For Tuesday's Quality of Life meeting, an uninformative agenda, but big questions about platform construction, new tower(s), affordability levels & 2025 deadline

The agenda has been released by host Empire State Development (ESD) for the upcoming bi-monthly Atlantic Yards/Pacific Project Quality of Life Meeting, to be held virtually Tuesday, May 10 at 6 pm and--of course--it states nothing substantive.

But it's not a routine meeting. Master developer Greenland Forest City Partners (dominated by Greenland USA) is starting (or will have started) construction activities for the long-delayed platform over the western block of the Vanderbilt Yard, including the first tower (of six), B5, aka 700 Atlantic Avenue.

During the meeting, attendees will be able to submit questions and comments via the virtual platform’s chat feature or via email to AtlanticYards@esd.ny.gov. (Questions also can be submitted beforehand.)

The virtual format, at least as managed by ESD--the state authority that oversees/shepherds the project--does not allow for interactive chat or for participants to see others' questions, or for participants to speak, as in IRL meetings.

The Zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/91508699810.

Dial In: 646-558-8656 || Passcode: 915 0869 9810#. Meeting ID: 915 0869 9810.

Questions pending

B5 center-left, across from B4. Dattner Architects

Among my questions:

• what is the timetable for the first block of the platform? is it being built in stages (such as for B5, and then B6/B7)?
• who is the contractor?
• when will the second block of the platform, which would support B8/B9/B10, start? how long would it take?
• how is the platform being funded? is the developer planning to lease any of the sites? is there a new outside or publicly-assisted funding source?
• will B5 qualify for 421-a benefits under the current law? will B6 or B7 start before the 421-a deadline, which is June 15?
• what's the timetable to complete B5? what about B6 and B7?
• will B5 have 30% affordable housing for middle-income households, as with the two most recent buildings, B4 and B15? if that (purportedly) has not been decided, has that middle-income option been ruled out?
• how will B5 and future buildings help the developers meet the requirement to deliver 2,250 affordable housing units--a total of 877 more--by May 2025? is the developer aiming to have that deadline extended or modified?
• will B12 and B13 have 30% affordable housing for middle-income households, as with the two most recent buildings, B4 and B15? if that (purportedly) has not been decided, has that middle-income option been ruled out?
• what are plans, in terms of scale, program/affordability, and timetable, for Site 5, the parcel opposite the Barclays Center long slated for a huge tower, based on transferring bulk from the unbuilt "Miss Brooklyn" (aka B1) tower, once slated to loom over the arena? how much of the unbuilt bulk from B1 does the developer aim to transfer to Site 5, and how much to other sites?
• 
  why are meeting notes from the last two Quality of Life meetings, 1/25/22 and 3/8/22, not yet posted? why does it take so long? what's a reasonable expectation for timing: two weeks? four weeks?
• given the departure of key executive Marion Phillips III, who also served as president of the (purportedly) advisory Atlantic Yards Community Development Corporation, who is taking on his role and responsibilities? is that an interim position?
• given the departure of Holly Leicht, who joined as Executive VP of Real Estate in 2017, who is taking on her role and responsibilities? is that an interim position? (As of 2/5/22, she was still listed on the ESD website, but a month later she was gone)