Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Report

In its first major new initiative in a while, the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation's Social Justice Fund yesterday  announced  a new citywide small business loan program, a partnership with The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), Chinatown-based Renaissance Economic Development Corporation, and the State of New York. The  NYC Elevating Business Loan Program , a $5.5 million initiative, includes $1 million from the SJF, $500,000 from TAAF, and $4 million from Empire State Development (ESD), the state's economic development authority. (It's also the Barclays Center's landlord, given a tax-exempt site.) Loans, at 8%, can range up to $100,000, coupled with free financial counseling and multilingual training services, in Chinese, Korean, and Spanish. A launch at Barclays The program was announced in a  press release  yesterday, which came after a ceremony the night before during a Brooklyn Nets game at the Barclays Center, as shown in the photo below. So it again sh...

The Passing of the Rev. Clinton Miller ( link ) A big role in Brooklyn. A smaller, but notable, role in challenging Atlantic Yards. Eulogies from some major figures.

Developer Cirrus Seeking $350M in State Subsidies to Build Crucial Railyard Platform ( link ) An opportunity to ensure public goods like affordable housing, or a giveaway? Cirrus/LCOR also seek more bulk (worth $320M?), housing subsidies, & tax breaks.

About a month late , Empire State Development (ESD) has scheduled the fourth public workshop (of four) regarding the Atlantic Yards project on Thursday, March 19, at 6:30 pm, online. Register  here . Ahead of this meeting, though with the date unspecified, ESD will release on its website the Draft Community Engagement Report. The report summarizes key themes and insights from the first three public workshops and the online survey.  My bet is the report will be used to ratify the new developer's request for an additional 1.6 million square feet of bulk, worth perhaps $320 million, as needed to deliver promised open space and, as of now, unspecified amounts of below-market affordable housing. The Draft Report will be posted on the ESD website along with an online form for people to submit comments and feedback in advance of the workshop.  During the meeting, ESD will provide a brief presentation on the Draft Report, followed by a live, open Q&A session where attendees ...

Sunnyside Yard vs. Atlantic Yards: a Huge Contrast in (Proposed) Scale and Process ( link ) 12,000 units (or even 24,000) over 140 acres vs. 9,000 units over 22 acres? The ingredients for real planning in Queens vs. a massaged, opaque process in Brooklyn?

The Barclays Center yesterday released its March 2026 event calendar for neighbors, with 15 ticketed events. They include eight Nets games, five concerts, and two basketball events, one part of the Unrivaled Basketball League tournament and the other the Caribeño Champs Classic, a "a first-of-its-kind Latino sports and live entertainment experience," with basketballers from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, plus top DJs. The schedule also includes four private events, one in the morning, another in the afternoon, another from morning to afternoon, and another in the evening. On March 3, the arena will host Brooklyn Org's Spark Prize breakfast , which is a relatively small event. I don't know about the other events. They should tell us, so neighbors can assess whether there might be large crowds. March 2025 comparison In March 2025, the arena hosted 18 ticketed events: seven Brooklyn Nets games, six concerts, three comedy shows, one Sprite Jam Fest, and one boxi...

February Roundup: Waiting for a Workshop, and Key Project Details ( link ) What "public resources" (subsidies) are sought? How pay for the platform? A Community Engagement report awaits. Much more to review.

One Junior Partner in Atlantic Yards is Suing Another, for $888M. That's Alarming. ( link ) Affiliates of the U.S. Immigration Fund and Fortress Investment Group are fighting over a separate project. Shouldn't we know more about their stake, and clout, in Atlantic Yards?

Why Has the Atlantic Yards CDC Spent So Little of its Budget? Couldn't the Money Be Used for the Public? ( link ) Also, New York State set to extend contract for law firm Bryan Cave to help with the Second Supplemental EIS.