One of the least reported developments at the Barclays Center ribbon-cutting was Bruce Ratner's announcement that he'll break ground December 18 for the first of three apartment towers at the rear of Barclays Center. The 32-story tower, with 363 affordable, low-income and market rate units, will ultimately be joined by 22 and 52-story towers.

In an interview this week with NY1, Ratner laid out a long-term timetable for the towers' construction. "That (the first tower) will take about two years to build, and then we'll start building our second building and our third building." If as expected, the towers are modular construction, expect the second and third towers to begin a few months later, meaning a minimum five years of construction at the site.

• 32-Story Atlantic Yards Tower Will Break Ground in December - Curbed New York
• NY1 Online: Barclays Center Developer Discusses Affordable Housing (Video) - Errol Louis - NY1
• Going Mod - Bay Brown - Architects' Newspaper