Location: New York, NY

The firm represents the Queens West Development Corporation (QWDC), a subsidiary of Empire State Development and a cooperative undertaking of the State of New York and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. QWDC has overseen the remediation and redevelopment of former industrial waterfront property along the East River in Long Island City, Queens. The project boundaries extend from the Anable Basin to 50th Avenue, west of 5th Street. SPR advised on the preparation of the EIS for the project, and successfully defended the EIS against a judicial challenge.  The Firm helped to structure and negotiate environmental liability risk management protections associated with the property acquisition, oversee contaminated soil remediation pursuant to the Voluntary and Brownfield Cleanup Programs, secure the necessary tidal wetlands permits and other regulatory approvals that authorized the construction of eleven residential buildings (over 4,600 housing units), over 170,000 square feet of retail amenities, public streets and utilities, two public schools and 13 acres of public parkland and recreational areas that has greatly enhanced the Long Island City community. The Firm also represented QWDC and a private developer in litigation to recover costs associated with certain aspects of remediation.

Location: South Bay, Florida

The firm represented the Company and won summary judgment in the Southern District of Florida, which enjoined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from applying rules pertaining to its regulatory jurisdiction over certain former wetlands.  The Court held that the Corps, by relying only on its own internal memoranda, had failed to properly promulgate the rules through the notice-and-comment rulemaking procedures required under the Administrative Procedure Act.  The decision has wide import, as it directly affects approximately 700,000 acres within the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), and other hydrologically-managed lands nationwide for which non-agricultural uses may be proposed.

Location: Brooklyn, NY

On behalf of project developers, SPR obtained dismissal of claims in New York County Supreme Court brought under the State Environmental Quality Review Act to challenge the mixed-use City Point project in Downtown Brooklyn by community group and labor unions on statute of limitations and standing grounds.  SPR also advised the developer with respect to subsequent environmental review of project modifications.

Location: New York, NY

The firm advised the Empire State Development Corporation with respect to the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the redevelopment of the site of a historic theater in Harlem with cultural uses, a hotel, and mixed income residential space.

Location: Staten Island

With the help of the firm, the client obtained judgment after a federal bench trial awarding lost rent and attorneys' fees under the New York Navigation Law to the owner of a Staten Island property contaminated by a gasoline service station.

Location: Staten Island, NY

SPR represented Muss Development Corporation with respect to a proposed large-scale residential development on Prince's Point, which borders Staten Island. Shortly after Muss purchased the property, it was discovered to be seriously contaminated with hazardous wastes from historic uses, resulting in its listing as an Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Site under the State Superfund Program. SPR provided legal advice pertaining to the remediation of the site, which took many years to complete, and successfully sued the prior owner for response costs under CERCLA.  SPR also provided representation concerning State Tidal and Freshwater Wetlands permitting and associated environmental issues. SPR subsequently advised the purchaser of the property in complying with overlapping requirements of permits and consent orders governing development.

Location: New York, NY

From its inception, SPR has served as environmental and litigation counsel to the Hudson River Park Trust on major proposed projects in Hudson River Park, most recently Little Island, Pier 57, and Gansevoort Peninsula. Little Island is a distinctive pier offering world-class recreation and performing arts events, with the support of a donation from the Diller/von Furstenberg Family Foundation – the largest gift to a public park in the history of New York State. Little Island was the subject of litigation in state and federal court for over two years, during which SPR successfully overcame a challenge to the Trust’s environmental review and a challenge to the permit issued by the DEC (as co-counsel with the State).

SPR also helped the Trust obtain new permits after the donor terminated and then restarted the Project. Pier 57 was transformed from its original maritime use to an indoor/outdoor public space and food hall. SPR advised the Trust with respect to the preparation of an environmental impact statement for Pier 57 as well as obtaining environmental permits. The Gansevoort Peninsula is a public beach and passive recreation space that replaces a former sanitation facility. SPR advised on environmental permitting and represented the Trust in litigation challenging the Gansevoort Peninsula project.

Location: Bronx, NY

SPR represented the New York Yankees in connection with the development of the new Yankee stadium in the Bronx. The project also included the construction of additional parking facilities, and the creation of new parkland and recreational facilities at and in the immediate vicinity of the existing stadium, as well as along the Harlem River waterfront. The firm successfully defended the New York Yankees in the lawsuit that challenged the environmental review and parkland aspect of this project.

 

Location: Bayonne, NJ and Staten Island, NY

SPR represented the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (“Port Authority”) with regard to the environmental review and permitting of this project, which raised the vertical clearance of the Bayonne Bridge over the Kill van Kull for larger container vessels. The environmental reviews were under NEPA, SEQRA and CEQR, as well as Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (“NHPA”). The Firm assisted in obtaining permits from the United States Coast Guard, NYSDEC, and NYSDOT. The Firm also represented the Port Authority in the successful defense of federal litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act challenging the Environmental Assessment and Cost Guard-issued Finding of No Significant Impact for the project.

Location: Queens, NY

SPR was retained by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to serve as environmental counsel for the preparation of a Generic Environmental Impact Statement for the City of New York's proposed redevelopment of a 61 acre parcel in Willets Point Queens. The Willets Point project is a proposed redevelopment of an underutilized industrial area into a lively, mixed-use, sustainable community and regional destination. Besides the GEIS, the Firm assisted the City in other aspects of the proposed project, including hazardous waste remediation and environmental issues relating to the purchase of existing parcels within the project area and the parcels to be utilized to relocate existing businesses. The project, which required the rezoning of the area and adoption of an urban renewal plan, was approved in the Fall of 2008. In 2017 SPR was retained by the Queens Development Group (a partnership of the Related Companies and Sterling Equities) to represent the project developer in connection with hazardous waste remediation pursuant to the Brownfield Cleanup Program. The project will transform an approximately 23 acre area with construction of New York City’s largest 100% affordable housing project in 40 years, a professional league soccer stadium, a public school, park and public open space amenities.

Location: New York, NY

The Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA), an affiliate of the MTA, along with the New York State and New York City Departments of Transportation (collectively, the Project Sponsors), have proposed the Central Business District Tolling Program (CBDTP) for Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approval under the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP). This proposal is the first in this country for congestion pricing in a city to reduce congestion (and, in this case, also to raise funds for MTA capital projects). In June 2023, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the proposed CBDTP was issued by FHWA in coordination with the Project Sponsors. SPR has counseled the MTA/TBTA in the development of the EA, including outreach, interfacing with federal, state, local and regional agencies, and advising with respect to various legal issues, as well as with respect to the VPPP. SPR is also representing the MTA/TBTA in nine federal litigations challenging the FONSI, including one brought by the State of New Jersey.  In one of those litigations, the Court for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York issued an Opinion and Order on June 20, 2024, affirming the validity of the EA and FONSI.

Location: New Jersey and New York

SPR represents the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as a defendant in a multidistrict litigation concerning pollution resulting from use of aqueous film forming foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for fire suppression purposes at various sites, including military bases and airports, throughout the country. The Port Authority is a defendant in multiple cases in the Multi-District Litigation based on its operation of Stewart International Airport.

Location: Long Island City, NY

SPR represents Silvercup West Studios--Terra Cotta LLC with respect to the proposed Silvercup West mixed-use development south of the Queensboro Bridge on the East River in Long Island City. This representation has included advice with respect to the preparation of an environmental impact statement (“EIS”) for the rezoning of the site and ULURP, obtaining NYSDEC and Army Corps of Engineers (“ACOE”) waterfront permits, and application to and participation in the BCP, which culminated in the NYSDEC’s issuance of a COC for the site in 2017.  The firm has also represented this client with regard to the development of a new studio in the Bronx, called Silvercup North, as well as a series of other developments in the City.

Location: Brooklyn, NY

SPR represents Empire State Development in the proposed redevelopment of a former portion of the Kingsboro Psychiatric Center. The project will include approximately 1000 units of affordable and supportive housing, two new state of the art homeless shelters (replacing existing shelters on the site), a new public open space, and community facility uses. SPR is advising ESD with respect to the preparation of an environmental impact statement for the project.

Location: Brooklyn, NY

SPR has served as environmental counsel to Empire State Development (ESD) with respect to the ongoing redevelopment of the Brooklyn Developmental Center with 100% affordable housing, including supportive housing, community facility and commercial uses, and substantial open space. This redevelopment has involved two primary phases with two environmental impact statements.  The Firm has advised ESD in the preparation of both EISs as well as in the preparation of transactional documents.