State reports show Related Companies first started lobbying on Atlantic Yards in May/June, ramped up efforts in July/August.

On July 2, The Real Deal had a scoop: Related in talks to take over Pacific Park megaproject. (My coverage.)

The publication didn't have any other details other than that they had "learned" that Related Companies was seeking to build on the six railyard development sites facing foreclosure.

No other news outlet followed with more details, but had we checked the state's lobbying database, as shown in the screenshot below, for the May/June period, the report, filed on July 12, indicated that it had been lobbying two executives at Empire State Development (ESD), Arden Sokolow and Joel Kolkmann, as well as the authority's CEO, Hope Knight.

ESD oversees/shepherds Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park, and is likely being asked to renegotiate the May 2025 deadline for affordable housing, as well as the scale of the project--both proposals floated last year by the current (though fading) master developer, Greenland USA.

Note: in its March/April lobbying report, Related did not report any lobbying on Atlantic Yards. It did report lobbying the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on "Long Island Railroad Platform," but that likely involved the Hudson Yards project.

Executive session

On Aug. 8, the advisory Atlantic Yards Community Development Corporation (AY CDC) went into executive session to discuss the project's future, likely involving discussion of Related's efforts.

If the goal was to keep secret--why, exactly?--Related's role, well, had anyone reported earlier on the May-June lobbying efforts, that would have been moot.

Ramping up

Related's July/August lobbying report, filed on Sept. 13, indicates that it has significantly stepped up its efforts on Atlantic Yards.

It has been lobbying not three but nine staffers at ESD, plus Attorney General Letitia James and five staffers at the MTA.

Lobbying James is a bit of a head-scratcher, but maybe they're trying to ensure that New York State does not enforce the $2,000/month penalties due on the 876 units of affordable housing not built by May 2025.

However, it's certainly plausible that Related, which would have to build an expensive deck to support the six towers, is talking to the MTA about permitting, timing, bonding, and more.

By the way, these excerpts are only fractional parts of Related's lobbying reports. They are involved in several other projects and are lobbying various agencies, including the MTA, on more than one project.