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Manhattan is officially out of the running for a downstate New York casino license. The Freedom Plaza project was voted down Monday by its Community Advisory Committee (CAC), just days after similar defeats for the Times Square proposal and The Avenir at Hudson Yards.
Good to know
- Every casino proposal must secure four out of six CAC votes to move forward.
- Freedom Plaza received only two votes in favor, both from Gov. Hochul’s and Mayor Adams’ appointees.
- With three rejections, only five casino bids remain under review statewide.
The CAC for the Freedom Plaza site convened Monday morning in a session that ended with a 4–2 vote against the project. Nichols Silbersack, representing Governor Kathy Hochul, and Jennifer Sta. Ines, appointed by Mayor Eric Adams, were the only two members who voted in favor.
Sandra McKee, Chair of the Freedom Plaza CAC, explained:
“It’s been a very robust review of all the work that’s been done by the community and the applicants. The question of if to advance the Gaming Facility Location Board has been reviewed. Two positive votes mean the application has been disapproved.”
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Shortly after the decision, a coalition of Manhattan elected officials released a statement backing the CAC’s rejection. They noted that over three months of hearings had brought thousands of comments from residents, workers, and business owners concerned about congestion, safety, and the neighborhood’s quality of life.
The officials praised the process as “inclusive, transparent, and collaborative,” emphasizing that community voices had been central to the outcome.
With Freedom Plaza, Times Square, and The Avenir now out, only five bids are left in the high-stakes competition for a limited number of downstate licenses. MGM Empire City in Yonkers and Resorts World NYC in Queens will have their CAC votes later this week.
Meanwhile, Mets owner Steve Cohen’s bid near Citi Field has already secured CAC approval and now moves forward to the Gaming Facility Location Board for final review.
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Bally’s Bronx project is still in contention but must address a series of requested amendments before its own vote later this month.
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