What we learned from ESD’s community engagement report
Submitted by gveconi on March 18, 2026 - 12:43pm
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On March 16, Empire State Development (ESD) released its draft findings from an online survey and three community engagement meetings intended to gather public input on proposed changes to the Atlantic Yards project. The findings will be presented at a final online public workshop to be held this Thursday, March 19 from 6:30-8:00PM. We encourage you to attend and let your voice be heard.
Here are our take-aways from the draft report:
The median annual income of most participants and respondents was more than $150K.
That’s important, because the report purports to show a large majority of the public favors affordable housing for moderate and middle income earners. It’s true the median income of participants tracks with the median income of Prospect Heights, which has risen over 40% from gentrification during the years since Atlantic Yards was approved. However, moderate and middle income levels make up only about 7% of the more than one million rent-burdened households in New York City.
- Shouldn’t Atlantic Yards’ housing address the much larger population of low- and very low-income households struggling to pay their rent, including those displaced from the neighborhoods surrounding the project since its approval?
The open spaces cited by participants as examples of what is desirable at the site are all public parks, not private space controlled by developers and landlords.
Developers propose leaving one of the platform sites undeveloped as both a cost-saving measure and a way to create an acre of additional open space. Participants cited South Oxford Park, Cuyler Gore Park, and Prospect Park—all operated by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation—as “inspiration” for the open space to be provided at Atlantic Yards. However, open space at Atlantic Yards is managed by a private non-profit organization controlled by the project’s developers and property owners.
- What commitments will ESD and the developers make to ensure the public will be represented in decisions about open space going forward?
Participants were not told the developers would seek hundreds of millions in new subsidies.
The final report will almost certainly be used to justify changes requested by the new development team that will significantly increase both the number of apartments it will be allowed to build (from 6,430 to 9,000) and the height of the project buildings (by almost 50% in the case of the rail yard sites, and much more at Site 5). Adding on $350 million in direct subsidies for platform construction, perhaps in combination with other new subsidies, raises the question of how the public and elected officials can be sure they’re getting a fair deal.
- Will ESD commit to providing an independent financial analysis reconciling project cost, subsidy and public benefit?
Participants went out of their way to demand better accountability.
Although ESD’s desire for community input on a new Atlantic Yards plan was precipitated by the failure of the previous plan, no workshop topic or survey question addressed the question of how to improve oversight and accountability. Nevertheless, the report stated, “Respondents highlighted a need for transparency in the decision-making process and expressed a strong desire for accountability measures to be integrated into the site’s design, implementation, and management.” In fact, more people have signed a petition calling on Governor Hochul to make good on the State’s responsibility for collecting damages to fund affordable housing not completed by a May 2025 deadline than participated in the public engagement events described in the draft report.
- What changes to project management, oversight and accountability does ESD propose to ensure future Atlantic Yards promises are fulfilled?
Here’s how to make your voice heard now:
