In brief
Plans for a new casino in Manhattan have been thwarted as a community panel voted against a proposed Mohegan Sun resort project. Despite efforts to amend the proposal to include affordable housing and community investments, the committee upheld its decision against the development.
NEW YORK (AP) — The dream of bringing a casino to Manhattan hit a wall as a community advisory panel decisively voted against the proposed Mohegan Sun resort project, despite previous enthusiasm for development in the area.
On Monday, the panel, which included appointees from Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams, delivered their verdict with a 4-2 vote, stating their rejection with little discussion beyond thanking the developers for their presentation.
The Freedom Plaza proposal looked to encompass not just a casino but a broad range of amenities including hotels, restaurants, and over 1,000 residential units. In a last-minute effort to win over community support, Mohegan Sun offered to designate these residential apartments as permanently affordable, and touted additional community investment initiatives such as a democracy museum and a daycare center.
Michael Hershman, the CEO of the Soloviev Group, emphasized that their vision for the project was meant to revitalize the Midtown East area and attract more tourists while addressing local community needs.
The Freedom Plaza project's rejection leaves Manhattan without a casino, and comes on the heels of similar proposals in the area also being voted down, including a Times Square casino backed by Jay-Z.
These decisions continue to shape the landscape of New York City's gambling facilities, as only five proposals remain under consideration for up to three valuable state gambling licenses. Remaining projects include a casino near Citi Field in Queens and another on Coney Island's boardwalk.
Local approval is crucial for these projects to progress, and state regulators are set to announce their final decisions by December.
While Mayor Adams expressed shock at some of the rejections, he reiterated the potential economic benefits of bringing casinos to the city, citing job creation and tourism as major draws.
