Latest lobbying reports shed no new light on Cirrus-led joint venture pursuing Atlantic Yards

I wrote in May (link) that Cirrus Workforce Housing Advisors, the new firm with support from unions for a new joint venture to develop six Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park railyard sites now facing foreclosure, was charging ahead.

In Cirrus's first-ever lobbying report, filed with New York State's Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government and covering March-April 2025, the company disclosed that it was not simply aiming to take over the development sites (B5-B10) from master developer Greenland USA under current parameters.

Rather, as the joint venture seeks to acquire those sites through foreclosure, it likely aims to sweeten the deal to build six large towers, which require an expensive platform over the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Vanderbilt Yard, used to store and service Long Island Rail Road trains.

Cirrus disclosed that its lobbying subjects include:

1. A tax abatement
2. State funding
3. State entitlements

And guess what: Cirrus's latest report, for July-August 2025, says the same thing as the previous two reports, even maintaining the misspelling of State Attorney General Letitia James as "Latisha," as shown in the screenshot below. 

It doesn't mention the role of the development firm LCOR, which will take the lead with Cirrus. 

State officials have said they aim to approve a "permitted developer" this month, but nothing has been announced.

Other lobbying

Cirrus also hired the firm Bolton-St. John's, but its report is opaque, claiming that it's lobbying on "MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS - GENERAL."

Though two Greenland USA entities, Greenland Atlantic Yards and Pacific Park Development, have a lobbying contract with the firm Kasirer, the latter reported no lobbying activities during the most recent two-month period. 

The city lobbying database does not yet report filings for the July-August period for any of the above, though any city activity is also supposed to be in the already-filed state reports.

Greenland quiet

Greenland, though losing a share of the potential six railyard sites in foreclosure, retains certain rights and will be part of a joint venture with Cirrus/LCOR, the U.S. Immigration Fund, and Fortress Investment Group.

For Site 5, the parcel catercorner to the arena, Greenland would be part of a joint venture only with Cirrus/LCOR.

Though Greenland still has assets (despite the foreclosure), state officials have said they wouldn't require Greenland to pay $2,000/month penalties for each of the 876 affordable housing units not delivered by May 31, citing fear of litigation. 

I've suggested the state has far more leverage than it's chosen to use.