Norman Oder

Has Atlantic Yards really “gone nowhere”? normanoder.substack.com/p/has-atlant... A summary in The City Reporter misses the opportunity to clarify the project’s progress and risks, notably whether the full platform would be completed.

Does AG Tish James know Atlantic Yards “like the back of my hand”? Not anymore. normanoder.substack.com/p/does-ag-ti... The area resident (and former representative) supports “affordable housing,” but doesn’t recognize how the new proposal has been criticized regarding subsidies & affordability.

Genuflecting to the rich: the NY Times on Clara Wu Tsai normanoder.substack.com/p/genuflecti... Plus: a pricey Playback film festival. Also, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment buys three gyms to “expand access” to youth basketball.

Atlantic Yards: a complicated story normanoder.substack.com/p/atlantic-y... An official project history leaves a lot out. Even my annotated version does, too. Panel tonight.

Sports unites America, and reaps big profits. Brooklyn Nets/BSE now worth $7.45B normanoder.substack.com/p/sports-uni... That’s more than double what the Tsais paid in 2019. So why do the Barclays Center (& MSG) deserve tax-exempt sites?

Given new state funds, would former developer Greenland still be the “largest subsidy provider" to Atlantic Yards? Was it ever? normanoder.substack.com/p/given-new-... Nope, it’s the public, no matter how you slice it. Still, it’s worth looking at new developer Cirrus’s claims.

Glaring risk: Atlantic Yards sequencing plan would deliver bulk bonus first, but delay 61% of future "park" normanoder.substack.com/p/glaring-ri... Subsidy is front-loaded, enabling 71% of Phase 2 apartments. Is the second block, promising “signature” open space, an albatross or an asset?

Tsai’s Alibaba sponsors Tsai’s Nets with patch, tech; couple touts teams in new book of interviews normanoder.substack.com/p/tsais-alib... Also, Barclays Center releases October 2026 event calendar; Liberty forge ahead; Islanders’ value booms

At low-turnout Atlantic Yards hearing, state urged to broaden study area, increase affordability, consider alternatives, ensure open space normanoder.substack.com/p/at-low-tur... No project supporters spoke, but only one elected official attended. Online format had some bumps.

Before tonight’s hearing, my article in City Limits, and wide-ranging advice from BrooklynSpeaks normanoder.substack.com/p/before-ton... Might city investment in the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust support Atlantic Yards? Also, Cirrus has raised some more money.

More from Atlantic Yards meeting: “single developer structure” questioned; environmental review includes online hearing Sept. 24 normanoder.substack.com/p/more-from-... State officials details outreach efforts. November workshop will address project’s (reorganized if not much augmented) open space.

Though NYS aims to ensure initial Atlantic Yards Phase 2 construction, less incentive for 2nd block normanoder.substack.com/p/though-ny-... Timeline leaves “signature” open space in jeopardy. 2nd block would have only 29% of Phase 2 bulk, < than approved Do developers really seek 1.6M more gsf?

Atlantic Yards advisory board rejects request for a financial analysis to justify subsidies & affordable housing configuration normanoder.substack.com/p/advisory-b... Also, NYS official predicts 2nd railyard block would require just $350M (really?) in subsidies. Other public support coming.

Would diverted taxes from future Atlantic Yards condos fund ~$500M+ (?) for the crucial second block of the platform? normanoder.substack.com/p/would-dive... The developer’s lingering comment from last December leaves a hint.

Without knowing the subsidy total, how (as the Pratt Center warned in 2005) can Atlantic Yards be evaluated? normanoder.substack.com/p/without-kn... The RPA’s megaproject advice included public planning, shared revenues, & new oversight mechanisms. + an Atlantic Yards CDC meeting Mon. in Manhattan

Now updated with a revision of the graphic assessing overall Atlantic Yards plans. Thanks @bennkeel.bsky.social for the update

Atlantic Yards document: 12% more condos possible; “housing” goal > affordability; open space “reorganized” normanoder.substack.com/p/draft-scop... Excluding arena, nearly 2/3 of project’s overall bulk remains to be built. Hotel would reduce apartments, inc. affordable ones. Wind study promised.

Barclays Center releases Sept. 2026 event calendar: 13 concerts, 2 Liberty games, & 2 loud(?) private events normanoder.substack.com/p/barclays-c... Religious revival Sept. 11-12 includes amplified sound on the plaza until 10 pm both nights, and starting at 8 am Saturday.

What’s new in Atlantic Yards Draft Scope of Work issued by NY State Better views of 7 proposed towers, new ground floor access plans, unlikely timing normanoder.substack.com/p/whats-new-... Projected 2040 completion date “is subject to some uncertainty.” That’s for sure. Public comment open.

New “Informational Handout” on Atlantic Yards omits mention of subsidies and free bulk normanoder.substack.com/p/new-inform... While touting more apartments, it doesn’t say market-rate units outpace affordable ones. Focus on “reorganized” open space omits increase, which might be just .3-acre.

"Art on the Hour" at the Barclays Center Oculus: a curious juxtaposition with digital advertising normanoder.substack.com/p/art-on-the... The works vary from excellent to underwhelming. Why can't they turn off the Barclays ads? Well, no progress without profit.

Behind the lull, much re Atlantic Yards percolating: (unreleased) MOU, financial report, Draft Scope for EIS normanoder.substack.com/p/behind-the... Developer Cirrus's lobbying includes a stepped-up contract for crunch time +outreach to clergy (via AG Tish James!) YIMBY Mayor Mamdani's on board

The Brooklyn Nets & NY Liberty Foundation: more transparent than the Tsais' Social Justice Fund normanoder.substack.com/p/the-brookl... Some spending bolsters arena allies, some to national causes. Some to local Jewish groups. How could the (phantom) Tsai Foundation give $2M to teams' foundation?

Barclays Center releases August 2026 event calendar: 12 ticketed events, plus one free one: Angela Yee Day on Ticketmaster Plaza Aug. 23 atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com/2026/08/barc...

So, according to the announcement from BAM of new film festival, Clara Wu Tsai is *the* owner of the New York Liberty & Brooklyn Nets? We've seen this tactic before, erasing her husband Joe Tsai, with their Social Justice Fund: normanoder.substack.com/p/is-clara-w...

How much $ does Cirrus Workforce Housing have, & how long will it last? normanoder.substack.com/p/how-much-m... Atlantic Yards developer has raised just $137.7M toward a $400M goal. It has big costs, but also $175M from NY State, which just signed an MOU with Cirrus but *won't make it public.*

So NY State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding w/new Atlantic Yards developers, re unit mix, financing, subsidies, timing, etc. They just won't share it publicly. @joannesimonbk52.bsky.social @jabaribrisport.bsky.social @phara4assembly.bsky.social Prev: normanoder.substack.com/p/waiting-fo...

Is Atlantic Yards, as per Gov. Hochul, an "affordable housing development"? Not really. normanoder.substack.com/p/is-atlanti... Would there be 40% more below-market units, as per the developer? Nope. Flashback: Greenland's road not taken promised more affordable units, sooner.

At the Barclays Center, an anniversary image claims Brooklyn centrality normanoder.substack.com/p/at-the-bar... Is the arena the lodestone around which other borough icons radiate?

My take: One question in the Q&A segment, from a union ally of developer Cirrus regarding the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, seemed planted to air the developer’s case re density youtu.be/1oubGywYdW8?... One 'tell': (mis)using the acronym A-A-U-M-P, not AIM-UP (or even A-A-M-U-P)

Watch video for key Q re Atlantic Yards accountability www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oub... As I wrote, the representative from NY State sounds mealy-mouthed, not quite answering

From BrooklynSpeaks: In the new Atlantic Yards plan, the public pays more but gets less brooklynspeaks.net/public-pays-... More density (but little new open space); affordable housing outpaced by market-rate; risk of delay/lack of completion; no new oversight measures +Qs for tonight's meeting

Reminder: online meeting tonight 6 pm, virtual Town Hall, on the latest Atlantic Yards plans, as discussed here (with signup links in the articles): normanoder.substack.com/p/as-revised... normanoder.substack.com/p/developers...

Barclays Center July 2026 event calendar: 15 concerts, including five with Ariana Grande, plus three New York Liberty games atlanticyardsreport.blogspot.com/2026/07/barc...

A YIMBY fever dream? State plans 3,950 apartments on two sites near Hudson Yards normanoder.substack.com/p/a-yimby-fe... One might have a Floor Area Ratio well> 30 & be the country's densest residential building. Another might have the most units in a single tower.