The New York State Legislature approved three gaming licenses in April 2022, meaning it has allowed the development of three new casino venues in the Big Apple. From that moment, numerous corporations and partnerships have been working hard to ensure everything necessary to obtain the license. One of the bidders is Related Companies and Wynn Resorts, with their $12 billion proposal to build a casino complex in the Hudson Yards, close to the Lincoln Bridge.
Amid the rapid growth of the brick-and-mortar gaming and iGaming industries, such measures are meant to keep pace with the developments in the neighboring states: New Jersey and Pennsylvania have legalized online casinos, reaping the related tax revenue, and international iGaming platforms are also growing as we speak. For instance, with Card Player, iGamers can access some modern games and use more advanced payment options than on some traditional online and offline casinos (think blockchain crypto payments, among others). In the middle of such an environment, the local administration is seeking how not to curb this industry any further.
NY City Planning Commission In Favor of the Plan
Therefore, on Wednesday, April 9, the NY City Planning Commission approved Related’s plan for the Hudson Yards West complex with a vast majority of votes (9-2). In addition to a casino and resort, the once-railway knot area should host an office building, a large public park spreading across 5.6 acres, a large number of new homes (allegedly not luxurious, but affordable units), and a public school. The proposal, submitted more than a year ago, plans to build three skyscrapers: an office tower, an apartment building hosting around 1,500 apartments, and a casino/resort. The aforementioned park, simply named Hudson Green, is designed to spread to the Hudson River, displaying playground areas, gardens, and lawns. A 10-acre platform over an old rail yard is planned to be built to host all the facilities and amenities described above.
So, why are there dissonant voices regarding this construction plan?
Criticism Due to Original Plan Changes
The Related Companies and Wynn Resorts’ plan has been developed upon the original space plan dating back to 2009. The catch is that the original document adopted by the local authorities specified some different features and facilities. What bothers the local residents and some political representatives is the fact that the originally planned residential neighborhood was supposed to contain 5,000 new homes. Now it allows slightly above 1,500 housing units. Knowing how problematic sustainable living has become in Manhattan, such a reduction has caused dissatisfaction among the residents of the area around the Hudson Yards.
The other objection comes from the architectural point of view. If three new skyscrapers rise in this area, the Manhattan High Line concept would be affected negatively. Therefore, various activists have raised their voices, insisting that the planned buildings should be lower than the planned 80-story office skyscraper and the other two buildings of a similar size.
The Expected Outcome
The City Planning officials have stated that the decision they made on April 9 is only related to the adaptation of the original 2009 space plan. It’s been highlighted that this doesn’t mean the casino complex of the requested size by Related Companies and Wynn Resorts has been approved. What’s more, the Commission has requested that the public space within the planned area is increased, so that the local residents get more features for their pastime and relaxation.
On a more narrow level, the Manhattan Community Board adopted a decision against the casino complex in January, with a landslide majority. Furthermore, Mark Levine, the President of Manhattan Borough, suggested that the proposal should be declined because the number of proposed housing units didn’t meet the needs of the area in question.
From this point of view and based on the voting in the NY City Planning Commission, the Hudson Yards proposal submitted by Related Companies and Wynn Resorts has better chances to be adopted than before. If the applicant meets the demands of the local community and council regarding the number of housing units, it might just have their plan allowed.
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