At last minute, advisory Atlantic Yards Community Development Corp. meeting postponed until Tuesday. Mundane quorum issue, or something larger?

With less than 24 hours' notice and no explanation, Empire State Development (ESD) at 4:52 pm yesterday announced that the meeting of the (purportedly) advisory Atlantic Yards Community Development Corporation (AY CDC), scheduled for today at 3 pm, would be moved to Tuesday, March 26, at 3 pm.

It wasn't a total surprise, because they never released an Agenda, despite a 3 pm deadline yesterday for public comments on Agenda items. (Nor did AY CDC directors get one.)

Was this because they lost a precarious required quorum?

Or is there something brewing--a renegotiation of project terms?--that hasn't been finalized, and ESD is waiting for that resolution?

I'd bet on the more mundane explanation, but that doesn't not mean something's brewing. 

The whole sequence--the last-minute announcement, the missing agenda--does not inspire confidence in the state authority overseeing/shepherding the project.

What could it be?

As I speculated, perhaps parent ESD is looking for feedback on, or a rubber stamp for, any project proposals, such as a revised state posture toward the six development parcels scheduled for a foreclosure sale on April 30.

That means discussion of the $2,000/month liquidated damages due--or not?--for the 876 (or 877) units of affordable housing not delivered by May 2025.

Or, perhaps, a new project-specific synthetic substitute for the 421-a tax break that has, for example, re-enabled construction in Gowanus.

Or--total speculation--whether master developer Greenland USA has walked away from the project.

Meeting details

Despite requests that such meetings be held in Brooklyn, where members of the public might attend more easily--even if it's a weekday--the Atlantic Yards Community Development Corporation Directors Meeting will again be held in Manhattan.

The location is ESD offices at 633 Third Avenue – 37th Floor Conference Room.

The meeting, March 26 at 3 pm, is open to the public.

Due to (purported) building procedures, those attending in-person should RSVP by 4:30 pm on Monday, March 25. Members of the press should call (800) 260-7313; Members of the public should call (212) 803-3795.

The public may listen to the meeting via webcast by clicking here.

Public comment

Members of the public may submit comments on the Agenda items in writing to AYCDCBdMtg@esd.ny.gov by 3 pm on Monday, March 25.

The problem, of course, is that the Agenda doesn't exist yet.

Even if it surfaces by, say, Friday, that leaves little time to contemplate a typically vague agenda and formulate a clairvoyant comment.

Those attending in person are allowed to comment in real time, however.

All comments received by the deadline will be distributed to the Directors prior to the meeting and will be posted online.