By Robert Hornak
If Mets owner Steve Cohen gets his way, he will present a vast new development project to Queens for Christmas. Among the many proposals vying for one of the three new gaming licenses being issued by the state, Cohen has partnered with Hard Rock Entertainment to develop the property at Willets Point, an area that previously was a dilapidated area just east of Citi Field that for decades was home mostly to auto junkyards.
Discussions for redevelopment have been ongoing since the Bloomberg administration and have included plans for a mall with a movie theater, hotel, housing, and local infrastructure. The plan for Willets Point has changed numerous times in recent years, with support ebbing and flowing depending on the specifics of the plan. In 2022 a soccer stadium was approved for a portion of Willets Point, where it borders on Flushing Meadows Park.
While there are a few proposals being pushed for the area, the Cohen plan seems to offer a lot to Queens. Manhattan has typically been the location of choice for large development projects like this, but as NYC struggles to become less Manhattan-centric, proposals like this spread the wealth around, and the jobs that this project will bring.
And in an attempt to win over naysayers, Cohen has sweetened the project, now called Metropolitan Park, taking 50 acres of land covered in asphalt being used only as parking and turning it into a massive entertainment complex with 20 acres dedicated to parkland, 5 acres for athletic fields and playgrounds, a food hall, music and entertainment venues, and a Hard Rock casino and hotel.
There would also be much needed improvements to mass transit and local road and highway infrastructure to handle the expected increase in an already heavily traversed area known for rush hour traffic heading into neighboring and rapidly developing Flushing or when the Mets play. There would also be new connections to the waterfront, Flushing Meadows and Corona parks, and surrounding community
The $8 billion dollar plan would bring thousands of high-paying construction jobs and then thousands more permanent good-paying union jobs with benefits and would transform this north Queens area into a major entertainment destination instead of people driving through Queens into Manhattan to spend money there.
With plans for restaurants, bars, and conference space it would also be a location for businesses to use for meetings, conferences and events, driving additional revenue to the area. And this would add to Queens reputation as a choice for foodies in the competition between the boroughs for the best pizza, dumplings, and anything that people can rate and livestream about eating.
But, some say, gambling is a vice that doesn’t benefit anyone but the casino. And, yes, we know the odds favor the house. But operating casinos is a legitimate business that draws millions of people and their dollars who are just looking for entertainment. And they spend that money not just in the casino, but in the restaurants, shops, and other entertainment.
And the biggest benefit is that most of the jobs will be good-paying jobs and an opportunity for local residents to start a career in the hospitality industry without having to travel into Manhattan or elsewhere. Good jobs close to home are good for everyone, reducing commuting times, putting less stress on the environment and reducing traffic into Manhattan – which continues to tell drivers you’re not welcome. Not to mention that many people now find Manhattan a less attractive location for a night out due to the increase in migrant crime.
Ultimately, casinos are a fact of life. Right now, people looking for a destination that includes casino gambling go to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, tribal casinos, or the Caribbean. Bringing that money in NYC and increasing tax revenue while creating thousands of jobs that will be beneficial to the people in Queens, raising their standard of living, and for many opening a pathway to home ownership and financial independence, would be a good long term plan for Queens.
Robert Hornak is a professional political consultant who has previously served as the Deputy Director of the Republican Assembly Leader’s NYC office and as Executive Director of the Queens Republican Party. He can be reached at rahornak@gmail.com and @RobertHornak on X.
