New York Mets owner Steve Cohen recently unveiled new renderings for Metropolitan Park, a 20-acre park on the former site of Shea Stadium in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens. Designed in collaboration between SHoP Architects and Field Operations, the park is part of the 50-acre, $8 billion plan to transform the parking lots on the western side of Citi Field into a mixed-use casino and hotel complex. The development is bound by Shea Road to the north and west, Roosevelt Avenue to the south, and Citi Field, Seaver Way, and Mets Plaza to the east.
The main rendering above depicts a street-level perspective looking west, showcasing lush landscaping, winding pathways, spacious lawns, and wide outdoor steps that lead to the proposed Hard Rock Hotel and Casino complex. Below is another perspective of the green space beside Citi Field.
Rendering courtesy of SHoP Architects and Field Operations.
Below is the overall master plan. Lining the eastern edge of the mixed-use facility are bars, restaurants, a sports book, and a live music venue facing Metropolitan Park and Citi Field. Three parking structures topped with photovoltaic panels would replace the parking capacity of the former stadium lots, and two hotel towers surround Hard Rock’s gaming facility and conference spaces.
A tailgate park is located on the north side of Shea Road, and a plaza with a food hall and community space is positioned to the south of the stadium. The plan also includes 5 acres of public athletic fields and playgrounds on the southern side of Roosevelt Avenue, as well as a bike path that loops around the perimeter of the complex.
Unlabeled in the diagram are the HOK-designed stadium for the New York City FC soccer team and new mixed-use housing structures that are planned to rise on the eastern side of Seaver Way.
Master plan courtesy of SHoP Architects and Field Operations.
The following rendering previews the food hall next to the Mets-Willets Point subway station, which the project will also renovate with infrastructure upgrades for direct access to the southern point of Metropolitan Park.
Rendering courtesy of SHoP Architects and Field Operations.
Approvals have yet to be granted for Metropolitan Park and proposed casino facility. The overall development is projected to generate more than 23,000 permanent and construction jobs.
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As mentioned in the article, all this hinges on whether the casino ends up here instead of Hudson Yards, etc. There is also the question of whether building it in what is legally the park will be approved. Whether a food hall would survive given the offerings inside Citi Field and the lack of a residential population is a question. Apartment buildings are planned to the east of this, but I suspect residents would more likely go to Flushing.
The rebuilding of the elevated subway station and the rickety boardwalk to the park proper would be most welcome. It would be prudent if space were left to possibly have a LIRR spur arc around to LGA.
“It would be prudent if space were left to possibly have a LIRR spur arc around to LGA.”
100%.
Most of that could be accomidated south of the Corona Yard lead and within the r.o.w. of the GCP though.
Whoever the state gives the casino license to should require that all of these promised amenities be fully constructed before the gaming license is granted.
Promising affordable housing and a school on land you already promised affordable housing and a school to get the zoning variance? That needs to be built before your casino can open.
From what I’ve read, the state gets paid $500 million at the time the license is granted, prior to construction. So the state gets their money upfront, which seems more than fair.
And I believe there are a total of 3, not just 1 license up for grabs.
What makes no sense is that the city keeps pushing back the date they will award the licenses, which delays construction, new jobs and more affordable housing. It also delays the revenue to the state from gambling, hotels and more.
Are you saying that the Gaming Facility Location Board has been delaying its decisions at the behest of the city? I am fairly sure that the board was appointed by the state Gaming Commission, which itself was appointed by the governor.
It is a good presentation of the project, even though there is gambling involved. Not yet approved it may change at any time: Thanks to Michael Young.
The big issue here is that the parking lots are legally park land. If they are going to be transformed into anything other than an actual piece of park it should be housing at a similar density as in Willets Point. This casino proposal is DOA.
They should add more housing to the site. Could easily fit in.
“It would be prudent if space were left to possibly have a LIRR spur arc around to LGA.”
100%.
Most of that could be accomidated south of the Corona Yard lead and within the r.o.w. of the GCP though.
If only there was currently a way to get from LGE to the LIRR at Mets/Willets Point. Surely our current transit focused governor can find a solution.
The Interboro express or IBX that will be constructed by MTA will accomodate the arc around LGA.
Underground parking may not be possible given the very low elevation of the land above water level. It is also in the most vulnerable flood zone. I feel the housing project east of Citi Field is unwise on this account. Building on the higher ground on the Flushing side of the creek would make more sense.
Remember when every town was building a convention center? Then they built casinos. Now you can do that on your phone. NY used to be ahead of the curve, not eventually follow it.
Interesting concept, but what about the problem of runway 13 departures off of LGA? It’s probably less than .5 miles from the end of the runway, and a Delta departure just went overhead at 900 feet above the ground. The noise will be horrible, not to mention the vibration and jet exhaust pollution. Remember all the complaints that we used to get from Forest Hills and Shea Stadium—and they were further away? I can’t imagine anyone going there to be outside.
This is literally the land where Shea stadium used to be.