A developer vying for one of New York’s coveted casino licenses has added hundreds of affordable housing units to the proposal in a bid to strengthen its position in a crowded and competitive race.
The Soloviev Group wants to create an entertainment district dubbed “Freedom Plaza” by the United Nations in Midtown East with a casino, hotel, green space and shopping. They announced Thursday that their plan will now also include 1,325 new units of housing, 513 of which would be affordable.
If built, the developer said it would be the most newly constructed affordable units in the area in at least a decade. The housing would only move forward alongside the casino.
The inclusion of housing is aimed at distinguishing Soloviev and their partner Mohegan, in a field of around a dozen applicants vying for one of three lucrative downstate gaming licenses from the state, which would allow venues to have table games such as poker.
“We just see this as an extension of our responsibilities to the City of New York,” Soloviev CEO Michael Hershman told the Daily News. “This is completely voluntary on our part, we decided that we would like to help the city manage its housing issues.”
New Yorkers have largely been resistant to the various casino proposals thus far, citing concerns such as the potential for increased crime, traffic and gambling addiction. But applicants have been trying to court public opinion, sponsoring everything from children’s sports in Brooklyn to a private bus service in the Bronx.
Soloviev is also hosting an enormous light installation at the proposed site later this year.
Freedom Plaza would span over six acres on land already owned by Soloviev from 38th to 41st St. east of First Ave. by the East River. In addition to a casino it would include a 1,200-room hotel, a “museum dedicated to democracy,” shops, restaurants and nearly 5 acres of green space.
Reshma Patel of local Manhattan Community Board 6 told The New York Times, which first reported the news, that while she is still opposed to the plan, the affordable housing may sway others.
“I can’t speak for everybody, but there will be people now who will reconsider,” she said. “Why can’t we do all these things without a casino?”
An earlier version of the Soloviev-Mohegan plan included a huge ferris wheel, which Hershman said was scrapped because the local community “unanimously” opposed it.
It’s one of about 10 bids for three downstate casino licenses to be granted by New York State. Two are expected to go to existing “racinos” in Queens and Yonkers, respectively. Other proposals include a casino by Citi Field in Queens from Mets owner Steve Cohen; one in Times Square spearheaded by Caesars Entertainment; and one in Coney Island from Legends Hospitality Group.