A proposed on line casino lodge venture in Queens, NY lately gained some momentum with 5 local people boards voting in favor of it.
A rendering of a part of Metropolitan Park. A number of Queens group boards are backing the on line casino plan. (Picture: Metropolitan Park)
Queens group boards 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9 lately voted in favor of the $8 billion Metropolitan Park venture, the sprawling leisure and park advanced pitched by New York Mets proprietor Steve Cohen and tribal gaming large Arduous Rock Worldwide. These votes have been small however vital steps as a result of the Queens boards have been tasked with reviewing the plan beneath New York’s land assessment protocols.
The boards centered on two minor although extremely related zoning modifications obligatory for Metropolitan Park to advance additional within the already intense and convoluted competitors for 3 New York Metropolis-area on line casino licenses.
Cohen wants metropolis approval to upzone the parking zone to a brand new zoning designation created this 12 months by town particularly for casinos, and he additionally wants town to permit him to de-map plenty of streets within the space he needs to construct,” reported Jacob Kaye for The Queens Eagle.
With out clarification, Neighborhood Board 4 rescheduled its assembly on zoning modifications for Metropolitan Park till the center of December.
Essential Steps for Queens On line casino Effort
Whereas the group board approvals of the Queens on line casino plan are small steps, the progress is nonetheless vital as a result of it pertains to land use, which has emerged as a significant problem in varied downstate on line casino proposals.
Particular to the Cohen/Arduous Rock plan, it’s confronted opposition from State Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens) who represents the world and who doesn’t need to introduce laws to change the parkland classification of Willets Level. Cohen and Arduous Rock might discover alternate options to Ramos-supported laws, however the reality stays that the group board approvals are steps in the correct course relating to land use points in Queens.
Along with parkland alienation laws, Cohen and Arduous Rock want a neighborhood advisory group in Queens to log out on Metropolitan Park for the venture to maneuver ahead. These are more likely to be points handled in 2025, they usually’re very important as a result of New York regulators need purposes for the three downstate licenses which might be “clear” and unencumbered by environmental and land use challenges.
Following the group board approvals, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards will consider Metropolitan Park, however that’s only a procedural step as a result of he’s already spoken positively concerning the venture.
What’s Subsequent for Queens On line casino Plan?
The Cohen/Arduous Rock plan requires 25 acres of parkland for public use, together with 5 acres of athletic fields, eating choices, a reside music venue, enhanced cycle entry and roads in addition to a $163 million group impression fund.
Supporters of the proposed Queens gaming venue estimate it might create practically 25K jobs whereas driving as much as $1 billion in native financial profit.
As is the case with all of the downstate on line casino bids, Metropolitan Park should be reviewed by the Metropolis Planning Fee after which the Metropolis Council. These evaluations are more likely to happen after Richards indicators off on the plan.
The Queens Eagle famous New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams (D) hasn’t overtly endorsed one on line casino proposal over one other, however he does favor the thought of at the least one of many three gaming venues being situated in one of many 5 boroughs.
