The Coney Suffers Setback as Community Board Votes Against Land-Use Application

Posted on: January 23, 2025, 08:09h. 

Last updated on: January 23, 2025, 10:02h.

The Coney, a proposed $3 billion casino resort development targeting Brooklyn’s famed seaside community, has suffered another setback from the New York City advisory board representing the area.

The Coney casino Community Board 13
Brooklyn community members attend the Community Board 13’s meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, where a vote on a land-use application for a casino resort in Coney Island was held. Proponent and opponents voiced their opinions on whether the $3 billion economic development should be allowed to proceed. (Image: The Coney)

On Wednesday evening, the full Brooklyn Community Board 13 voted against the project’s land-use application that the developers say would bring a much-needed economic revitalization to the downtrodden Brooklyn neighborhood that decades ago was where Manhattanites escaped during the warmer months. The Coney has promised thousands of good-paying union careers, tens of millions in new local tax dollars annually, and to prop up neighboring businesses by allowing casino rewards members to use their points outside the resort and offer special space inside the property for restauranteurs and retailers.

The resort’s consortium — Thor Equities, Saratoga Casino Holdings, the Chickasaw Nation, and Legends Hospitality — have additionally pledged a $200 community trust that would provide grants for local organizations. The backers also said they would work to improve traffic and infrastructure in the area and open a rooftop public park accessible without needing to enter the casino.

Community officials said Wednesday night they don’t want it. The vote came in at 24-11, with eight abstaining without explanation.

Though the vote was specifically on the project’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), a standardized part of city planning when projects affect the use of city land, the majority vote could hint that a vote on the casino itself will be a similar outcome. Thor Equities owns the five acres of land at Surf and Stillwell Avenues.

Board Votes No 

New York City Community Boards consist of unsalaried members appointed by borough presidents in consultation with borough councilors and local leaders. CBs make recommendations to the city council about zoning and land-use matters.

CBs are advisory only, meaning their vote has no legal bearing. They are most often credited with stopping controversial projects that may have the support of elected officials but are unpopular with the public.

Wednesday night’s vote was a setback for what the developers say would lift up Coney Island, but it wasn’t a defeat. The team told Casino.org that they continue to field new community support.

We are thankful for the more than 10,000 community members who have signed our petition in support, the thousands of neighbors, business owners, and local organizations who have had productive discussions with us over the past years, the hundreds of people who showed up to support our project at tonight’s meeting, and the 11 board members who voted to approve our ULURP application in a divided advisory decision,” said a spokesperson with The Coney.

“While we look forward to continued discussions with stakeholders about the importance of this application in the coming months, we want to be perfectly clear that our ability to move forward in the casino application process is not impacted by whatever ultimate view of this advisory board is made regarding our ability to build sky bridges and enhance the surrounding streets to make them more pedestrian-friendly and flood resistant. It is disappointing that some prominent members of the community have misled others into thinking this ULURP process is a defacto vote on whether or not this project can move forward. As the outright owners of the fully developable lots, The Coney remains the bid most poised to put shovels in the ground on day one to kick start what will be an economic revival for Coney Island and Southern Brooklyn,” the statement continued.

Along with Coney Island, Brooklyn Community Board 13 represents Brighton Beach, Gravesend, and Sea Gate.

Communities Opposing Casinos

There are three downstate casino licenses up for grabs, with each costing a one-time fee of $500 million. The gaming concessions providing Las Vegas-like slot machines, table games, and sports betting are considered the greatest market opportunities in the US gaming industry in decades.

New York lawmakers authorized the commercial casinos to bring new jobs and tourists to the NYC metro area, as well as conventions. The gaming and business taxes are expected to considerably benefit Albany with a major new tax stream.

Local communities, however, haven’t seemed overly eager to welcome one of the undertakings to their backyards. Earlier this month, the Manhattan Community Board on Manhattan’s wealthy West Side voted against a $12 billion overhaul of Hudson Yards West that would include a Wynn Resorts development.