After tribulations, Ratner defensive on AY

A long, circuitous and, some say, torturous path remains for Atlantic Yards developer Bruce Ratner of Forest City Ratner Companies until the project can begin construction. After six years of planning and maneuvers, including ditching starchitect Frank Gehry and snagging funds from an eccentric Russian billionaire with a legendary penchant for basketball, sources say that the developer has already sunk $300 million into the project. The polarizing Ratner told Crain’s that while one of the biggest points of contention on the project is his lack of transparency with his plans, he doesn’t see the need to remedy the situation. “Why should people get to see plans?” Ratner said. “This isn’t a public project. We will follow the guidelines,” such as land use regulations.