A Queens lawmaker will push laws that will give billionaire Mets proprietor Steve Cohen the authorized proper to maneuver ahead with a deliberate $8 billion on line casino advanced subsequent to Citi Area.
State Sen. John Liu introduced Sunday he’s going to bat for the undertaking with a invoice that will legally convert the heaps round Citi Area from parkland to industrial use — a transfer essential to maintain hope alive that the formidable Metropolitan Park undertaking would win one among three extremely coveted downstate on line casino licenses.
“The Flushing community has long aspired to have greater access to our waterfront and the
other side of Flushing Creek,” Liu, whose district borders the positioning of the on line casino advanced, mentioned Cohen-Onerous Rock Worldwide’s settlement to assist develop Flushing Skypark, a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that will join downtown Flushing to neighborhood separated by the Flushing Creek.
“The Roosevelt Avenue and Northern Boulevard bridges cater to vehicular traffic but deter pedestrians and cyclists,” Liu added. “The new Flushing Skypark will greatly enhance recreational and transportation options, and I am heartened by the sincere commitment of Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International to making it happen.”
Liu introduced his assist for the proposed gaming/leisure advanced after Cohen and Onerous Rock dedicated to safe regulatory approvals and all private and non-private funding wanted for Flushing Skypark, connecting downtown Flushing from thirty ninth Avenue and School Level Boulevard to Willets Level with a design impressed by Manhattan’s iconic Excessive Line.
He additionally applauded Cohen-Onerous Rock’s dedication to placing up $100 million for capital enhancements to the infrastructure of Flushing Meadows Corona Park, which might profit Queens residents, even when Skypark isn’t accomplished.
“In the spirit of collaboration I will introduce legislation to create a pathway that makes these community benefits possible,” mentioned Liu, the previous metropolis comptroller.
Mets proprietor Cohen praised Liu as a “champion of infrastructure.”
“As an organization based in Willets Point, we shared the community’s concerns around connectivity, and recognized that the Skypark would be a great way to bring Queens together,” Cohen mentioned.
“Metropolitan Park is committed to working to make Flushing Skypark a reality. And if for any reason we cannot, then we will still follow through on our commitment to the community by dedicating $100 million to the betterment of Flushing Meadows Corona Park.”
However the inflow of Cohen money is contingent on the on line casino undertaking getting a license from the state.
Onerous Rock Worldwide Chairman Jim Allen mentioned if the Metropolitan Park undertaking involves fruition it might create “thousands of jobs and unparalleled experiences” for the neighborhood and visitors.
The neighborhood profit measures can be enshrined in a legally binding contract with the Waterfront Alliance, a regional neighborhood group and alliance of greater than 1,100 organizations.
The Metropolitan Park undertaking additionally features a resort and music venue.
Liu’s backing of the on line casino undertaking is a lift for Cohen and Onerous Rock after opposition from state Sen. Jessica Ramos, whose district contains the Flushing Meadows-Corona on line casino website.
It’s unclear whether or not the state Senate will move it over her objections and Ramos had refused to advance the invoice within the prior two legislative classes.
The Senate sometimes defers to the native legislator relating to a undertaking essential to his or her district.
The proposal has garnered assist from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Assemblywoman Larinda Hooks, Councilman Francisco Moya, and even the area people boards.
On line casino bidders should submit their purposes to native siting boards by June 27. The state Gaming Fee will award as much as three on line casino licenses by the tip of December.
Different bidders with chips on the desk vying for a state on line casino license embody:
- the The Wynn NYC-Associated Corporations’ in Hudson Yards;
- Las Vegas Sands undertaking on the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum hub in Uniondale;
- the SL Inexperienced/Caesar’s Leisure/Jay-Z Roc Nation $4 billion proposal in Occasions Sq.;
- the Stefan Soloviev and Mohegan Solar undertaking alongside the East River;
- and the Silverstein Properties/Greenwood Gaming and Leisure plan for a on line casino at West forty first Avenue and eleventh Avenue north of the Jacob Javits Heart.
Two present slots parlors or “racinos” — Genting Resorts World at Aqueduct race monitor and MGM Empire Metropolis at Yonkers race monitor — are making use of for a gaming license to supply dwell desk video games.
