We were actually all set to write a sympathetic post about how Atlantic Yards holdout Daniel Goldstein was getting screwed by the state, which was lowballing him with a $510,000 offer on the 1,290-square-foot Prospect Heights condo he bought for $590,000 in 2003.
And, well, then this happened — the state upped its offer to $3 million, an offer that Goldstein, not being insane, quickly agreed to. And while we’re happy to see the whole business resolved, it does make us wonder if maybe the state is not so good at the whole bargaining thing, and if maybe this is part of why we pay so much in taxes. Seriously, how did those negotiations go?
State officials: We can offer you $510,000 for the apartment.
Goldstein: That’s too low.
State officials: Ok. How about $3 million then?
Goldstein: Done!
State officials: Fantastic! [High-five]