The newest entrant to the downstate New York casino bidding party recently published renderings of its proposed mixed-use luxury development on Manhattan’s West Side.
The Avenir is a 1.8 million-square-foot project from Silverstein Properties and Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment that will feature a casino, a hotel, residential units, retail, dining and entertainment space on 92,000 square feet of undeveloped land in Hell’s Kitchen.
The bid from Silverstein and Greenwood represents the 11th, and last, submitted to NY gaming regulators for review. The state will award three class III casino licenses for gambling facilities to operate somewhere in the five boroughs, Long Island or Westchester County.
Silverstein Properties is best known for its contributions to the post-9/11 redevelopment of Lower Manhattan and the World Trade Center, as well as efforts in Hell’s Kitchen. Greenwood owns and operates two Parx casinos in Pennsylvania, including the Philadelphia area’s highest-grossing property.
What we know about The Avenir so far
According to a press release, the Avenir will consist of two 46-story towers connected by a public sky bridge on the 45th floor. A 1,000-seat performance theater will also sit on the 45th floor.
An eight-story, 400,000-square-foot casino, entertainment and dining complex will rest at the base of The Avenir. Meanwhile, over 1,000 hotel rooms and 100 affordable housing units will make up the towers.
Steelman Partners and CetraRuddy will design The Avenir. Las Vegas-based Steelman has contributed to multiple casino projects in the US and Asia. The company’s founder, Paul Steelman, was born in Atlantic City and helped design the city’s first casino, Resorts International.
Who will state award NY casino licenses to?
The Avenir proposal joins NY casino licensing bids from a number of noteworthy gaming, real estate and renowned companies. The list includes:
- Bally’s
- Caesars
- MGM
- Hard Rock
- Wynn
- Mohegan
- Las Vegas Sands
- Genting, Saratoga/Chickasaw Nation
- Hudson’s Bay (Saks Fifth Avenue)
A number of factors play into the chances of earning a casino license. Ultimately, a three-member board will make recommendations to the New York State Gaming Commission, which will ultimately decide who is awarded licenses. An announcement is expected later this year.
