The battle over a proposed New York City high-rise hotel and casino (operated by Wynn) is moving to its next stage.
Gary LaBarbera, the head of New York's building and construction trades union, will lead a rally to support the $12 billion casino, office and housing project at Hudson Yards, which would be developed by Related Companies and Wynn Resorts.
The "We Build" rally is scheduled for Thursday, October 24 and will counter the nonprofit group "Friends of the High Line," which opposes the project. This group argues that the development would ruin the views from High Line Park, which currently offers scenic urban vistas over the former railroad area of Hudson Yards.
In a letter published by the New York Post, LaBarbera criticized the group's attempts to block the project. As the president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, LaBarbera also wrote to his union affiliates.
Poll Finds Majority Against the Wynn Casino Project
A recent poll by the "Friends of the High Line" reveals that 53% of people would be less likely to support their local elected representative if the casino development goes forward.
Additionally, 70% think that building a new 6-million-square-foot development, which includes a casino and three skyscrapers next to the northern part of The High Line, would harm the nearby West Side communities.
New York Downstate Casino Licenses up for Grabs
All of this back and forth may be for nothing, because zoning changes would have to be approved and Wynn New York City would have to be granted one of the three downstate casino licenses to operate.
New York law permits three brick-and-mortar casinos in and around New York City and bids are currently being accepted.
So far, 11 operators, including Wynn, Bally’s, Caesars, MGM Resorts, Hard Rock, Las Vegas Sands and Mohegan, have submitted proposals.
These proposals cover locations from Times Square in Manhattan to Long Island and the Bronx. When bidders submit their proposals, they must include zoning changes and environmental impact studies.
Despite assurances that the Wynn New York City project would bring about quality of life improvements, the project must still undergo the city’s rigorous Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), where it will face further scrutiny from MCB4, the Manhattan Borough President and the City Council.
According to the latest schedule, the downstate casino licensing will not occur until late 2025.
New York City Casino Market Remains Untapped
The New York City metropolitan area is one of the most promising casino markets in the U.S. due to its large population and the millions of tourists who visit each year. The potential to generate revenue is huge.
Building full-scale casinos would draw local residents and visitors from nearby states, making New York a top gaming destination. These casinos would also provide luxury hotels, fine dining, entertainment and more — a complete resort experience.
This could make downstate New York competitive with places like Las Vegas and Atlantic City and strengthen its position in gaming and tourism.
But there is a long way to go, and many more battles to be fought, before this war is won or lost.
