Plans for a $12 billion hotel and casino complex in Midtown Manhattan by Wynn Resorts and Related Companies hit a roadblock as Community Board 4, which oversees the Hudson Yards neighborhood, unanimously opposed the proposal on January 6. Although the board’s vote is only advisory, it signals strong local resistance to the project.
The proposed 80-story complex would house a hotel and casino in Hudson Yards, a bustling area known for its mixed-use development and attractions like The High Line, a park built on an old freight rail line. Community members argue that the project would disrupt the carefully planned character of the neighborhood.
Joshua David, a former Community Board 4 member, voiced his concerns during the meeting, saying, “A carefully planned mixed-use neighborhood is wiped out for a garish Las Vegas-style monstrosity that has no place on Manhattan’s West Side. If we wanted to live in Las Vegas, we would live in Las Vegas.”
One major criticism centers on the literal shadow the towering complex would cast over The High Line. Alan van Capelle, executive director of Friends of The High Line, welcomed the board’s decision, emphasizing the potential harm to the park. He noted that the proposed building could “do permanent damage to the High Line experience,” diminishing the appeal of one of Manhattan’s most popular outdoor spaces.
The board’s rejection is not a new development. Local resistance to the casino plan has been steady, with opposition from both community members and state lawmakers. Community Board 4 and Related Companies have a history of clashing, dating back to a 2009 plan to develop the site into a residential property, which never came to fruition.
Despite the strong opposition, the project remains part of a broader effort to bring up to three casinos to downstate New York. The final decision will involve navigating a complex approval process, including input from a Community Advisory Committee.
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