NEW YORK—The first fully affordable housing development in the controversial Atlantic Yards project broke ground on Monday, contributing close to 300 affordable apartment units to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to preserve or create 200,000 affordable housing units within the next 10 years.
The Atlantic Yards is a $4.9 billion project to build 16 residential towers, a sports arena, and new public transportation infrastructure in the Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, neighborhood.
It was re-branded Pacific Park after the original developer, Forest City Ratner Companies, signed a joint venture agreement in June with the Chinese firm Greenland Group. The project spans 22 acres
Since 2006, when Ratner Companies’ development plan was approved by the state, the project has been mired by lawsuits and vocal community opposition—including a coalition of local organizations called Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn.
