Atlantic Yards Opponents Actually Win One
Opponents of the Atlantic Yards project won their first major legal victory yesterday when Supreme Court Justice Marcy Friedman ruled that the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) hadn’t sufficiently studied the community impact of a construction schedule that is now expected to last closer to 25 years rather than the ten initially put forth. Atlantic…
Opponents of the Atlantic Yards project won their first major legal victory yesterday when Supreme Court Justice Marcy Friedman ruled that the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) hadn’t sufficiently studied the community impact of a construction schedule that is now expected to last closer to 25 years rather than the ten initially put forth. Atlantic Yards Report explains that while the ruling will not immediately effect construction, it could subject the Atlantic Yards project to further arguments in court. For now, the case has been sent back to ESDC for reconsideration. It requires the ESDC to provide a “detailed, reasoned basis for [its] findings” on environmental impact while taking construction delays into account. “The Court properly found that ESDC misrepresented the facts of the contracts and there were no requirements that FCRC complete the project” says DDDB counsel Jeffrey Baker. “ESDC’s lack of transparency was not just with respect to its own deliberations, but extended to trying to hide material facts from the Court. We are very pleased that Justice Friedman did not tolerate that behavior.”
Justice Friedman Slams ESDC… [Atlantic Yards Report]
Court Slams NY State on AY, Rules in Favor of DDDB [DDDB]
Sure, you could easily find plenty of people who wanted it, just as you can find plenty who didn’t. But wanting it or not is moot at this point. It’s going to get built. The only question is how many more delays and court battles will come before the completion of construction. No disrespect to those who don’t want the arena (hell, I don’t want it either), but it’s time to focus on getting the damn thing done in the best/safest/most aesthetically pleasing way possible. Get on the train or get run over.
who knew Target was the place to hang out at 8AM?
8 is the best time to go 🙂 And yes, they do have the best view. That window and also the one in the mall itself on the second floor overlooks it.
Did anyone even want this thing in the first place?
target opens at 8AM?
“the agency in charge of economic development in the state behaves somewhat like a guy on Craigslist trying to rent you an apartment he doesn’t quite own.”
-Atlantic Yards Report 11/10/10
Emily, if you’d like a great view of the arena construction, the seating area in front of the snack bar at Target has windows that let you see it all. (Why I was there when they opened this morning at 8 is another story!)
Just what do they hope to accomplish at this stage??? Really, enough is enough. There’s a big hole. The sooner it gets builkt the better. The delays are due to the delays because of the lawsuits.
I don’t think this is necessarily a win. The arena will still be built. Now we just get to spend more tax dollars on court arguments and lawyers. Pyrrhic victory.