Overview

• The Community Advisory Committee voted 4–2 against the $11 billion Freedom Plaza proposal from Soloviev Group and Mohegan Sun near the United Nations, stopping it from advancing.
• With the decision, no Manhattan casino bids are moving forward, leaving five contenders in the outer boroughs and Yonkers.
• CAC approval is required before state review, with all local committees set to vote by Sept. 30 ahead of licensing decisions later this year.
• Developers had revised the East Side plan with expanded affordable housing and public amenities including a park and museum, but the changes did not sway the panel.
• Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and other local officials backed the rejection, pointing to community concerns about traffic, public safety and quality of life.