NY Metropolitan Park Casino Secures City Planning Commission Approval

Pursing one out of a total of three New York casino licenses, Steve Cohen, the billionaire, entrepreneur and New York Mets owner, joined forces with Hard Rock Entertainment.

Their casino bid, a large entertainment and gaming complex, proposes redevelopment of land currently used for a parking lot located west of Citi Field in Flushing. Only recently, the proposal, called Metropolitan Park, picked up speed after securing an important approval.

City Planning Commission Favors Zoning Text, City Map Amendments for Citi Field Casino Project

The price tag of the proposed project is mind-blowing $8 billion. The bidders seek to use 50-acre land currently used as a parking lot near Citi Field. This land would be transformed into a large-scale gaming and entertainment complex.

The development would feature a range of retail and dining outlets, a public park and will also improve the infrastructure of the area, improving the nearby subway station. Not unexpectedly, a casino would be the project’s major attraction, offering gambling options such as slots and table games.

However, to start the project, Cohen and Hard Rock must go through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), a process that requires zoning and land-use approvals. Now, according to QNS, the New York City Planning Commission recently supported proposed city map amendments and zoning text for the project.

The approval came during a Wednesday meeting that saw the Commission overwhelmingly support the proposed Metropolitan Park casino project. The amendments received approval from nine members of the Commission, while one voted against it and one abstained.

The Proposed Project Seeks Further Approvals

Dan Garodnick, the Commission’s chair, explained that the approval received earlier this week doesn’t greenlight the whole project. Instead, he explained that this specific approval gives green light for the “land use actions,” requiring the asphalt parking lot to be used for the development.

The next stop of the proposed zoning amendments is the City Council, as well as the Mayor’s office. The project is also contingent on the bidder securing a casino license as they have previously confirmed that the entertainment complex would not go ahead without it.

“We look forward to presenting our community-first vision to Council Member Moya and the City Council,” Rickett said in a statement.“

Karl Rickett, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Park casino project

Karl Rickett, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Park casino project, acknowledged the importance of the recent approval. He explained that this key process gets the project “one step closer to becoming reality.” Moreover, Rickett said: “This vote reflects the overwhelming community support and input Steve Cohen and Hard Rock have collected over the past three years.”

Close to a dozen bidders have already joined the 2025 New York casino license race. Other interested companies include MGM Resorts, Wynn Entertainment, Caesars Entertainment and other hospitality and gaming giants.