The Metropolitan Park proposal is led by Steve Cohen – the owner of the New York Mets Major League Baseball franchise, which plays at the 41,000-seat ballpark in the borough of Queens – in partnership with Hard Rock.
Nine of the 11 members of the City Planning Commission backed the project, which would feature a casino, new hotels, a live music venue and a food hall on the 50-acre site.
It is expected that the City Council vote will take place in the coming months.
Community support
“With the City Planning Commission vote, Metropolitan Park moves one step closer to becoming a reality and delivering more than 23,000 union jobs, $1bn in community benefits, and 25 acres of public park,” Metropolitan Park spokesperson Karl Rickett said in a statement to the Queens Daily Eagle after the Planning Commission’s vote.
“This vote reflects the overwhelming community support and input Steve Cohen and Hard Rock have collected over the past three years. We look forward to presenting our community-first vision to Council Member Moya and the City Council.”
The parking lot is owned by the city but leased to the Mets under an 80-year deal. It is proposed that about two-thirds of the development would be parking, with around 20 acres converted into open space.
Licenses
The state’s gaming regulator will award up to three downtown casino licenses later this year.
Cohen has previously said that he will not press ahead with any project on the plot unless a license is secured, but around a dozen other operators are also reported to be in the running.
Referencing the Cohen-Hard Rock proposal, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said in December: “Many recent studies have cited mixed economic outcomes when casinos are built, often not translating to long-term success. However, the applicant team has done a commendable job of creating a plan that would enrich local constituents’ lives.”
