While NY State's supposed to get a six-month look-ahead, no document supplied because no construction planned January-June 2025. Might there be more to it?

What happened to the six-month look-ahead regarding expected construction within Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park? Answer: nothing's happening, so there's no "required" document.

However, there might be something deeper going on.

Required document

The June 2014 Second Amended Memorandum of Environmental Commitments (link) for Atlantic Yards documents commitments made by original developer Forest City Ratner (FCRC) to Empire State Development (ESD) the state authority that oversees/shepherds the project.

Among other things, it states:

FCRC shall provide ESD with “six month look aheads” that will describe, in general terms, the activities anticipated on the Project site for the next six months (including major milestones for areas of new construction activity, excavation, 15 construction, anticipated maintenance and protection of traffic (“MPT”) measures, soil and groundwater remediation work and soil characterization). The six month look aheads shall be provided to ESD one month prior to the beginning of the six-month period.

The document also applied to the succeeding joint venture, Greenland Forest City Partners, and then Greenland USA, which essentially has essentially controlled the remaining project since 2018--though for a year it's been slated to lose control of six railyard development sites (B5-B10) in a foreclosure process.

A new joint venture, involving Related Companies, Fortress Investment Group, and the U.S. Immigration Fund (the "regional center" that brokered investor visas for a loan, under the EB-5 program, that was unpaid by Greenland), is expected to take over those parcels.

Greenland retains control of Site 5, the parcel catercorner to the arena, and aims to move the bulk of the unbuilt B1 flagship tower (aka "Miss Brooklyn") across Flatbush Avenue to create a giant, two-tower project at Site 5.

Recent history

I wrote in June that the latest six-month look-ahead required of the Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park developer to describe expected project work again indicated--no surprise--that no construction is planned for the second half of 2024.

At least that was provided on schedule, as required, by Greenland USA, which for now--as far as we know--is still the project's master developer, though that's obviously in flux.

What about 2025?

What about the required six-month look-ahead for the first half of 2025? I filed a Freedom of Information Law request with ESD and was told there were no responsive records.

Does that mean that the developer missed the deadline? Or that it is not needed or expected, for now, because of changes in the project?

I queried ESD's press office and was told, "With no construction activity, there will not be a 6 month report for the period of January 2025- June 2025."

That may seem understandable--there's nothing going on--but in another way it's not: Greenland last December did file a document indicating there was no construction activity.

A new configuration?

Why do they get a pass now?

I suspect there might be more to it. Assuming the incoming joint venture controls the railyard sites, and Greenland controls Site 5 and B1, there wouldn't be a single master developer. 

Would there be some new joint entity only for the purposes of reporting? Or perhaps both entities would be required to file?

For now, at least, there might be no one available to file the document. 

Presumably it's all in flux. Let's see what happens in six months.