In a clear demonstration of neighborhood priority, Manhattan's Community Board 4 has staunchly opposed the construction of a $12 billion casino complex by Wynn and Related Companies in Hudson Yards. According to The New York Post, the board's unanimous vote on Monday night has cast significant doubt on the future of the project in the bustling West Side area.
The proposal, which features a towering casino and entertainment hub within an 80-story building, triggered immediate backlash for its perceived threat to the local landscape, particularly the beloved High Line park. The project would require a zoning change, which Community Board 4 voted against, although the vote serves as an advisory role in the Uniformed Land Use Procedure. "A carefully planned mixed-use neighborhood is wiped out for a garish Las Vegas-style monstrosity that has no place on Manhattan's West Side," Josh David, co-founder of The High Line and former member of CB4, told The Post.
The board's decision now moves to Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine before reaching public hearing stages as part of the city’s land use review process. The decision by Manhattan Community Board 4 was a resounding maneouver, with a vote tally of 39 against and 1 not voting, as reported by Gothamist. Joe Restuccia, a board member who voted against the complex, criticized the reduction in housing compared to original development promises. "The last time we voted an outright denial was 1986, so it takes a lot for our community board on the West Side to say we don’t approve it at all," Restuccia told Gothamist.
Related and Wynn have advertised the development as a job creator, citing up to 35,000 union construction jobs and over 5,000 permanent unionized positions. They also garnered support from community advocates, like Christine Quinn, the head of Win and a former City Council speaker, who cited potential employment for impoverished demographics, including "thousands of jobs for homeless moms." Despite such claims, there's been criticism that the project fails to address the substantial housing needs of the city. "We're in the middle of a housing crisis, and this plan takes away much needed housing," said Alan van Capelle, executive director of Friends of the High Line to Gothamist.
