Two comments. First, while I am not an expert in the banking procedures associated with construction loans, my understanding is that when a builder obtains a financing commitment from a bank, at least from one of the majors, the bank does not advance the loan amount of the funds to the developer. As the invoices for the construction are received, and the builder writes cheques on the construction loan account, the cheques are, or should be, reviewed by the bank to ensure they are reasonable and proper for the nature of the work being done. If a developer tries to pay themselves or some other third party an unreasonable amount from the approved construction loan, the cheque would be returned. Otherwise the system could be so easily abused for fraud. Procedures may vary - but if a developer gets construction financing, it should not mean that they are simply able to walk away with all or a substantial portion of the funds.
Secondly, as a new developer taking over, it will take some time to get up to speed on a project which is already underway.. Budgets are reviewed in great detail, new bids will have to be solicited for the construction, prepared and submitted, evaluated, negotiated and contracted. For a project of this size, scale and complexity, not an overnight process.
So definitely not surprised that it is taking this amount of time to start to see physical activity at the site.