Is there a date for the platform over the Vanderbilt Yard? No, there is not.

So, when's the platform coming for vertical development of the Vanderbilt Yard, thus curing the "blight" of an open railyard?

In the Response to Comments chapter of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Final SEIS) approved 6/12/14, Empire State Development (ESD), the state agency overseeing/shepherding Atlantic Yards, dodged the question.

The questions was attributed to Public Advocate Letitia James. (It's unclear, though it may have come from a written comment also signed by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, Assemblymember James F. Brennan, Assemblymember Joan L. Millman, NYS Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Assemblymember Walter T. Mosley, NYC Councilmember Brad Lander.)

The question:

The DSEIS [Draft SEIS] does not provide a projected date for the development of certain platform and foundation construction, including the building of the platform needed for vertical development over the Vanderbilt Yard. (James)

The ESD response:

Figures 3A-2 through 3A-4 and Tables 3A-2 through 3A-4 of the DSEIS show the illustrative construction schedules for each of the Phase II project construction elements, including platform construction activities over the Vanderbilt Yard, for the three illustrative construction phasing plans under the Extended Build-Out Scenario. Construction may proceed more rapidly or in a different order depending on market conditions and other factors.

In other words, there's no timetable. 

That's because Forest City Ratner--and the joint venture with the Chinese government-owned Greenland Group that presumably will be building out the project--has until 2025 (15 years after the project "Effective Date," which was May 2010) to begin construction.

They may move faster. But there are no promises. After all, Forest City has publicly stated its plan to build four towers on the southeast block and three on the arena block first. And it also looks like that B15, east of Sixth Avenue between Dean and Pacific streets--will be built soon, as well.