"The Freedom Plaza development, which also called for hotels, retail, dining, entertainment and housing, was denied by a state-commissioned community advisory committee on a 4-2 vote Monday. Article continues below this ad Committee members, who were appointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams and other local politicians, cast their votes with barely any discussion, other than to thank the applicants for their time and responsiveness."
"In a last minute bid to gain local support, the developers announced over the weekend they would commit to making the more than 1,000 residential units proposed for the project permanently affordable. They had earlier proposed other community investments, such as a museum dedicated to democracy, a community center, a daycare and acres of public open space. Michael Hershman, CEO of the Soloviev Group that was the lead developer on the more than $11 billion project, said their vision would have "revitalized" Midtown East."
""Manhattan is the undisputed capital of the world, and it deserved a fully integrated resort that would have attracted visitors while serving the needs of its community," he said in a statement. Article continues below this ad Spokespersons for Mohegan Sun, the tribe-owned casino company based in Connecticut, didn't immediately respond to email seeking comment. The project, spanning more than six acres from 38th Street to 41st Street east of First Avenue, had been the last remaining proposal under consideration for Manhattan."
A state-commissioned community advisory committee voted 4-2 to deny the proposed Freedom Plaza mixed-use development and Mohegan Sun resort near the United Nations in Manhattan. The proposal would have included hotels, retail, dining, entertainment and more than 1,000 housing units. Developers later pledged to make those residential units permanently affordable and proposed community investments such as a museum, community center, daycare and public open space. The lead developer described the plan as revitalizing Midtown East. The project spanned more than six acres from 38th to 41st Street and was the last Manhattan proposal under consideration.
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