The new era for casino gaming in New York City will not include a casino in Manhattan after the last remaining project in the borough, Freedom Plaza, failed to pass the now brutal Community Advisory Committee vote on Monday by a 4-2 margin.
Freedom Plaza, led by Soloviev Group and its partner Mohegan, promised a transformative civic and cultural plan for Midtown Manhattan’s East Side with a projected $11.1bn in total investment, generating $3.2bn in annual economic output to benefit all New Yorkers.
Soloviev Group CEO Michael Hershman said: “We have been humbled by the overwhelming support expressed by neighbours, community and civic organisations, and our faith, labour and workforce partners. We believe they recognised what we did – Freedom Plaza was a transformative project that promised benefits that our community deserved and was built upon a sustained engagement with neighbours, civic leaders and stakeholders across the city that recognised this once-in-a-generation opportunity.
“We are proud of our partnership with Mohegan and the vision that informed this project that would have revitalised Midtown East and delivered for workers, residents, and organisations across this city. Manhattan is the undisputed capital of the world, and it deserved a fully integrated resort that would have attracted visitors while serving the needs of its community.”
Delivering more affordable housing than any other Manhattan proposal and standing as the only Manhattan project to offer open green space, Freedom Plaza had hoped to set a new benchmark for inclusive and equitable development but was voted out of the race, joining Caesar’s Palace in Times Square and The Avenir on West 41st Street on the sidelines.
Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams stood in favor of the “Freedom Plaza” project.
Council Member Keith Powers, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein, and Borough President Mark Levine issued a joint statement explaining their no votes: “Our neighbors on the East Side of Manhattan have communicated to us, and to the CAC, through hours of public hearings, significant concerns regarding increased congestion, public safety, and the quality-of-life concerns this project would introduce into our community. For this reason,we support the CAC’s decision today to not advance the casino proposal at Freedom Plaza.”
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Soloviev Group to accomplish the goal of activating this site for permanent affordable housing, green space, good-paying jobs, and more,” they added.
Virginia Maloney, a Democratic candidate hoping to reach the City Council, said: “I fully support the Freedom Plaza Community Advisory Committee (CAC)’s no vote on the First Avenue casino license application in District 4. Their decision reflects the overwhelming consensus of the East Siders I’ve spoken with throughout my campaign.”
“The East River waterfront should be a vibrant community asset, not a destination for high-rollers,” she added. “Right now, residents contend with crumbling pavement, sinkholes, and chronic flooding just to enjoy our waterfront. That won’t change if the East River Esplanadecontinues to be underfunded and overlooked.”
Kyle Athayde, former chair of Community Board 6 and currently a candidate for City Council in District 4, said: “This is not the end, just the beginning. We must work hand in hand with the Soloviev Group to make sure this land does not continue to sit idle, and instead is developed in smart, thoughtful ways to give back to the community.”
The five remaining proposals are Bally’s in the Bronx, The Coney at Coney Island, Metropolitan Park in the Citi Field complex, MGM Empire City in Yonkers, and Resorts World New York City at the Aqueduct Racetrack with the latter being expansions of already-existing racinos. The existing properties will find out their fate on Thursday. The Coney proposal could already be over with three members of the CAC—City Council Member Justin Brannan, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, confirming they will be voting against it.
The post Freedom Plaza falls at the Community Advisory Committee hurdle, ending the race for a casino in Manhattan appeared first on G3 Newswire.
The new era for casino gaming in New York City will not include a casino in Manhattan after the last remaining project in the borough, Freedom Plaza, failed to pass the now brutal Community Advisory Committee vote on Monday by a 4-2 margin. Freedom Plaza, led by Soloviev Group and its partner Mohegan, promised a transformative civic…
The post Freedom Plaza falls at the Community Advisory Committee hurdle, ending the race for a casino in Manhattan appeared first on G3 Newswire.