Court: Atlantic Yards Need Environmental Review

The ruling says the state-run Empire State Development Corp. must look again at the plan's second phase. That includes 11 high-rises.

An appeals court says parts of Brooklyn's massive Atlantic Yards development project need further environmental review.

Thursday's state Supreme Court Appellate Division decision doesn't affect a key piece of the project: a new arena for the NBA's Nets. It's set to open in September.

But the ruling says the state-run Empire State Development Corp. must look again at the plan's second phase. That includes 11 high-rises.

Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn and other community groups sued after the second-phase completion date was extended from 2016 to 2035. They say the ESDC needs to consider how decades more development will affect surrounding neighborhoods.

They're hailing the ruling. It upholds a lower court's view.

The agency and developer Forest City Ratner says they're disappointed with the decision but fully committed to the project.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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