The Bronx gets to roll the dice \u2014 at least for a while longer.<\/p>\n
Bally\u2019s won approval from a state siting board Monday to move into the next round with its bid for one of three gaming licenses to open a casino at the golf property <\/a>formerly operated by President Trump\u2019s firm at Ferry Point in The Bronx.<\/p>\n The community advisory group voted 5-to-1 in favor of advancing the proposal, with the appointee of Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato the lone dissenter.<\/p>\n Illustration of the Bally\u2019s casino proposed on a city-owned golf course, in The Bronx. AP<\/p>\n The bid now goes to the state gaming gaming facility location board for further review.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, another bid for a casino in Coney Island was soundly rejected by a separate community advisory committee. Four of the six members voted against it.<\/p>\n Representatives appointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, Borough President Vanessa Gibson, state Sen. Nathalia Fernandez and Assembly Michael Benedetto voted \u201caye\u201d on Bally\u2019s proposal this morning.<\/p>\n Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Bally\u2019s Chairman Soo Kim, and NYC Mayor Eric Adams cutting the ribbon at Bally\u2019s Golf Link. Brigitte Stelzer<\/p>\n \u201cThe potential of his project is significant,\u201d said Lisa Sorin, the rep for BP Gibson, who also is president of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n Alex Perco, the rep for Fernandez said, \u201cWe can build an economic engine that puts The Bronx in control of its own future.\u201d<\/p>\n But Danielle Volpe, the rep for Marmorato, noted that Community Board 10 voted against the proposed casino and cited intense neighborhood opposition as reasons to reject it.<\/p>\n Illustration of Bally\u2019s proposed casino in the Bronx with a large glass building and a smaller building with green plant features. Ballysbronx.com<\/p>\n \u201cThe residents most directly affected don\u2019t want this casino,\u201d Volpe said.<\/p>\n The City Council in July voted against <\/a>zoning changes to advance the Bally\u2019s casino plan, but Mayor Eric Adams vetoed the <\/a>action. The Council did not override the veto.<\/p>\n Volpe also objected to redesignating city parkland for a casino, without making up for the loss in green space.<\/p>\n \u201cThe residents most directly affected don\u2019t want this casino,\u201d Volpe said. REUTERS<\/p>\n Bally\u2019s acquired the lease for the Trumps Link golf course in 2023 \u2014 now called Bally\u2019s Golf Links at Ferry Point. The Trump Organization would more quickly get a $115 million payout from Bally\u2019s that it is owed for the property, which has rankled some anti-Trumpers.<\/p>\n The firm hopes to build a 500,000-square-foot casino on the Bronx site by its golf course along with a 500-room hotel with a spa and meeting space, retail shops, a 2,000-seat event center and two parking garages with capacity for up to 4,660 vehicles.<\/p>\n Illustration of the Bally\u2019s casino proposed on a city-owned golf course in The Bronx. AP<\/p>\n Mets owner Steven Cohen and Hard Rock\u2019s proposal to build a casino complex next to Citi Field will be voted on by its siting board Tuesday. The bid is expected to clear the committee.<\/p>\n The state Gaming Commission will make the final decision on awarding up to three casino licenses by year\u2019s end.<\/p>\n