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June 22, 2009
Questions Hold Up Atlantic Yards Project
New York Post reporter Rich Calder talked to some off-the-record sources who attended Friday's behind-the-scenes meeting between officials of the Empire State Development Corporation and local legislators, where the new plans for Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards megaproject were revealed:
Some who attended the closed-door session told The Post they're furious the agency is claiming revisions are minor, when they feel the project has completely changed from the one state officials approved three years ago.
One angry source called it a "bait and switch," and another said, "I think there needs to be an investigation into why this is being rubber-stamped."
They want the developer to start from square one and resubmit the plans for another full public review, a process that could take years.
Ratner can't wait years and is pulling out all the stops in a last-ditch effort to get the project moving forward this year, in order to receive tax-exempt financing.
In a new twist, the ESDC is saying that eminent domain will be used in stages because it will save Ratner money.
ESDC spokesman Warner Johnston yesterday said... that eminent domain is being broken up into phases -- not because certain parts of plan won't be built -- but because this will allows Ratner to "defer acquisitions costs" associated with a controversial deal to buy a rail yard from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority needed for the project.
The community coalition Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn is planning on seizing upon these new twists as grounds for further litigation.
Posted by steve at June 22, 2009 6:16 AM