Seventeen trade unions have come out in support of the casino building project planned for Times Square. This comes after weeks when a theatrical union opposed it.
Trade unions are supporting a casino build in what has become a common trend for downstate bids. This will create jobs. Trade unions from Queens announced earlier this year that they were all in for a new casino near CitiField.
Eleven bids were submitted for the three casino licenses in downstate New York. These licences are expected to be awarded by 2025.
Caesars Entertainment, SL Green & Roc Nation are collaborating to redevelop a 1515 Broadway office building in New York City. This location is right in the middle of Times Square. At least half a dozen theaters are within a few blocks.
Ed Pinnich is the chief operating officer of SL Green. He told amNY on Monday, “I think that our reputation stands for itself.” With Caesars Palace being our partner, the proposal will be that much more attractive to the nearby hotels, restaurants, and bars.
Support for developers and landlords
Pinnich stated that construction of the Times Square Casino would create 6,500 jobs. This proposal would include 250,000 square foot of gaming area, a hotel tower with 950 rooms and restaurant space. The current building houses the theater that hosts the “Lion King”, which will be included in the project.
Unions representing cement masons and steamfitters as well as building materials workers have all thrown their support to the project. One theatre union, as well as the Broadway League and other neighbourhood groups are still opposed to the Caesars-Roc Nation Project. One Times Square, the SoHo Group and other important real estate developers and landlords are supportive.
AmNY reports that the unions wrote to three Manhattan Borough leaders on Monday, 12 August.
They wrote: “Both SL Green, and Caesars, have a long history of working in collaboration with organized labour.” Their proposed venture in Times Square won’t be any different. The Mason Tenders Locals 79 78 66 108 1261, Freelancers Union, and NYC District of Carpenters have all signed agreements of support.
The Times Square project does not require any rezoning, unlike projects proposed in Queens and the Bronx. All projects require some form of local approval prior to the New York State Gaming Commission considering them.
The idea to accelerate timelines slows down
The politicians hoped to have the bidding window open as soon as possible, perhaps even as recently as last month. In May, Senator Joe Addabbo filed legislation with Assemblyman Gary Pretlow to open the bidding window in this summer. These bills failed to gain traction, and Kathy Hochul is reported not to have given her support. The bills’ deadline was extended until the end of august. The timing is no longer right with only two weeks remaining in August.
Bills would have forced bidders to submit their offers earlier than originally planned. The bills did not change the timetable for awarding licenses. The New York Gaming Facility Licensing Board must receive applications by the 27th of June 2025. By 1 December 2020, the gaming commission plans to issue licences and award them before 31 December 2020.
