Judge rules Atlantic Yards environmental review insufficient

New York’s development agency should have done a more thorough environmental review of Bruce Ratner’s Atlantic Yards basketball arena and housing project before approving it in 2009, a Supreme Court judge ruled yesterday. The ruling is unlikely to disturb construction at the $4.9 billion project’s first phase, the Wall Street Journal reported, but the judge did request a second review of the second phase.

The ruling is a blow to Empire State Development, which approved the use of eminent domain to allow for the controversial Brooklyn development in 2006.

A spokesperson for ESD said it “believes that it complied with all laws applicable to the project.”

The developer is also said to disagree with the decision.

The arena is currently under construction and slated to open in 2012. The second phase is not due to begin for years. [WSJ]