took their battle against eminent domain all the way to the state's highest court, but lost. The Ratner camp said Goldstein asked for $5 million. Goldstein denied it, but he wouldn't say how much he wanted. Forest City Ratner officials declined to discuss details of the deal, but said they "worked very hard to compensate and to assist residents who owned or rented homes in the footprint." Getting rid of Goldstein was crucial because his building sits at center court of the planned Nets arena. Ratner officials claimed in court papers any delay would "cripple the project" and cost them $6.7 million a month. With his bank account flush, Goldstein plans to look for an apartment in Park Slope, Fort Greene or Prospect Heights, Brooklyn - and take some time off before finding a job. "I'll probably take a little break, a little vacation," he said. "We have family in India we need to and want to visit."