Talks Break Down On Aqueduct Project
Talks between the governor’s office and the owners of the Resorts World New York casino regarding the proposed creation of the nation’s largest convention center at the Aqueduct Racetrack site in South Ozone Park have reportedly broken down.
In an interview on former Gov. David Paterson’s WOR radio program last Friday, June 1, Gov. Andrew Cuomo stated that “the conversations haven’t really worked out” with Genting Americas, the parent company of Resorts World New York, about the project the governor originally pitched in his January State of the State Address.
The Associated Press reported last Friday that Cuomo is now in talks with other developers about creating the convention center at the Aqueduct site, which he envisions as the replacement for the Jacob Javits Convention Center and the largest of its kind in the United States.
Estimated to cost $4 billion, Cuomo stated in his Jan. 4 address that the “joint venture” between the state and Genting Americas would generate “tens of thousands of dollars and economic activity that would ripple throughout the state.” He noted that the project would be fully funded by the gaming outfit which opened Resorts World at Aqueduct last October.
The day after his speech, Genting Americas sent out a fact sheet to the Times Newsweekly outlining its plans for the “New York International Convention and Exposition Center” (NICE), which included renderings of what the project would look like.
The original plan called for the creation of a 2.6 million sq. ft. convention space and a 1,000-room hotel to be opened “at the earliest” by November 2014. It was speculated that the project would be developed on a large plot of land adjacent to Aqueduct Racetrack which is currently leased by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as parking space.
Since talks with Genting Americas have fallen through, Cuomo told Paterson that he is reaching out to developers on a “mega-development” to build a convention center along with a casino, provided that a proposed state constitutional amendment permitting table games such as roulette and blackjack at casinos in New York State is ratified.
In order to be ratified, the amendment- which was already approved by the Assembly and State Senate earlier this year-must once again be approved by both houses of the state legislature in the next session, then by voters through a ballot referendum.
State Sen. Joseph Addabbo, whose legislative district includes Aqueduct Racetrack, issued a statement on Tuesday, June 5, vowing to continue to work both with the governor and Resorts World on creating new economic opportunities for the area.
“Knowing that we are at the very early stages of realizing the actuality of building a convention center, or even full gaming in New York, I am still optimistic that in the end we will make every effort to maximize the potential at Resorts World,” he said. “It should not be overlooked that the Resorts World site has been the generator of millions of dollars in revenue to the city and state, while contributing over $100 million to our educational system. The site has been the provider of thousands of jobs. Our state government would be irra- tional to not explore the possibility of thousands of more job opportunities and extensive revenue to be created there.”
Plans for the proposed convention center at the Aqueduct site also sparked renewed debate over the revitalization of the long-abandoned Rockaway Beach branch of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). In its fact sheet, Genting outlined a goal of working with the state and the MTA “to help fund and introduce uninterrupted subway service between Midtown Manhattan” and the convention center site, though there were no specifics indicated.
With the Resorts World New York casino doing brisk business and further development under consideration, local elected officials in southern Queens announced their support of developing a new train line on the former Rockaway Beach branch, which was taken out of service in 1962.
Part of the line carries the A train between Rockaway Boulevard and points in the Rockaways. A longer stretch between Rego Park and Ozone Park was left abandoned and is now covered in overgrowth.
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder recently announced his favor of rehabilitating and reintroducing train service to the full length of the Rockaway Beach branch as a way to cut the travel time between Manhattan and southern Queens to 40 minutes or less. City Council Member Karen Koslowitz and other advocates in Forest Hills, however, have spoken against reusing the line for public transit since it abuts many homes in the neighborhood which may experience quality-of-life problems.
Goldfeder sought to defend his stance in an op-ed column sent to the Times Newsweekly, which can be found on Page 4 of this issue.
Following the governor’s announcement about the collapse of the convention center negotiations, the assemblyman stated that he remained supportive of the Rockaway Beach line’s revitalization nonetheless.
“The governor’s announcement that plans for the convention center are not moving forward will not slow down our momentum,” Goldfeder said in an e-mail sent on Monday, June 4. “This rail line will be an economic engine for the entire borough of Queens and it must be a priority.”
