In a News 12 exclusive story, Bally’s shares new renderings of a casino it hopes to bring to the borough—plus the benefits it could bring to the community.
Bally’s is competing for one of three downstate licenses from the New York State Gaming Commission to operate a casino at Bally’s Golf Links course inside Ferry Point Park. The state will begin accepting bids this summer and legislative approval for land use will be a crucial step in the process.
The entertainment company says it has created a community benefits proposal in an effort to ensure the community is directly involved in the creation but also directly benefiting from the money it will bring in. In addition to creating around 4,000 permanent jobs, Bally’s says other potential benefits include:
- Bronx Benefit Fund to support local schools, sports, and businesses
- Road developments like a new Lafayette Avenue overpass, sidewalks for pedestrians and added MTA bus stops
- Assuming certain park maintenance responsibilities from NYC Parks
- Part-community ownership through residents purchasing equity interest
Bally’s reports that its community investments total $625 million net present value.
However, the casino has faced pushback from some residents with many raising concerns over the added traffic it could bring. Bally’s told News 12 it is working with DOT to reduce or circumvent traffic from the surrounding areas like The Whitestone Bridge.
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