ATLANTIC CITY — The last remaining proposal to build a casino in Manhattan was rejected Monday by a community panel in New York City, further winnowing the pool of potential competitors to Atlantic City.
A community advisory committee voted “no” on the proposed Freedom Plaza casino-entertainment development on First Avenue near the United Nations building.
That vote followed the rejection of two other Manhattan-based casino projects last week by other community committees tasked with weighing the benefits of the proposals against community support or opposition to them.
Last Wednesday, a committee rejected a proposal by Caesars Entertainment, rap mogul Jay-Z and a major New York developer to build a $5.4 billion casino in the heart of Times Square.
Caesars Entertainment owns three of Atlantic City’s nine casinos: Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City and Tropicana Atlantic City.
That same day, a different panel rejected another Manhattan casino proposal, shooting down The Avenir, a $7 billion project next to the Javits Center at 11th Avenue and 41st Street.
The Avenir was proposed by the Soloviev Group and Mohegan Gaming. It would have included a casino, two hotels totaling 1,251 rooms, a 5-acre park, one of the largest infinity pools in the Western Hemisphere and 513 units of affordable housing.
Soloviev CEO Michael Hershman said in a statement that the proposal would have brought new life, activity and economic activity to the area.
“We are proud of our partnership with Mohegan and the vision that informed this project that would have revitalized Midtown East and delivered for workers, residents, and organizations across this city,” he said. “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.”
There are now five casino proposals still active in or near New York City, several with ties to Atlantic City.
They include projects from Hard Rock International and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen for an $8.1 billion project next to CitiField, the Mets’ home in Queens, and a $4 billion project in the Bronx by Bally’s Corp.
Hard Rock runs a casino of the same name in Atlantic City and has the option to build a new casino at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, just outside New York City, if New Jersey ever legalizes casinos somewhere other than Atlantic City.
Bally’s Corp. also operates Bally’s Atlantic City.
Two massive casinos proposed for Manhattan, including one by the largest owner of casinos in Atlantic City, have been rejected, removing some of the potential competition for the seaside gambling resort.
MGM Resorts International, which owns Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, is proposing a $2.3 billion expansion of the Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway.
Resorts World, owned by Genting, a Malaysian casino company, proposes a $5.5 billion upgrade of its slots operation at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, making it into a full-fledged casino hotel.
And Thor Equities, the Oklahoma-based Chickasaw Nation tribe, Saratoga Casino Holdings and the Legends hospitality provider propose The Coney, a $3.4 billion casino project with a 500-room hotel, a 2,400-seat entertainment venue, 20 restaurants and a rooftop pool overlooking the ocean in Brooklyn’s Coney Island neighborhood.
The remaining New York casino proposals will be voted on by their Community Advisory Committees in the coming days. Those that survive will go before the New York Gaming Facility Location Board, before the New York Gaming Commission awards the final licenses by the end of this year.
Contact Wayne Parry:
609-272-7000
wparry@pressofac.com
X @WayneParryAC
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