Local leaders have now rejected all three casino proposals for Manhattan
Manhattan’s hopes of landing a casino project have taken another blow after the proposed Freedom Plaza development was rejected this week. The $11 billion plan, led by the Soloviev Group with Mohegan as the designated casino operator, aimed to transform six acres near the United Nations headquarters into a multi-purpose resort featuring a casino, residential housing, green space, and community facilities.
Yesterday, the Community Advisory Committee overseeing the proposal voted 4-2 against the project. Support came from representatives appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, but local district lawmakers on the panel delivered the deciding no votes. Their decision effectively ends the Freedom Plaza bid, cutting short what developers had pitched as a transformative project for Midtown East.
The setback comes on the heels of two other high-profile Manhattan casino rejections last week. Caesars Entertainment, along with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and SL Green Realty, had hoped to build a Caesars Palace in Times Square, while another consortium backed a Hudson Yards casino project. Both plans were turned down by their respective advisory committees after facing vocal community pushback.
For Freedom Plaza, opponents raised concerns during public hearings about increased traffic congestion, pressure on local infrastructure, and public safety risks in an already crowded area. While developers argued the project would bring economic growth and thousands of jobs, those promises were not enough to sway decision-makers.
Michael Hershman, CEO of the Soloviev Group, expressed disappointment, emphasizing Manhattan’s global status as a hub for business and tourism and calling it the most suitable location for a world-class casino resort. Mohegan CEO Ray Pineault also criticized the process, saying it overlooked the housing opportunities and broader economic benefits the project could have delivered.
With three rejections in Manhattan, attention now shifts to other bids across New York City and its surrounding boroughs, where competition for the state’s limited downstate casino licenses remains intense.
