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Levine points out that the mayor's certification of the environmental impact report is subject to appeal for roughly a month following his signature. Barring future impediment, the JCC still needs to fine-tune its design in order to obtain the necessary building and demolition permits. Levine aims to start construction in the fall of 2001.

"There are a lot of challenges ahead, but the application process looks pretty good," he said. "It's really down to what I'd call an administrative process. The public policy has been strongly shaped in favor of the JCC's project. That's clear."