Order for Environmental Review of Atlantic Yards Contested

Advocates for affordable housing around the Atlantic Yards site will have to wait even longer to get their wish.

BrooklynSpeaks announced yesterday that Empire State Development Corp. and Forest City Ratner Companies will fight a court decision made last July that of the Atlantic Yards project. The ruling came after two years of litigation that protested ESDC's plans to increase the length of the projection construction from 10 years to 25 years.

In filing the appeal, ESDC will now have their obligation to comply with the court order pushed back.

"Brooklyn can't wait 25 years for affordable housing at this site, and it shouldn't have to," said Michael Cairl, President of the Park Slope Civil Council. "It's time for ESDC to look at Atlantic Yards with a fresh pair of eyes, take advantage of the parcels that can support development now, and start building affordable housing for which there is demand right now."

Several city and state politicans including state Sens. Eric Adams and Velmanette Montgomery, both D-Brooklyn, signed a letter written by Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, D-Brooklyn, to Ken Adams, CEO of ESDC.

"More than seven years have passed since Atlantic Yards’ announcement, and almost five years have passed since its original plan was approved," wrote Jeffries in the letter. "In that time, we have seen the promises of affordable housing and local jobs move nearly a generation into the future."

The legislators are also protesting the removal of specific project elements introduced in the 2009 plan that were designed to reduce the impact of Atlantic Yards within a residential neighborhood.

“The 2009 Atlantic Yards plan may have been negotiated under the previous administration, but the July court decision makes it Governor Cuomo’s problem now," said Gib Veconi of the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council. "We expected the Governor to follow through on his promises to reform State government, turn around delayed development at Atlantic Yards, and make this project work for Brooklyn and for New York State. Instead, it looks like he’s willing to continue to run interference for Forest City Ratner, and keep the community and its elected representatives tied up in court while Brooklynites wait for jobs and housing."

A representative for Forest City Ratner confirmed that ESDC will be protesting the ruling, but will undertake a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) per the judges request.