Panel Rejects Last Manhattan Casino Bid

A state‑commissioned Community Advisory Committee voted 4–2 on Monday to reject the $11 billion Freedom Plaza casino proposal near the United Nations, effectively ending Manhattan’s last bid for a full‑scale casino. The Soloviev Group and Mohegan had proposed towers with hotels, more than 1,000 residences (the developers later pledged the units would be permanently affordable), a five‑acre park, a museum and thousands of union jobs, but the plan faced intense community opposition over congestion, public safety and quality of life. This is the third Manhattan bid to be turned down after proposals for Times Square and the West Side/Avenir site, ensuring no casino will be built in the borough in the near term. With Manhattan out, five other proposals in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Yonkers remain in contention for up to three downstate licenses expected to be awarded later this year, including bids tied to Hard Rock/Steve Cohen near Citi Field and Bally’s in the Bronx. Only the governor’s and mayor’s appointees on the panel voted in favor.