Two major Manhattan casino proposals have been blocked by local advisory committees, narrowing the field for New York State casino licences in the downstate region. Caesars Entertainment and Jay-Z’s Times Square project, which aimed to redevelop an office tower into a $5.4bn casino and entertainment hub, lost by a four-to-two vote from the community panel. The proposal promised thousands of permanent jobs and significant contributions to local cultural initiatives, including funding for a civil rights museum. However, opposition from Broadway theatre groups and neighborhood representatives was decisive, highlighting the role of local stakeholders in shaping Manhattan’s gaming landscape.
The Avenir project, led by Silverstein Properties near Hudson Yards, envisioned a $7bn mixed-use development comprising a casino, a 1,000-room hotel, and affordable housing units, with the potential to create 4,000 full-time and 1,000 part-time jobs. Despite its scale and potential economic benefits, the proposal was rejected by a four-to-two committee vote. Silverstein executives expressed frustration over late amendments to the plan, but committee members maintained the review process was sufficient.
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