Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Report

Is Atlantic Yards, As Per Gov. Hochul, an "Affordable Housing Development"? Not Really. ( link ) Would there be 40% more below-market units, as per the developer? Nope. Flashback: Greenland's road not taken promised more affordable units, sooner. 

The Brooklyn Nets, Social Justice, and (Exiting) Sponsor Qatar Airways, from a Repressive Regime ( link ) Qatar's made a #sportswashing push worldwide, though it will lose its club at Barclays. Neighboring United Arab Emirates, with even uglier baggage, is entwined with the NBA and the Knicks.

At the Barclays Center, an Anniversary Image Claims Brooklyn Centrality ( link ) Is the arena the lodestone around which other borough icons radiate?

At Atlantic Yards Town Hall, Talk of Progress, but Some Big Questions Face Distraction, Distortion, and Deflection ( link ) Developers claim density is in context, avoid open space question, and overstate increase in affordability. ESD still waffles on accountability. 

The Barclays Center on June 30 (I'm late) released its July 2026 event calendar, which includes 18 ticketed events: three New York Liberty games and 15 concerts, including a five-night stint starting Monday featuring Ariana Grande. That's a clear improvement over July 2025, when there were 14 ticketed events, including eight Liberty games and six concerts. Also, there's one unspecified private event. July 2025 In July 2025 , there were eight New York Liberty games and six concerts.  There also were four unspecified private events, plus two other events: a July 19 WNBA All-Star watch party; and, on July 27, a "Belong Brooklyn" event, sponsored by the Social Justice Fund of arena company operators Joe and Clara Wu Tsai. 

A YIMBY Fever Dream? State Plans 3,950 Apartments on Two Sites Near Hudson Yards ( link ) One might have a Floor Area Ratio well over 30 and be the country's densest residential building. Another might have the most units in a single tower. Some contrasts with Atlantic Yards Site 5.

Developers Express Confidence About New Designs, but Ignore Some Inconvenient Facts ( link ) Better open space design is challenged by a huge influx of residents. Constrained Site 5 would have unprecedented density, while adjacent Flatbush Ave. "is kind of a moat."