Riders hailed a sun-filled new pavilion at Atlantic Terminal that opened to the public for the first time yesterday.
It allows direct access between the street, the Long Island Rail Road and 10 subways lines at the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic avenues. The $108 million three-story pavilion — two and a half years late and $26 million over budget — also links the transit hub to the retail mall above.
Brooklyn Councilwoman Letitia James said the upgrade is not a step forward for the controversial Atlantic Yards plan for a Nets basketball arena, residential and retail towers in the area that she opposes.
“This area has been scheduled for renovations for years,” said James. “This has nothing to do with the possibility of that project that will overwhelm us.”
Still others said the pavilion is only a sign of things to come for Brooklyn.
“Brooklyn is the new Manhattan,” said Brooklyn resident Michael Smith, looking up at the glass ceiling. “And the arena would be a good thing. It will bring money and jobs to Brooklyn.”
