A judge has delayed a ruling that would approve the state’s request for seizure of the land in Brooklyn necessary for the Atlantic Yards project. The decision comes after arguments were heard during a condemnation hearing for the property.

In addition to the $100 million it has already committed to the project, the city has pledged another $31 million to Atlantic Yards. The city maintains that this latest donation is form infrastructure improvement funds and not from taxpayer dollars.

Lawyers representing Atlantic Yards opponents argue that the state's decision to extend Bruce Ratner's timetable for the site will precipitate significant blight. The initial environmental assessment of the site estimated that the project would be complete by 2016.

A lawsuit over the use of eminent domain at Atlantic Yards, originally scheduled for January, will not be heard until the middle of March. A change in the presiding judge may explain why the case was rescheduled.

The Brooklyn Paper has filed a Freedom of Information Law request in order to get security plans from the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) for the Atlantic Yards project. A representative from ESDC stated that it is not the agency’s policy to disclose such security measures to the public.

Beginning February 2010, Fifth Avenue between Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues, and two blocks of Pacific Street, will be removed in order to prepare for construction of the Atlantic Yards arena. The streets will be permanently demapped from the city street grid if the arena is built.

Daniel Goldstein, an opponent of the redevelopment plan, has begun planning an alternative option if the state employs eminent domain to remove him from his home. Though he continues to fight against the project, Goldstein stated his preference to remain in Brooklyn, away from the Atlantic Yards area.

Bruce Ratner will have to obtain $324.8 million before the end of 2010 or he risks having to return bond money to investors. Even with financial support from prospective Nets' owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, raising this amount may still be a daunting task for Ratner. Notwithstanding, there is a strong likelihood that this project will move forward.

The State’s development agency, the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), is following through on filing to obtain the 22-acre site for the Atlantic Yards redevelopment project. This comes after numerous lawsuits against the state agency have been dismissed by the courts. The ESDC is now looking to a judge to grant the agency title over the 22-acre site.

Funding for Atlantic Yards is beginning to look more secure as developer Bruce Ratner secured tax free financing last week. Ratner, however, still needs to raise $324.8 million by December 17, 2010. If he fails to raise the capital, he may have to return the money raised from public bonds.