Reference or fantasy? The (projected) ten-year Atlantic Yards timeline

(Click to enlarge)

Forest City Ratner's Atlantic Yards is supposed to be completed in a decade, by 2016, according to the construction schedule (document at bottom) included in the Atlantic Yards Final Environmental Impact Statement issued by the Empire State Development Corporation.

Graphic designer Abby Weissman has combined elements of the construction schedule with the Atlantic Yards site plan. Time will tell whether it's a valid reference or a fantasy.

Project landscape architect Laurie Olin said it could take 20 years. Chuck Ratner of parent company Forest City Enterprises said it could take 15 years. Such schedules would delay the provision of promised benefits like affordable housing and open space and cause "interim surface parking" to persist.

Behind schedule

When Atlantic Yards was announced 12/10/03, backers said that arena would begin development in 2004. It's more than two years late.

Beyond that, the project is likely well behind the stated timetable. Demolition of buildings in the Phase 1 arena footprint was to be completed by 7/2/07; several of those buildings almost certainly will remain enmeshed in litigation beyond that date.

The Carlton Avenue bridge between Pacific Street and Atlantic Avenue was supposed to be closed from November 2006 through July 2007; it hasn't been closed yet.

(Note: no completion date for Building 10 is listed on the construction schedule. However, a completion date of 12/30/16 for Building 10 is listed on p. 7 of the Appendix, which includes the much more detailed master plan for construction.)

Construction Schedule