Coney Island Community Board Land Use Committee Opposes $3B Casino

Posted on: January 16, 2025, 09:11h. 

Last updated on: January 16, 2025, 10:03h.

The full Brooklyn community board that includes Coney Island where developers want to build a $3 billion casino resort will soon weigh in on the controversial project. A committee has already voted 7-2 in opposition.

Coney Island casino Community Board
The Brooklyn Community Board 13 Land Use Committee votes on The Coney, a proposed $3 billion development in Coney Island. The full Community Board will vote on whether to support the undertaking on January 22. (Image: Casino.org)

Brooklyn’s Community Board 13 represents the neighborhoods of Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Gravesend, and Sea Gate. The advisory, like all 59 boards, makes recommendations to government officials regarding land-use and zoning matters.

Community boards are public bodies acting in advisory capacities only, meaning their opinions carry no official weight. However, the city councilors who field the community board recommendations often align their positions with the CB’s advice.

CB13’s Land Use Committee considered the casino proposal, The Coney, during its Wednesday night meeting. The committee voted 7-2, with one abstention, against recommending that the full Community Board embrace the Las Vegas-like casino venture on five acres of land at Surf and Stillwell avenues in the heart of the seaside town’s amusement district.

In a statement to Casino.org, The Coney development team said it remains “encouraged by the increasing number of community members and stakeholders who are supportive of the historic investment The Coney is prepared to make into the Coney Island community.”

It remains clear that the more people hear about our project, the more support it generates as evident by the divided initial advisory vote,” the release continued.

CB13 will reach its final recommendation to its city council representatives when the full general board votes on The Coney next Wednesday, January 22.

Opposition Despite Pledged Benefits

The Chickasaw Nation’s Global Gaming Solutions, upstate New York’s Saratoga Casino Holdings, Legends Hospitality Group, a joint venture between the New York Yankees and Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys, and global real estate firm Thor Equities are behind The Coney.

The development group seeks to revitalize Coney Island with a casino and entertainment destination that they say would create a year-round economy, thousands of union jobs that pay living wages, and lift the region as a whole via new infrastructure and other community benefits. The Coney team has pledged a $200 million community trust should it win one of the three downstate New York gaming licenses.

A $3 billion development, $200 million community trust fund, more than 4,500 good-paying union construction jobs, 4,000 full-time good paying operational union jobs, and the creation of a whole new slate of entertainment and dining options will revitalize Coney Island and turn it into the premiere year-round destination it deserves to be,” The Coney developers added. “As part of this ongoing process, we continue to receive helpful and constructive feedback that gets incorporated into our RFA and we look forward to continued discussions with the community.”

Coney Island could certainly use such a comeback. It’s been many decades since Manhattanites flocked to the Brooklyn seaside town in the summer months to frolic on the beaches and Boardwalk.

In the latest Commercial District Needs Assessment for Coney Island, a study carried out by the NYC Department of Small Business Services, the report said ongoing challenges include perceptions of poor safety, that Coney Island remains primarily a seasonal attraction where visitor numbers fluctuate greatly, and a high proportion of storefronts remain vacant.

Despite The Coney’s promised perks, it doesn’t appear likely that CB13 will vote to bring slot machines and table games to the neighborhood best known for a hot dog eating contest and amusement rides. In its 2025 District Needs newsletter, CB13 officials referenced previous opposition to the casino.

“The community came together for a community participation meeting in March and April 2023. At both meetings, the community residents were against the casino project. During the summer, the lobbyists reached out to local basketball clinics and sponsored many tournaments for the youth. At the time of this report, we do not know if Coney Island will be chosen as one of the locations and licensee in the metropolitan area,” the document read.

Earlier this month, Manhattan’s Community Board 4 voted against Related Cos. and Wynn Resorts’ $12 billion plan for Hudson Yards West.

Bidding Path 

Bids for the three downstate casino concessions are due to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board by July 27, 2025. Projects only qualify for consideration by securing all entitlement processes, including land-use/zoning, and undergoing a State Environmental Quality Review.

Bids determined to qualify will then be appointed to a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) of five to six members. The CAC must field two-thirds support to finalize the bid. CAC votes are required by Sept. 30, 2025.

The Gaming Facility Location Board will then review the finalists and pick the winners, which is scheduled for before Dec. 1, 2025.