A rendering of the Islanders' Belmont arena. Photo Credit: New York Arena Partners LLC
A handful of Elmont civic leaders filed a lawsuit Saturday to try and stop construction on the Islanders’ $1.3 billion sports and entertainment project, in the second court action challenging the legitimacy of the state’s approval process.
The lawsuit, filed in state Supreme Court in Mineola, contends the state does not have the authority to designate its own land at Belmont for private development. The suit claims the property is parkland that has previously been a disaster evacuation site for residents.
The suit names the state's business aid agency Empire State Development (ESD), the developers New York Arena Partners and others.