- ** Commercial Casinos * ** Contentious Expansion * ** New York City * ** Related Companies, Oxford Properties Group, and Wynn Resorts * ** John Muller, WPIX-TV
Local community members unite in opposition to the proposed casino and renovation venture by Related/Wynn in New York City.
West Side locals stormed City Hall in unison, rallying against the proposed casino expansion paired with a colossal renovation project towering over Hudson Yards West. This urban utopia boasts 4,000 housing units and a breathtaking 5.6-acre green space, built atop a rail yard platform.
The revamped plan deviates markedly from the 2009 blueprint, which developers argue no longer holds water financially.
Citizens voice concerns about the Breaching of sunlight to the green space and the nearby Highline. They deem the casino an ill-suited fit for a residential environment.
Developers insist, relaying to the City Council Subcommittee, the project's virtues include jolts of billions for the MTA, 30,000 construction jobs, and 4,000 new apartments.
Latest Developments
The project gained crucial backing from the NYC Department of City Planning, moving a step closer to rezoning and land-use changes [1]. Developers have enhanced their housing expansion plans to accommodate almost 4,000 units (up from the initial 1,500) with the assistance of a PILOT (Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes) program. This corporate-friendly strategy finances approximately $2 billion for the platform construction [2][5].
Financial Commitment
The ambitious $12 billion development reads as a significant addition to Manhattan's urban landscape in recent decades, combining a casino complex, residential towers, and 5.6 acres of park space [2][4].
Pending Approvals
The rezoning request continues its journey to the NYC Council for a final decision, with developers utilizing the increased housing numbers to counter criticisms of reduced living space compared to the 2009 framework, which permitted 5,800 units [5]. The aggressive casino license competition hinges on both state and local endorsements [2].
Community Pushback
Quartered neighborhood groups loathe the proposal, pointing to issues arising from the casinoβtogether with housing and park components [3]. Extensive negotiation, financing hurdles, and community resistance shape the project's uncertain future.
- Developers plan to incorporate a casino complex into the renovation project of Hudson Yards West, a move that differs from the initial 2009 blueprint and has sparked controversy within the local community.
- The casino-and-gambling venture aims to offer benefits such as billions of dollars for the MTA, 30,000 construction jobs, and 4,000 new apartments, as outlined in the presentation to the City Council Subcommittee.
- Real-estate personalities argue that the revamped plan deviates from the 2009 blueprint, which they claim no longer holds financial water, justifying a shift towards more housing units with the aid of a PILOT program.
- The latest developments reveal that the NYC Department of City Planning has offered crucial backing, moving the rezoning and land-use changes a step closer. However, the casino license competition hinges on both state and local endorsements, which may prove challenging.
- With the increased housing numbers (nearly 4,000 units) planned due to the PILOT program, developers aim to counter criticisms that the new project reduces living space compared to the 2009 framework, which permitted 5,800 units.
- Despite the presumed benefits, there remains significant pushback from local community groups who voice concerns about the casino's potential negative impact on the area's culture, especially in relation to the breaching of sunlight to the green space and nearby Highline.
