Gambling News | 24 Sep 2024

The Wynn New York casino project is facing increasing resistance.

 Local lawmakers and citizens of Manhattan are united in their opposition to Wynn Resorts and Related Companies' plan to build a $12 billion (£8.96 billion/€10.75 billion) casino and residential complex in Hudson Yards on the West Side of the island.

 According to amNewYork, the objections were reported on September 24th.  Concerns about the High Line public park's visual impact are at the heart of these issues.

 Three community organisations have joined the group Protect the High Line in their opposition to the proposal, according to the group.  A Wynn-operated hotel and casino would be part of the complex, along with other buildings.  Included in this are 1,500 residences, a day care facility, a public school with 750 seats, and two million square feet of office space.

 Concerns regarding the proposed parking garage
 Sara Lind advocates for increased green space across the five boroughs as a co-executive director of Open Plans.  "Embracing and celebrating" urban density, she remarked, is what makes the High Line unique.  She expressed her utmost concern to amNewYork on a potential parking garage or lot that is being considered close to the park.

 She explained that the plan would add a lot of parking spots to a Manhattan district close to public transportation, which would make it harder for locals and visitors to enjoy the High Line's green space.  "The introduction of parking will only serve to increase the already problematic traffic by luring more drivers to the area."

 Developer: Financial advantages are critical
 In response to the concerns raised, a representative from Related Companies issued a statement praising the project's prospective financial advantages.

 A huge public park, tens of thousands of jobs and careers, safer streets, affordable housing and better transportation for New York City cannot be derailed by arguments over parking spots, the spokesperson stated.

 As far as the local community is concerned, the corporation plans to "continue to meet with stakeholders".  "Deliver these important benefits for the neighbourhood and New York's future" would be its stated goal, it says.

 Concerns about the environment may derail Wynn's ambitions
 The project impedes on environmental conservation, according to two other community groups, Parks and Trails and Save Chelsea, who spoke with amNewYork.  Additionally, they claim that the neighborhood's character would be altered.

 According to Paul Steely White, executive director of Parks & Trails New York, "it is especially important that we expand and improve parks and open space" given the record-high number of park visitors in New York.  The inverse would be true if the Western Rail Yards were to be rezoned as is now being considered.  A building's construction over part of the High Line, resulting in less usable public space and the public's loss of access to parks for an unknown period of time, is not a prudent course of development.

 A casino should not be allowed to "degrade" the vertically shaped High Line, according to Pamela Wolff, president of Save Chelsea.

 "The High Line is not just a beloved neighbourhood park, but an internationally admired cultural treasure that Chelsea and the City of New York are proud of. It has inspired similar projects worldwide," Wolff added.  "A poorly placed casino has no business bringing disgrace to it."

 This group's objections mirror those of two prominent New York state legislators from July.  Both Tony Simone and Deborah Glick, two members of the Assembly, shared the idea that the High Line's vistas would be diminished by the casino and pushed for the proposal's rejection by Wynn.