Steve Cohen's Queens Casino Bid Unanimously Approved By Committee
The owner of the New York Mets could finally score a win — even if it’s not on the baseball field.
Steve Cohen’s bid for one of New York’s three downstate casino licenses was approved Tuesday morning by all six members of the community advisory committee.
Under the proposed $8B investment, a partnership between Cohen and Hard Rock International would convert a 50-acre Citi Field parking lot into a casino complex.
“This is truly a historic moment for the World’s Borough,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said at the vote. “I think we can consider this a home run for the World’s Borough. Queens, get the money.”
The proposal was the final to face a committee vote and is now one of four still in the running for a license.
Cohen and Hard Rock's bid is now headed to New York's Gaming Facility Location Board, which is due to award the licenses by the end of this year.
The victory for the Mets owner comes after a slew of proposals were rejected by committees in Manhattan and Brooklyn, including SL Green’s Times Square bid, Silverstein Properties’ proposal across from the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Soloviev Group’s proposed complex close to the U.N. Plaza, and Thor’s Coney Island bid.
The Flushing Meadows Corona Park complex is up against bids from MGM Resorts in Yonkers, Genting Group's Queens proposal next to the Aqueduct horse racing track, and Bally’s bid in the Bronx.
Cohen and Hard Rock’s casino complex would come with 25 acres of green space, a 5,650-person live music venue and conference space in Queens.
Hard Rock would have a hotel in the complex, while Mario Carbone and Major Food Group would be among the names in the area’s bar and restaurant space.
It would also feature a 450-unit, 100% affordable housing project on a parking lot at 54-19 100th St. in partnership with Slate Property Group, and the team has signed a community benefits agreement for more than $1B.
Cohen’s team has said the proposal would create more than 23,000 union jobs between construction and permanent workers and would generate $33.5B in tax revenue.
The casino bid initially received opposition from state Sen. Jessica Ramos, whose district includes the area. But in April, state Sen. John Liu took it upon himself to introduce the bill that Ramos refused to, allowing for the land, which is technically parkland, to be approved for nonpark use. That bill passed in May, clearing the path for Cohen’s bid ahead of the June deadline.
