Agenda for Thursday's Atlantic Yards CDC meeting vaguely suggests "Platform Site Update" (in Executive Session?!), likely pointing to major project changes.

Updated 4:15 pm: Finally an agenda, with less than 24 hours to post public comments.

As I wrote (link), the unusual timing of an Atlantic Yards Community Development Corporation (AY CDC) meeting 3 pm Thursday suggests that project changes are brewing, such as a new plan for Site 5, catercorner to the arena, and a push to supersize towers at the six railyard sites.

So does the belatedly released agenda, which indicates an update on the six development sites (B5-B10) that require a platform, and may involve a transfer, given a foreclosure action, from Greenland USA to another developer, said to be Related Companies.

Executive session

Note that that will be in "Executive Session," which is the first time I've heard that and seems aimed to exclude the press and public. According to the Department of State, a public body may only go into executive session if the matters to be discussed:

• will imperil public safety if disclosed;
• may disclose the identity of a law enforcement agent or informer; 
• relate to a current or future investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense which would imperil effective law enforcement if disclosed; 
• relate to proposed, pending, or current litigation; 
• relate to public employee collective-bargaining negotiations;
• involve the medical, financial, credit, or employment history of a particular person or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person or corporation;
• pertain to the preparation, grading, or administration of examinations; or 
• relate to the proposed acquisition, sale, or lease of real property, or the proposed acquisition, sale, or exchange of securities, but only when publicity would substantially affect their value.

Only the final item is remotely on point, and that's debatable.

A public body may only go into executive session following the introduction, during an open meeting, of a resolution that is then approved by a majority of the fully-constituted body. This resolution must generally identify the area(s) of the subject(s) to be considered in the executive session, according to the Department of State.

Below is a very unofficial rendering of the possible future.

Well, less than two days days before the meeting--and less than a days before the 3 pm Wednesday for non-attendees to clairvoyantly file public comments--the agenda has finally been posted.

As is typical, Empire State Development (ESD), the state authority that oversees/shepherds the project, releases AY CDC agendas that are impossibly vague, in this case "Platform Site Update (Oral Report)."

That perhaps indicates no movement on Site 5 catercorner to the arena, though, arguably, ESD has already made agreements regarding that.

What about comments?

The timing makes it ever more difficult for anyone to contribute meaningful comments by the pre-meeting deadline.

Members of the public may submit comments on the Agenda items in writing to AYCDCBdMtg@esd.ny.gov by 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

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

Only those attending the meeting in person--at ESD's Manhattan offices, not in Brooklyn closer to more interested parties--can comment in real time.

What's coming?

What might be coming? Well, at the AY CDC's June meeting, an ESD staffer indicated that they expected a new developer--which The Real Deal later reported was Related Companies--for the six railyard sites subject to a foreclosure auction of developer Greenland USA's interests.

This week I reported on proposals by Greenland to rescue the project by supersizing it. While the process ultimately stalled, ESD's general posture indicated it looked favorably on such changes.

While some of those changes were speculative, those regarding Site 5 had already been agreed to by ESD, without disclosure to the public or the AY CDC.