Queens Borough President Donovan Richards is betting on a casino to help transform Willets Point into a destination for all New Yorkers.
“We’re ready to roll the dice with this casino,” Richards said Monday during an interview on “Mornings On 1.”
The proposed $8 billion Metropolitan Project, led by Mets owner Steve Cohen, aims to bring parks, restaurants and a casino to the area near Citi Field. While the plan has faced pushback from some community members and officials, Richards has emerged as an advocate.
“You’re talking about an $8 billion investment,” Richards said. “You look at how we came through the pandemic, and I talked a lot about ‘live, work and play.’ Well, this area can be a real destination—not only for Queens but for the entire city.”
Richards argued that the project would create thousands of jobs and bring much-needed resources to the neighborhood.
“You’re talking about thousands of jobs at a base of $163 million of investment for a Community Development Fund, which would enhance nonprofits and many community-based organizations across Queens County,” Richards said.
The project also includes plans for 25 acres of park land and a Queen’s Food and Taste Hall, designed to provide space for street vendors who have struggled with enforcement issues along Roosevelt Avenue.
Richards also addressed concerns about congestion and parking, noting that plans are in place to manage the area’s traffic challenges.
“We reached an agreement, working with Steve Cohen, to ensure that on the days the soccer team is playing, the Mets will not play,” he said. “We’re still working on the USTA, but there’s been a lot of conversations…to make sure there’s more coordination.”
He also stressed that Queens, not Manhattan, is where the city’s future lies.
“Back in the day, the big push was for everything to be Manhattan-centric. The outer boroughs are now the future of New York City,” he said.
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