The race for the three new casino licences due to be awarded later this year in New York State, US, is tighter than ever as the bid from Wynn Resorts and Related Companies suffered a major blow from a key community board.
Community Board 4 (CB4) voted unanimously against a zoning change required for an ambitious US$12bn casino complex proposed for Manhattan’s Hudson Yards, which would have included an 80-storey tower, a 5.6-acre park a new public school and housing units. The vote was potentially fatal to the proposal.
The plans caused controversy when they were announced last year after it became clear that the tower would have partially obstructed the sun on the city’s elevated public park The High Line.
The New York Post reported that Joshua David, co-founder of The High Line and former member of CB4, testified that the project “reeks of greed and disregard for the community.”
“A carefully planned mixed-use neighbourhood is wiped out for a garish Las Vegas-style monstrosity that has no place on Manhattan’s West Side,” he reportedly said.
“If we wanted to live in Las Vegas, we would live in Las Vegas.”