The New York City Council has cast a strong vote in favor of transforming parking lots into a sprawling entertainment hub in Queens. According to Gothamist, the council approved with a near-unanimous 41-2 vote the zoning changes required for the $8 billion Metropolitan Park project, which positions itself amidst 11 potential sites eyeing to host a new casino in the New York metropolitan area.
Steve Cohen, the New York Mets owner guiding the project's development, is pairing up with Hard Rock International. With a casino, hotel, eateries, and entertainment venues on the drawing board, critics might worry about betting it all on this massive development. However, positioned to replace the 50 acres of asphalt that currently serve as parking at Citi Field, the plan promises 25 acres of green breathing space for public use, as reported by ABC7 New York.
The project has been pitched as a boon for local employment, pledging to generate 23,000 jobs. Councilmember Francisco Moya, while speaking at a Council meeting, accentuated the benefits of converting vast stretches of vacant pavement into a place for recreation, promising "100% union jobs" for both the construction phase and operational life of the facility, as noted in the Gothamist report.
Community sentiment has favored the entertainment complex proposal, driven partly by its commitment to addressing concerns related to addiction and mental health. The developers have dedicated $25 million to community healthcare in Flushing and formed a Community Impact Fund with a pledge of $163 million for local nonprofits. Despite the local approval, the glare of skepticism persists, particularly from state Sen. Jessica Ramos, a crucial Democrat whose endorsement is necessary for commercial development of the parkland. "It’s time the world’s greatest borough gets the investment it deserves," Cohen told Gothamist.
Even as the collaborative endeavor steers through the local approval process, navigating the state legislature remains a critical and potentially circuitous route. The State’s Gaming Facility Location Board is poised to deliberate on the casino license applications submitted by June, with the bids undergoing scrutiny by a Community Advisory Committee that includes a mix of state and local officials. The New York City Council's vote is a key step in developing Queens, with three casino licenses expected to be awarded by the end of 2025, as covered by the Gothamist.
