Wynn’s New York City Casino Proposal Suffers Another Blow 

Nevada-based Wynn Resorts is finding its multibillion-dollar resort and casino project proposal, slated for Manhattan’s west side, in the crosshairs yet again. This comes at a time when New York’s three downstate casino licenses are scheduled to be awarded this year.

Plan Falls Short

Wynn Resorts, in conjunction with New York City-based real estate development firm Related Companies, is one of 11 casino projects proposed to obtain just three downstate casino licenses that the governor is expected to award later this year.

However, it should be noted that two of those licenses will likely be granted to the two racinos already operating in Yonkers and Queens, whose current licenses only allow them to offer slots. Under the full casino license, both would be allowed to offer casino table games as well.

Odds Are Long

Assuming this is true, the simple math tells us nine casino proposals are vying for one license, which means the odds are even steeper for all parties concerned. As for the Wynn project, it proposes an 80-story building at a cost of $12 billion that would be a mini-city unto itself, replete with a hotel, casino, public gardens, entertainment venues, and, most importantly for community members, housing.

But it is the project’s housing numbers that have raised the ire of several critics, including the most recent, City Comptroller and mayoral candidate, Brad Lander, who is echoing the same criticism others have levied, the drastic reduction in proposed housing units.

In 2009, Related Companies agreed to provide 5,700 housing units in its Hudson Yards renovation proposal, but now that it has joined forces with Wynn for this casino project, that number of units has dropped to just 1,500, with 324 designated as affordable housing.

People Are Talking

The lowered number of housing units, coupled with what many perceive as a threat to the area’s iconic High Line, has roiled community activists. The High Line is a 1.45-mile stretch of old railway line that was transformed into a scenic urban walkway with unique views of the city. It has become a source of pride for the neighborhood, and many believe the Wynn project could disrupt it.

“The proposal to rezone Hudson Yards would undermine one of New York’s greatest urban transformation stories of recent years — and, even worse, dramatically decrease the amount of housing that was agreed upon there, amidst a grave housing affordability crisis,” said Lander, a progressive candidate who is running for mayor in June’s Democratic primary.

“I call on the developer to withdraw their current proposal and to work with the community on one that delivers more housing and access to open space, not less.”

Joining the Opposition

Friends of the High Line executive director Alan van Capelle, whose group has mounted a grassroots push against the Hudson Yards project, agreed with Lander.

“The High Line is a cherished public space for the community, and Related should abandon this flawed proposal that has generated overwhelming community opposition,” he said.

These are just the latest criticisms being levied at the project. Earlier this year, Manhattan Community Board 4 voted 39-0 against the project, with only one member abstaining.

“The last time we voted an outright denial was 1986, so it takes a lot for our community board on the West Side to say we don’t approve it at all,” said Joe Restuccia, who co-chairs Community Board 4’s housing committee.

Representatives from neither Wynn nor Related have commented on the objections.