A Manhattan community board has rejected New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ proposal to bypass standard city zoning approval rules for the proposed Freedom Plaza casino/residential complex in the Midtown East neighborhood.
Adams had proposed fast-tracking zoning approvals for all the casino projects proposed in the city, which would speed up the overall process and get casino gaming up and running sooner. The casino projects would bypass the normal zoning approval process and would be approved for construction without zoning board authorization.
“With (the) text amendment, DCP will not have to process an individual rezoning application for each casino application, including those that are ultimately not granted licenses—a more efficient use of city time and resources,” Casey Berkovitz, spokesperson for the Department of City Planning, told The City after the mayor’s proposal.
Under the city’s proposal, winners of the three state casino licenses pegged for New York City would be approved for certain commercial and manufacturing districts, and would be deemed compliant with local zoning.
The idea is facing growing opposition with community groups in New York, where some 11 casino proposals are spread out over the city’s five boroughs.
Last week, Manhattan Community Board 6 in Midtown East voted 39 to 1 against the zoning amendment for Freedom Plaza, a project of the Soloviev Group and Mohegan Gaming that would include 1,325 apartments, including more than 500 guaranteed at below-market rent.
Community boards in other targeted casino areas, including Hudson Yards and Times Square, have also rejected the fast-track zoning amendment. Brooklyn’s Community Board 13 is split on the proposal.
