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September 19, 2009
ESDC Rubberstamps Atlantic Yards Approval
The Empire State Development Corporation, the tool of developer Bruce Ratner, continues its support of the proposed Atlantic Yards project.
NY Post, 'Net' gain for Ratner
By Rich Calder
State officials yesterday approved a revised plan for Brooklyn's embattled Atlantic Yards project.
The Empire State Development Corp.'s step allows developer Bruce Ratner to secure private land needed for the $4.9 billion project to build an NBA arena for the New Jersey Nets and 16 office and residential towers. But it is also expected to spur more lawsuits from opponents who've already delayed construction for years. One group, Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn, said the ESDC should have started the environmental-review process over because the revised plan dramatically departs from the 2006 original.
GlobeSt.com, State OKs Atlantic Yards Changes
By Paul Bubny
The Empire State Development Corp.’s board voted Thursday to approve modified plans for Atlantic Yards. In a statement, developer Bruce Ratner said the vote “means that the Atlantic Yards project can move forward”; however, critics of the Brooklyn mega-project have threatened further legal action.
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Following the ESDC vote, Daniel Goldstein, co-founder of Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, issued a statement of his own. Calling the board’s action a “rubberstamp re-approval,” Goldstein says, “It is unfortunate for the ESDC and Forest City Ratner. Had they done things by the book, by the letter of the law, the project wouldn’t be in such substantial trouble. But they haven’t.”
Critics of the project, including Goldstein and City Council candidate Brad Lander, assert that the ESDC has failed to provide a complete site plan for public comment, or to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement as required under the State Environmental Quality Review Act. According to Goldstein, SEQRA requires an SEIS “if there is newly discovered information, changes proposed for the project or a change in circumstances related to the project. The newly discovered information, in part, is the clear realization that the project will, at best, take decades to complete.”
Goldstein says that with its vote on Thursday, “and no SEIS, the ESDC is taking irreversible steps that will send Atlantic Yards further into community litigation.” He adds that the “likely outcome” of the ESDC’s vote “is that they will be sued.” Lander issued a statement citing a recent Independent Budget Office report that the arena would lose money for the city—a projection disputed by the New York City Economic Development Corp.—and calling for the entire project to be withdrawn.
An ESDC spokesman tells GlobeSt.com, “We are confident that the process we followed fully complies with all applicable laws and that an SEIS was not required. We are confident that we will prevail in any lawsuits that may claim otherwise.”
On Oct. 14, the New York State Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear an appeal of the May 15 ruling that upheld the ESDC’s use of eminent domain for Atlantic Yards. The appeal was filed in late June by Goldstein and other landowners; both sides have expressed confidence of prevailing for the state’s highest court. However, the time frame for the court hearing could jeopardize the tax-exempt status of a sale of bonds to finance construction on the arena.
SmartBrief, Decision allows Atlantic Yards developer to move forward
A decision by the Empire State Development Corp. approving the Atlantic Yards project planned for Brooklyn will allow developer Forest City Ratner to move forward with the project. Observers also expect another round of lawsuits from groups opposed to the 16-building project, which will include mixed-use commercial and residential buildings, an arena and open space. The developer must start construction on the project before the end of this year to be able to use tax-free bonds.
Posted by steve at September 19, 2009 7:17 AM