Proposed Casino In Manhattan Near United Nations Is Rejected: What We Know

NEW YORK CITY — A proposed casino on the East Side of Manhattan near the United Nations has been rejected by a Community Advisory Committee on Monday.

The Freedom Plaza casino proposal was rejected 4-2 by a Community Advisory Committee. It’s the third casino proposal to be rejected in Manhattan.

A Caesars Palace casino in Times Square and The Avenir on 41st Street have also been turn down.

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, City Council Member Keith Powers, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, and Assemblymember Harvey Epstein released a joint statement following the vote:

"As elected representatives of Midtown East, we commend the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for conducting an inclusive, transparent, and collaborative process that prioritized gathering comprehensive community input.

Over the past three months, the CAC has heard extensive feedback from thousands of concerned local residents, business owners, and workers, as well as the Freedom Plaza Project team. Our neighbors on the East Side of Manhattan have communicated to us, and to the CAC, through hours of public hearings, significant concerns regarding increased congestion, public safety, and the quality of life concerns this project would introduce into our community.

For this reason, we support the CAC's decision today to not advance the casino proposal at Freedom Plaza.

We look forward to continuing to work with the Soloviev Group to accomplish the goal of activating this site for permanent affordable housing, green space, good-paying jobs, and more."

The Community Advisory Committee will now turn its attention to applications for proposed casinos in Coney Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Yonkers and the Bronx.