Atlantic Mall Might Get Re-Skinned

Could there be a silver lining to the Atlantic Yards development project? Yesterday The Observer chatted with MaryAnne Gilmartin of Forest City Ratner about what the Barclays Center and residential towers that are supposed to rise next could mean for the tired-looking and low-brow mall that the developer has owned and operated for the last two decades. “It’s an obvious opportunity,” she said. “One of the many things we think about is the impact the arena will have, and how we can help create a holistic neighborhood at Atlantic Yards from there.” While discussing the balancing act of broadening the mall’s demographic appeal without alienating its core constituency. Ms. Gilmartin said that “everything [short of razing the building] is on the table,” including making over the dreary, uninviting brick facade. And with retail property owners in the area starting to get big numbers, they just might have the economic incentive to do so. “The mall’s always been a success,” said Peter Ripka, who helped find tenants for the original mall, “and it’s just going to get better and better.”