Advisory Atlantic Yards CDC set to meet next Thursday, finally back in Brooklyn. Will they now discuss, in public, Related's bid for six railyard sites?

How about that: with less than a week's notice, Empire State Development yesterday at 5:10 pm circulated a notice for a meeting Sept. 26 of the purportedly advisory Atlantic Yards Community Development Corporation (AY CDC).

It did not, however, post an Agenda yet, and such Agendas are typically anodyne, with items like "Updates and Follow-Ups." That makes submitting public comments on Agenda items before the meeting an exercise in clairvoyance. 

Also, the short notice gives the public little time to plan for the meeting.

That said, for the first time in years, the meeting will be held in Brooklyn, making it easier for the public to attend, assuming they're free on a weekday afternoon.

What's on the Agenda?

I'll write more when I learn more. Presumably they will be discussing the pending business deal involving Related Companies entering the project as partners with the U.S. Immigration Fund and Fortress Investment Group, which control--if not hold--the collateral offered by developer Greenland USA and since foreclosed on: rights to build six towers over the Vanderbilt Yard.

The big question, however, is not merely whether Related might enter but what concessions it's seeking: the current developer faces at May 2025 deadline to build 876 more affordable units and last year sought additional square footage while extending the deadline and offering to build more, albeit delayed, below-market units.

As I wrote this week, given that Related had begun lobbying on the project in May/June, it's perplexing that the AY CDC was required to go into Executive Session in August to learn more about the project, presumably Related's pending role. After all, it shouldn't have been a secret.

Details

The meeting will be held Thursday, September 26, at 3 pm, at the Shirley A. Chisholm State Office Building, 55 Hanson Place – 3rd Floor Conference Room.

Due to (purported) building procedures, members of the public attending in-person should RSVP by 4:30 pm on Wednesday, September. 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 this link.

Public comments

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

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

Those attending in person will be allowed to comment, as well.