Developer Promises Affordable Housing if Granted N.Y.C. Casino License
Developer Promises Affordable Housing if Granted N.Y.C. Casino License The New York Times
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Developer Proposes Affordable Housing in Exchange for Casino Approval
Introduction
More than 510 apartments would be permanently offered below market-rate rent — but only if the developer, the Soloviev Group, wins the right to build a casino on a site near the U.N.
Background
A developer vying to build a casino near the United Nations in Manhattan has tried to sway skeptics with a Ferris wheel, a museum, and a glowing field of lights on the 6.7-acre site. Now Soloviev Group, the longtime owner of the lot, is trying a different tack: the inclusion of 1,325 apartments, nearly 40 percent of which would be offered permanently below market-rate rent, according to the firm. It would represent the largest number of such apartments to be built in the neighborhood in at least a decade. But it’s a package deal: no casino, no affordable housing.
“We’re not required to do it,” said Michael Hershman, the firm’s chief executive, referring to plans approved by the city several years ago that would allow the developer to build mixed-use towers on the site without affordable housing. But the addition of a casino, which requires the support of local politicians and community members, would make the lower-cost housing “economically viable,” he said.
That is the challenge for a growing number of developers competing for three state gambling licenses in and around New York City. Casino projects have met a frosty reception citywide, but the Soloviev Group plan, called Freedom Plaza, is tying the proposal to two of the local community’s greatest needs: housing and green space.
Affordable Housing Proposal
The new proposal includes two residential towers that share a podium, the taller of which would rise about 600 feet and include 513 income-restricted units ranging from studio to three-bedroom apartments. Prices have not been determined, but the units would be offered to renters making an average of 80 percent of the area median income, or less than $102,000 for a family of three. The rest of the apartments would be a mix of market-rate rentals and condos. If the company is granted a gambling license and zoning approval is prompt, construction could begin in 2025, Mr. Hershman said.
Community Response
Many in the neighborhood have been left unconvinced by the previous proposals from the Soloviev Group. Manhattan’s Community Board 6, which includes the site, voted last year to reject any plans that would include a casino, because of concerns about traffic and general skepticism about its benefits. But the latest iteration could sway some members, said Reshma Patel, the chair of the board’s budget and governmental affairs committee.
“I can’t speak for everybody, but there will be people now who will reconsider,” she said, although she still opposes the plan. “Why can’t we do all these things without a casino?”
Project Details
The project, on a long vacant stretch of First Avenue between East 38th and East 41st Streets, would create more affordable housing than has been built in Midtown East from 2010 to 2020 — just 356 apartments, according to the New York University Furman Center. The plans also include a 1,200-room, champagne-colored hotel with a sky bridge; new retail and dining establishments on the street level; a museum dedicated to democracy, with slabs of the Berlin Wall on display; and 4.7 acres of waterfront green space that would be open to the public. The firm canceled plans for a huge Ferris wheel after residents balked.
The casino, expected to be built mostly below street level, with about 1,500 parking spaces for residents, visitors, and hotel guests, is comparatively discreet. The developer is working with Mohegan, the casino and resort operator that is an extension of the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut. Bjarke Ingels Group, the star architecture firm, is designing the project.
“Without a doubt, we’d have to reimagine the project as a whole” if the casino license is not granted, said Mr. Ingels, the founder of the architecture firm — because of both the casino’s location on the site and its financial benefits to the development.
Other Casino Bids
At least 11 bids for a downstate New York casino license are expected to be submitted to the state, including proposals in Times Square and Hudson Yards in Manhattan, near Citi Field in Queens and at the soon-to-be renamed Trump Links golf course in the Bronx. Nearly all of the proposals have emphasized economic benefits while downplaying gambling.
No decision on where casinos might be approved is expected for several months, if not longer, while the New York State Gaming Commission responds to questions from developers.
As part of its campaign to gather support, Soloviev Group has commissioned a light installation on its sprawling site, created by Bruce Munro, with over 17,000 fiber optic stems that change color. (The opening has been pushed to December because of permitting, Mr. Hershman said.)
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 1: No Poverty
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The article discusses the inclusion of affordable housing in a casino development project, which addresses SDG 1 (No Poverty) by providing below market-rate rent apartments. The project also emphasizes the need for housing and green space, connecting to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Additionally, the project requires partnerships with local politicians and community members, aligning with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The mention of a light installation on the site suggests a focus on clean energy, linking to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- SDG 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership, and control over land and other forms of property.
- SDG 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
- SDG 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
- SDG 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
The article’s content aligns with SDG targets related to providing equal access to economic resources and affordable housing (SDG 1.4 and SDG 11.1). The mention of a light installation suggests a focus on renewable energy (SDG 7.2). The project’s requirement for partnerships with local politicians and community members supports SDG 17.17.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Number of apartments offered below market-rate rent
- Percentage of affordable housing units in the neighborhood
- Share of renewable energy sources used in the project
- Level of support from local politicians and community members
The article mentions that the developer plans to offer nearly 40% of the 1,325 apartments at below market-rate rent, indicating a measurable indicator for progress towards the target of providing affordable housing. The article also highlights that the project would create more affordable housing than has been built in the neighborhood in at least a decade, suggesting a potential indicator to measure the increase in the percentage of affordable housing units. The mention of a light installation on the site implies a focus on renewable energy, which could be measured by tracking the share of renewable energy sources used in the project. Lastly, the level of support from local politicians and community members can be measured through surveys or public consultations.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 1: No Poverty | 1.4: By 2030, ensure that all men and women, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, have equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to basic services, ownership, and control over land and other forms of property. | – Number of apartments offered below market-rate rent |
| SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy | 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. | – Share of renewable energy sources used in the project |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. | – Percentage of affordable housing units in the neighborhood |
| SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. | – Level of support from local politicians and community members |
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Source: nytimes.com
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