Freedom Plaza, the last remaining casino proposal for Manhattan, was formally voted down yesterday by the Community Advisory Committee assigned to evaluate the project. Led by the Soloviev Group with casino operations to be managed by Mohegan Sun, the proposed development would have been located on First Avenue between 38th and 41st Streets in Murray Hill. Plans called for a mixed-use complex featuring a 300,000-square-foot underground casino, two hotel towers, 1,325 residential units (including a recent amendment to make 1,080 of them permanently affordable), a museum, public park space, retail, daycare, and other amenities.
The Advisory Committee, made up of six appointees from state and city elected officials, voted 4-2 against the proposal, effectively ending its path forward under New York State’s casino licensing process. This rejection follows earlier decisions to block other high-profile Manhattan proposals, including those in Times Square and Hudson Yards. It is unclear at this time whether the Soloviev Group will assemble another proposal for the site that does not include plans for a casino.
Rendering of Freedom Plaza, courtesy of BIG and Bucharest Studio.
Rendering of Freedom Plaza, courtesy of BIG and Bucharest Studio.
Rendering of Freedom Plaza, courtesy of BIG and Bucharest Studio.
Mayor Eric Adams’ administration recently released “Casting the Dice: Casinos in New York City” on September 18, a report evaluating all seven casino proposals located within the five boroughs. The report included detailed economic and design analyses, estimating that Freedom Plaza could generate over 17,900 direct construction jobs and more than $10.1 billion in net new operational economic impact over 30 years. The report also laid out seven recommendations for the licensing process, emphasizing community benefits, transparency, land-use planning, and job creation.
Rendering of Freedom Plaza, courtesy of BIG and Bucharest Studio.
Freedom Plaza’s location offers access to multiple public transit options, including the Grand Central–42nd Street station, served by the 4, 5, 6, 7, and S trains.
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I have a feeling all of the proposals will be voted down. If there is to be a casino, Manhattan makes the most sense. I doubt tourists will be willing to go to Coney Island, the Bronx end of the Whitestone Bridge, Aqueduct Raceway, or Yonkers. The parking lot of Citi Field would be the easiest proposed casino site to reach from Manhattan at about half an hour by subway. That is technically part of Flushing Meadows Park, but has been used for parking since the days of Shea Stadium. That site has been isolated from residential neighborhoods until the recent construction of buildings east of the stadium.
Are you kidding. They travelled all the way to the dumpy AC to gamble . Build casinos in South Bronx it will be packed.
People aren’t visiting NYC to travel to AC. They fly directly to AC. People who already live here visit AC.
To capture that tourists money Times Square was the ideal location. Enough options and people to not be dominated by the casino and the most wealthy tourists.
Who cares about tourists
Shut the fuck up mayor Kenny and say something that actually contributes to the comments instead of your usual demeaning crock of shit 🖕
I think Coney Island or Citi Field make more sense
Tourists don’t come to NYC to go to a casino. That’s a flawed assumption if ever there was one. Also, as much as I was hoping to get a few nice highrises out of this, we need to stop treating this as a zero-sum game. Just because we are not getting these casinos doesn’t mean that the jobs and housing won’t materialize in another form. These are still incredibly valuable development properties.
exactly!! NYC was attracting almost 70 million visitors with no casino. NYC does NOT need the Las Vagas type visitors. Casinos are parasitic. They are not real economic development. That’s why Monaco and Singapore don’t allow their own citizens to use them.
Freedom Plaza is a 20 minute walk from Grand Central Plaza. It’s not a convenient spot for anyone. Citi Field has the 7 train and LIRR. The 45k people that routinely go to Mets games and US Open are proof the public are willing to travel there.
The UN already is an amusement park, nothing extra needed..
Freedom Plaza, due to its location was probably the most viable Manhattan candidate although any casino in Manhattan was a real long shot. I expect the Shea stadium casino proposal to have a decent shot of being the last one standing when the final vote is held in the first week of December. Considering Steve Cohen is behind both the Mets and the casino proposal it probably would have been a slam dunk if the Mets could pull off a world series win – though at this point even getting to the playoffs is a dream.
I cannot understand what purpose any casino would have in NYC. We already have a casino at Aquaduct as well as one at Yonkers and off the LIE at exit 58. If people cannot find a place to
lose their shirts and money among those three, they need to go elsewhere.
The purpose is a truckload of money delivered every 4 minutes, does that answer your question?
That’s an idiotic statement
Michael, I completely agree. One casino will not change the trajectory of the NY economy. Residents of Manhattan did not want a casino, which is why it was voted down. And Manhattan doesn’t need a casino. It’s tired idea overdone all around the country, like convention centers.
Expand Aqueduct if you must.
Agreed. The Jets/Giants stadium should have been built at Aqueduct. But since the silly politicians insist on a parasitic casino – it’s better to just expand what’s at Aqueduct instead of unleashing the curse of casinos on other parts of the city.
Citi Field makes the most sense. Business travelers could stay at the Hard Rock Hotel the night before they fly home. A ferry terminal could be added and would help support tourist traffic to the casino, as well as baseball, soccer and tennis. And I’m pretty sure that parking garages are part of the proposal and will accommodate those who used to use the surface lot.
at this rate Steven Cohen might be the next next mayor
This was maybe the dumbest of the Casino proposals. Never had a chance, the worst location, and frankly, there is a much better use for the land. Too bad that family will just let it rot.
There was only one option, Times Square, and those idiots blew it.
Basically didn’t Mohegan who was going to run this place for Solow almost file bankruptcy last year after over investing $1.2 billion in a South Korea casino project . The next project there will go to the new mayor elected and he may set social benefits for any development to go forward there. Years ago development there was to copy Paris. Then this desperate effort to put up a casino came about. NYC needs more middle income and low income housing . So this would be great for this site.
If you think a casino is in any way a legitimate answer to the cities housing crisis you are wildly incorrect
My answer calls for low income and middle income housing . Sorry to disappoint you but no one but casino owners want casinos in NYC.
You can be certain that the folks of Tudor City will burst into action against any low income housing proposed to them right across First Ave. They’re not about to have a few thousand Section-8 types sullying the genteel cityscape of northeastern Murray Hill.
Yes, this area by the UN could be a great World Class ‘experimental showpiece/laboratory’ for highest level middle and lower income housing, let’s see..
What a wonderful idea! Too bad it wont make any money and nobody wants to pay for that. Try market rate high rise instead with a Chop’t and a CAVA downstairs
Wasn’t Soloviev Group touting that they would proceed with this redevelopment regardless of the casino? I guess that was just a lie to push their casino bid? I am shocked.
Everything about this site and proposal screamed scummy New York developer, from the fact that they have been sitting on this pit for decades to the cringe “immersive experience” they put together to make it look like they were suddenly community focused.
My problem with all of these casino proposals is that they are/where pushing all these great amenities, but I question if or when we would/will ever see them. I would expect the casino on any of these sites will be constructed and opened in record time, whereas the promised schools, parks, housing, and community centers will conveniently lag significant behind or are cancelled due to “market conditions”.
They should simply use eminent domain . It’s been empty to long .
They should consider Staten Island right next to the commuter boats, outdoor mall and where the Ferris wheel was going to be placed.
I personally feel like it is a great design, it is nice when we see something that is not the typical design that could be done anywhere. Whether or not that is the best spot, not so sure, connections to transit links is good for the workers, tourists will probably just catch an uber. I get the naysayers not wanting a casino in Manhattan, nobody wants a casino in their neighborhood, but it is a captive audience, how many tourists and business travelers are already there. When you are traveling for work you don’t necessarily want to go out of the way to Coney Island or the Bronx or LIE. I say see what concessions they are willing to make that will benefit the area it is in for the long term, such as revamping and maintaining local transit hubs, upgrading parks, money into the city’s fund for low income housing, revaming a school or two etc.
Build it in the burbs.
There are three casinos in Western New York Buffalo-Niagara Falls region. And more on the Canadian side. Just go there.
Imagine this casino proposal got built, then adding the traffic from the annual UN general assembly every year. TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE
That is precisely why the Avenir on the far West Side made sense…great cross-Hudson access, 7 train station, far from the UN
That proposal was a travesty…Related completely reneged on all promises they made with that proposal it was a slap in the face to our city and proof that these big developers dont give a single crap about anyone but themeselves
I think you and Steven are conflating the two casinos initially proposed for the far West Side/Midtown West/whatever we call the area that includes Hudson Yards and more. Related had a proposal with Wynn Resorts for a casino plus housing and some open space above the platform over the western part of the train yard, west of 11th, between 30th or 31st and 34th. Related was criticized for reneging on the promise that the western section of the Hudson Yards would be residential with public space and possibly a public school. They dropped that proposal in May. The Avenir was a casino/hotel/residential skyscraper proposed by Silverstein for 11th between 40th and 41st. The closest trains to it would have been the 7 at 34th-Hudson Yards and the A, C, and E at 42nd/PABT, blocks away, unless an infill station on the 7 train were built at 10th Avenue and 41st.
Such committees exist to oppose things. That’s what they do. If they didn’t oppose all proposals, they wouldn’t have a reason for existing.
Ah, they justify their existence
The banana bunch struck again…Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody.
Goofball comment
Coney Island is the perfect location for casinos. Nothing happens there during the winter season. You only see rats and empty lot with garbage and few rotten bodegas.