Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park Report

From City Limits: How a 35% Affordable Housing Pledge in Brooklyn Was Torpedoed ( link ) Two towers on Atlantic Avenue, east of the Atlantic Yards site, promised special benefits in exchange for permission for extra bulk. But things changed. Also, some thoughts on (hyper)local journalism.

The Knicks Win and NYC Exults, Mostly. The Nets May Be Irrelevant Now, But How Handle a Win in BK? ( link ) Some chaos in Manhattan reminds us how Barclays is a VERY tight fit. Also, City & State's Sports package raises some questions but ignores a key one (as does Mamdani).

As Affordable Housing Baseline Continues to Rise, What Might "Low-Income" Mean in 2031? ( link ) A couple, at 60% AMI, might have to earn nearly $110,000 and pay $2,565+/month for a 1-BR in the project's next buildings. So, deeper affordability is needed. 

Today, just in time for the New York Knicks' home Finals game, City & State New York published  The 2026 Who’s Who in Sports , subtitled "Notable New Yorkers at the intersection of athletics and politics." I'd note that there are three people on the list associated with Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, parent of the Barclays Center, Brooklyn Nets, and New York Liberty, but only one associated with Madison Square Garden.  The print magazine has an ad from Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, which is part of the City & State business plan: bestow awards, get thanked. The list is alphabetical, not ranked. On the list It includes Marissa Shorenstein, Chief External Affairs Officer, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, who "handles government affairs and strategic communications," citing her work opening the Brooklyn Basketball Training Center and plans for a new Liberty training center. It also includes Gregg Bishop, Executive Director, Joe and Clar...

 Reckoning with the New Documentary, "Rust & Reckoning: The Legacy of the Barclays Center" ( link ) Excited arena patrons and striking architecture vs. unfulfilled civic promises. However, 20 minutes, filmed mostly in 2022, is too short, leaving crucial omissions.

The Barclays Center last week circulated the June 2026 event calendar to neighbors, including seven concerts, four New York Liberty games, one boxing match, and the NBA draft. the latter on June 23. Also listed are nine private events, at least five of which are graduation ceremonies. Also listed: the weigh-in, on June 26, for the boxing match, with amplified sound on the plaza from 11 am to 2 pm. Note that the calendar is in error, misidentifying June 1-4 as Friday through Monday, rather than starting on Monday. The private events June 1, morning: Baruch College June 1, afternoon: John Jay College of Criminatl Justice June 4, morning: Borough of Manhattan Community College June 4, afternoon: Hunter College June 8: NYC College of Technology I couldn't determine the specifics about private events June 9, June 15, June 16, and June 18. Below is the Barclays Center's list of ticketed events. From Barclays Center June 2025 The June 2025 event calendar , had only eight announced tic...

Stonewalling and Secrecy at the Atlantic Yards Advisory Meeting ( link ) Yes, the state has committed $175M for the first block of the platform, but it's just a start. MOU coming in July. But the meeting was mostly in executive session.