NYC Public Design Commission Delays Vote on Steve Cohen's Casino Project

The Public Design Commission, a nine-member city panel, unanimously voted to table the approval of the design for the proposed $8 billion casino at Citi Field. The decision came after a meeting on Tuesday where residents, including members of the Democratic Socialists of America, voiced objections to the project.

The commission's role was to review the aesthetic and public accommodation aspects of the casino and its grounds. However, critics used the meeting to express broader concerns about gambling and the project's impact on the surrounding area. Despite these objections not being within the commission's typical purview, as the casino already holds state approval, the vote to delay was unanimous.

The casino, a joint venture between Mets owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock Entertainment, is slated to be named Metropolitan Park and is expected to open in 2030. It is unclear how long the design approval delay will impact the project's timeline, though representatives for the casino sought to minimize its effect.

In December, the New York State Gaming Commission awarded the Cohen-Hard Rock bid a license to operate a casino in Flushing Meadows/Willets Point. The development is intended to include a hotel and music venue, alongside the gaming center, and aims to improve pedestrian access to the Flushing Bay waterfront.

The project also involves repurposing parkland near the Mets ballpark, originally designated for the World's Fair, for commercial use. This change was enabled by state legislation, and six local Queens community boards had previously voted in favor of the casino project.

Opponents, such as Alexis Kaloyanides, a member of Community Education Council 30 and NYC-DSA, have raised concerns about the societal harms a casino might bring to the community, particularly affecting children. The Guardians of Flushing Bay also expressed worries about the project's impact on flooding.

Members of the Public Design Commission noted that their mandate is to ensure public right of access, use, utility, safety, and comfort within the structure, rather than to approve or deny the project itself. However, some commissioners expressed reservations about placing a large gambling facility next to Flushing Meadows Park.

Kenseth Armstead, a commission member, questioned the focus on design details when the core issue of a "massive gambling operation" remained. He suggested that the project should be referred to as a casino rather than a "resort" and stated he would not bring a child to a park adjacent to such a facility.

Following the feedback, the commission requested revisions to the main casino building's facade, widening of corridors and staircases, and the inclusion of flood mitigation plans. PDC President Deborah Marton emphasized the need to understand the site's overall conditions before approving designs.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, a proponent of the casino, expressed frustration over the delay, stating it should not hold up thousands of jobs and that the commission cannot ultimately prevent the project's realization.

The casino complex is projected to create 23,000 union jobs and will include 25 acres of green space. A spokesperson for Metropolitan Park stated that construction is underway and that the design incorporates years of community engagement. The team has reportedly made several design adjustments, including expanding public seating areas, adding a park overlook, and incorporating transparent glass sections and an additional escalator.

The New York State Gaming Commission also awarded licenses to Genting Group's Resorts World New York for expansion near Aqueduct Racetrack and to Bally's for a casino at Ferry Point, a site formerly belonging to President Trump's golf course.