NEW YORK, NY December 08, 2006 —The Atlantic Yards project is set to clear another huge hurdle today when the state's top economic development agency votes on the development's environmental review. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports:

The vote by the Empire State Development Corporation board, if approved, will be one more step in getting the mega-development underway. The real action will come at the end of the year when Governor George Pataki, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Majority Leader Joe Bruno make their decision.

All have supported the project. But they are feeling pressure from neighborhood coalitions that oppose construction of the residential and commercial complex with a sports arena. The coalitions have a federal lawsuit pending. This week they also sent thousands of letters to the state officials urging a postponement.

The letters were also sent to Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer who has expressed his support for the development. For WNYC, I'm Elaine Rivera.