New York: Community Board Opposes Bally’s Bronx Casino Plan

As one of the likely bidders for a casino license in New York, Bally’s Corporation has joined the ongoing race together with nearly a dozen other interested parties. Considering that there are only three casino licenses, each bidder hopes to win one.

Bally’s proposal for a new hotel and casino resort development is in the Bronx area. However, the project recently faced strong opposition from members of the local community and a rejection during a Community Board meeting.

Bally’s Ferry Point Project Faces Rejection from Bronx Community Board

The proposal of Bally’s calls for redevelopment of the land adjacent to the former Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point. The project is expected to create thousands of permanent and temporary jobs while generating economic stimulus and hundreds of millions in tax revenue.

However, Bally’s plans hit a brick wall during a recent debate. On Thursday, the Bronx Community Board 10 voted on the proposal that seeks to revamp Feery Point Park with the delivery of a hotel and casino complex. An overwhelming majority of the Board members voted against the project considering the vote was 29 to 5, the Bronx Times reports.

Undoubtedly, the Board meeting was intense, considering the strong rejection of members of local communities who voiced their concerns and even interrupted the ongoing discussions. As tensions continued to grow, the meeting was eventually closed to the public with the rest of the discussions taking place only between the participants. Still, media outlets were permitted to hear the debate.

The meeting comes after earlier this month, Bally’s uncovered a new plan that proposed perks for Bronx residents. Per the plan, the company confirmed it may sell up to 10% of the stake in its casino, granting local residents a chance to invest in the property. In addition, the company said it would dedicate a minimum of 1% of its annual gross revenue, a figure that represents up to $10 million per year that would benefit community programs in the Bronx area.

The Company Remains Committed to the Project, Despite the Recent Hiccup

While Bally’s outlined the benefits of the project, attendees at the recent Community Board meeting voiced a number of concerns. Notably, some local residents feared the impact of the casino resort on traffic and crime. Aside from fearing higher crime rates and traffic congestion, some opponents of the casino project said it would result in the destruction of valuable parkland.

It’s worth noting that Community Board 10’s decision is by no means final as it is only advisory. Still, it marks the first step in the ULURP process that Bally’s needs to go through for the zoning changes it requires for the land of the project. The next step in that process would be a review by the Bronx Borough president, Vanessa Gibson. Then, the bid would have to go through the Department of City Planning and City Council before seeking another approval from the mayor.

Despite the outcome of the Board’s vote, Soo Kim, Bally’s chairman, said the company’s “commitment to the Bronx remains unwavering.” Moreover, the executive added: “We appreciate having had the opportunity to participate in last night’s Community Board 10 meeting and remain grateful for the chance to be part of this important local process.”