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June 13, 2008
As officials admit lobbying IRS for Nets arena, Lieber says AY groundbreaking by 2009 (at least)
Atlantic Yards Report
Whoopsie! You gotta love when public officials come down with a bout of the truth and go off message:
Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert Lieber, speaking at a Crain's New York Business breakfast yesterday, declared that Atlantic Yards would be "under construction by the end of 2009."
[Developer Bruce Ratner still claims it will be fall 2008.]
During the Crain's session, David pointed out that “the opposition which has dogged” Atlantic Yards had been inflamed by reports in March of delays in project construction, the developer’s call in early April for more subsidies, and the general question of what might be done with the site, as exemplified by City Comptroller William Thompson’s April 30 acknowledgement that “I’m not sure what that project is any longer” and his hint that it might be revived by bringing in additional developers.
Lieber said Atlantic Yards “is going through the last stage of litigation” and “we do believe it’s going to get under way.”
As to bringing in other developers, Lieber said the issue hasn’t come up: “Frankly, no, I don’t see any reason to do it.”
What about increased subsidies? “We have not received any kind of request," he said, "but we’re open-minded, and we’ll listen.”
NoLandGrab: We're listening — Forest City CEO Charles Ratner already stated in April 2008 that they'll "still need more" subsidies.
article [updated with extended verbatim responses from Deputy Mayor Robert Lieber]
Posted by lumi at June 13, 2008 5:38 AM