Summary:
- The casino would cost $8 million to build.
- The plans are part of Cohen’s bid for casino licensing.
- The development would include playgrounds, bike paths, and athletic fields.
Steve Cohen, the owner of the New York Mets baseball team, has announced a partnership with Hard Rock International and architectural firm SHoP Architects to create a New York casino and entertainment complex in Queens.
The project has an $8 million price tag and would be located next to the MLB team’s Citi Field stadium.
More Details on Metropolitan Park
Cohen had previously announced his desire to bid for one of three available licenses in New York for downstate casinos and that he wanted to work with Hard Rock. Now, we know more about what the project would entail.
Named “Metropolitan Park“, the project includes a casino and entertainment center for the parking lot next to Citi Field. The project will sit on 20 acres of public park space created by Field Operations. The development will include plenty of outdoor options for the community, including athletic fields, playgrounds, and bike paths.
The plans include revitalizing the mass transit station and a Queens food hall. A Hard Rock hotel would be created onsite, along with a casino and sportsbook. The plan is to create a venue to become a year-round tourist spot.
Additional Project Plans
Along with the casino and hotel plans, plus the outdoor spaces, Metropolitan Park will add elements that boost the overall layout of the community spaces. New pathways are included in the plans to provide better access to Flushing-Corona Park and Flushing Bay waterfront.
Mass transit options will be enhanced, plus road networks and parking options. The project is expected to bring 15,000 jobs to the area, both construction and permanent. The only problem is getting enough backing to push the project forward.
There are some issues that the project will have to overcome, including the fact that the proposed site for the casino is parkland owned by the state. A legislative bill will be required to annex the land for the building.
Any proposal for a casino must also be approved by the majority of the sitting board members, including local officials from the district where the casino would be situated. State gaming regulators must also approve the project.
There is some opposition to the plan, including New York Senator Jessica Ramos. Supposedly, Ramos has made an effort to block Cohen from pursuing the casino project in the area of the parkland. Cohen is trying to revitalize the area and bring in much-needed revenues, with a casino estimated to bring $1.9 billion in revenues to Queens by 2025.
About the Author
