New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and his partners at Hard Rock International received good news for their Citi Field casino resort proposal after the Senate voted to approve the land surrounding Mets Stadium to be rezoned from parkland to commercial use.
One Step Closer
Steve Cohen’s casino proposal adjacent to the Citi Field ballpark he owns is not a sure thing, but it moved one more critical step closer towards becoming reality when the Senate followed their colleagues in the House and voted 54-5 to approve the rezoning measure. Without it, the project would have been stuck in neutral.
Assemblywoman Larinda Hooks (D-Queen), the bill’s sponsor in the House, said the following before the vote was taken in the lower chamber: “This is the opportunity to bring real investment to our local economy, having the bold vision of turning 50 acres of asphalt into an entity that delivers real benefits. This is about giving something back to residents that’s given more than they’ve received.”
The bill calls for Cohen and his associates to turn 20 acres of the plot into a public park and green space that can be utilized by the local community and guests.
“This legislation allows the Metropolitan Park proposal to now be submitted for consideration by the State Gaming Commission for the awarding of a casino license,” said state Sen. John Liu, D-Flushing, who sponsored the bill. “The proposal would create thousands of jobs for local residents and opportunities for local small businesses and provide over a billion dollars in transit, park, and other infrastructure improvements.”
Cohen’s vision is for an $8 billion Metropolitan Park project that calls for a casino, entertainment venues, shops, restaurants, a 25-acre park, and a High Line-inspired pedestrian and cyclist thoroughfare. But the surrounding land must be utilized to make that dream a reality, and both chambers obliged.
The bill now advances to Governor Kathy Hochul’s desk for her signature.
The Great 8
Casino proposals for the three downstate licenses must be submitted by June 27th, but what were originally nine bidders have been whittled down to eight after the Las Vegas Sands proposal at the Nassau Coliseum, a bid to build a casino inside Saks Fifth Avenue’s New York City flagship store, and most recently the Wynn proposal at Hudson Yards have all been withdrawn.
According to state Senator John Liu, it is the only proposal to have the support of the local community board as well as all six surrounding boards. Last month, the city council invoked a “home rule” resolution, calling on the state to approve those bills.
“Last week’s home rule brings us one step closer to delivering 23,000 union jobs, 25 acres of public park space, new entertainment options, and over $1 billion in community benefits for Queens,” said Karl Rickett, a spokesperson for Metropolitan Park, in a statement.
“After years of community engagement, thousands of conversations, and the leadership of our local elected officials, we are one step closer to transforming these asphalt lots into something our neighbors can truly be proud of,” Cohen said in a statement.
Although community and political support are strong for Cohen’s Metropolitan Park project, it is not universal, as one lawmaker, State Senator Jessica Ramos, has been vocally critical of the project.
“It’s really about my neighborhood,” the lawmaker said. “No, we as taxpayers cannot afford for our seniors gambling away their pension or social security money because then we have to pony up [funds] to make sure they are taken care of,” Ramos added.
