Facing an eminent domain edict from the State Of New York, Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn’s Daniel Goldstein agreed last week to a $3 million payoff to vacate his Pacific Street apartment, thus clearing the way for Bruce Ratner’s long-promised new Atlantic Yards playground for the relocating New Jersey Nets. Winning this particular battle wasn’t nearly enough for Ratner, however, whose representatives seem outraged that anyone besides their employer might enrich themselves. From YourNabe.com’s Stephen Brown :

Countering Goldstein™s own statements that the sticking point over last week™s negotiations was his refusal to sign away his right to criticize the project in the future, Forest City Ratner Executive Vice President MaryAnne Gilmartin told us that last week™s final negotiations did not bog down due to Goldstein™s refusal to sign a œgag order, but simply over how much money he could get out of developer Bruce Ratner.

œThe sticking point was how much money he wanted, Gilmartin said.

A source close to negotiations reinforced that claim by saying that Goldstein had actually pushed for $5 million at one point during negotiations.

Goldstein and his lawyer, Michael Rikon, said that both claims were patently false.

œThe money amount was settled pretty quickly, Goldstein said. œThe sticking point that led to nearly four hours of discussions was Ratner™s insistent desire to bind me to some sort of gag order.

œApparently, taking my home and razing my neighborhood wasn™t enough for them, he added.

Goldstein hinted that he would not be vanishing from public life. He said he remained committed to advocating for reform of New York™s eminent domain laws.

And now, he’s got a bit of a war chest to do it with. Had I known that criticizing Ratner was so lucrative, I’d have placed David Roth in charge of this blog a very long time ago.