Mr. Ratner's renegotiated purchase agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which owns an eight-acre railyard on the site, also allows the developer to drop the second phase of the development, which involves the bulk of the residential construction, with few penalties, said Joshua Kahr, the owner of Kahr Real Estate.
The current construction is actually the second phase of the development.
Hudson Park South, the two towers constituting the first phase of the development, has 266 apartments, 97percentt leased, said Rona Siegel, operations vice president of Collins.
So far, the five units in the first phase of the development have all been sold since the sales office was opened two weeks ago.
Since sales started last month, 24 out of 30 units in the first phase of the development have already been sold or have been reserved, Ms. Schneider said.
The latest phase of the development comprises a new block glued onto the side of the old building.
Others involved in the dispute say G&S accommodated other businesses more generously because they were situated on the site earmarked for a Costco, the first phase of the development that is scheduled to open next month.
But Kevin Plunkett, the White Plains lawyer representing neighboring Pelham in the dispute said that while the litigation is pending, "We are considering asking for a stay of any further permits" needed to build the second phase of the development.
Bruce D. Smith, an anthropologist of early agriculture at the Smithsonian Institution, said the discovery filled in "a very important and poorly known phase of the development of agricultural systems which led to the pyramids and later civilizations".
The first phase of the development, named Palm Springs – after the California desert resort city famous for hot springs, golf courses and five-star hotels – has just been completed.
But state officials believe that having the grants up front will save time by eliminating the need to keep going back to the government for reimbursement at each phase of the development.
