A major community board has rejected a bid to build a glittering $12 billion casino complex in Manhattan's Hudson Yards, in a move that could be fatal to the project.
Community Board 4, which represents the Hudson Yards neighborhood, voted unanimously Monday night against approving a zoning change that would have allowed Related Companies and Wynn to proceed with the project.
Under the city's Uniform Land Use Procedures, the local commission has the right to consider zoning changes, but the vote is advisory.
Ultimately, the City Council will have to work with city planners from Mayor Eric Adams' administration to approve it.
Opponents offered blunt and withering criticism of the project adjacent to the High Line.
Joshua David, co-founder of The High Line and former member of CB4, testified that the project “reeks of greed and disregard for the community.”
David, who has lived in Chelsea for 38 years, said, “A carefully planned mixed-use neighborhood has been swept away in favor of a flashy Las Vegas-style monster that has no place on Manhattan's West Side.''
“If we wanted to live in Las Vegas, we would live in Las Vegas,” he said.
The project would include an 80-story tower overlooking the Hudson River that would house gaming facilities and a hotel.
Office buildings, condominium towers, and a spacious 5.6-acre park surround the glittering casino skyscraper.
But the Friends of the High Line, which led the opposition, argued that the tower would negatively impact the area by casting a shadow on the popular elevated park.
The Associated Companies/Wynn project is one of four proposed casino bids that must receive land-use change approval from the city before being considered by state gaming regulators.
Others include a bid by Mets billionaire owner Steve Cohen to build an $8 billion casino and entertainment complex next to Citi Field. The So Equities consortium is building a casino on Coney Island. And Bally's is proposing a casino next to a golf course at Ferry Point in the Bronx.
In a letter to City Planning Director Dan Garodnick, CB4 said the project would eliminate approximately 4,000 planned housing units, and the environmental impact report said it would result in “catastrophic traffic and air quality impacts for the neighborhood.” “It will have an impact…” This suggestion is completely unsuitable for this site. ”
Alan Van Capel, executive director of Friends of the High Line, praised the board's rejection of the casino complex, which would “permanently damage the High Line experience.”
The Post has contacted the companies involved for comment.
Meanwhile, two existing racetrack slot parlors, Genting's Resorts World New York City in Aqueduct and MGM Resorts International's Empire City in Yonkers, are also seeking licenses to offer live table games.
Other bidders vying for state casino licenses include: The Las Vegas Sands project at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum site in Uniondale. SL Green/Caesars Entertainment/Jay Z. Roc Nation's $4 billion offer in Times Square. Stefan Soloviev and Mohegan Sun's project along the East River and Silverstein Properties/Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment plan casino at West 41st Street and 11th Street, north of Jacob Javits Center I am doing it.
