NEW YORK | 520 W. 41 St (2 Towers) | 723 FT Resi / FT Office| FLOORS

[chris08876]

Originally Posted by NYguy

Applications are finally in. But slow down if you think that means we're getting anywhere. There's still a shitload of meetings, meetings, and more meetings to be had.

The CACs are only just beginning.

That's unfortunate. You'd think with the City of Yes, this would skip a lot of that and expedite the whole process.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by chris08876

That's unfortunate. You'd think with the City of Yes, this would skip a lot of that and expedite the whole process.

It’s a state development. Hochul is running this. Which means the last few rounds of approvals were unnecessary. Too bad for the proposals that have already been killed off. But maybe that’s what she wanted, to trim the field. Real approvals begin now. I expect no less of a shitshow.

[mrnyc]

it's not a shitshow just because they are taking time.

if you want the state to move as quick as the city or private developers everything around penn would be knocked down by now.

so yeah let them take longer.

let's cut to the chase it's not a hard call.

it's going to be times square and a you pick'em who cares site.

probably willets or coney.

bet.

[Hudson11]

Then come the lawsuits and injunctions halting construction claiming corruption and/or favoritism or some other unfairness in the decision making. It's going to get nasty because whoever comes out of it with their license will be making LOTS of money.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by mrnyc

it's not a shitshow just because they are taking time.

NO. It's a shitshow because they have plowed through numerous deadlines, and are only repeating many of the things they have already done. That's called stalling or wasting time, or whatever the fuck you wanna call it. But it's a shitshow, even the developers have called them out on it. But the state calls the shots, so they have to play along. The previous casino license process went beautifully compared to his.

if you want the state to move as quick as the city or private developers everything around penn would be knocked down by now.

Again, I'm glad you bring that up. The state HAS moved quickly with that. The only reason buildings are still standing is because of the Federal Environmental Review. The State did NOT involve the city in any of that planning, because they didn't want to risk exactly the kind of shitshow going on now. It's why they have General Project Plans in the first place. New York City still does not have gaming (casinos) on the books. What they did was move to allow zoning for potentially the 3 State developed casinos.

Now, everyone knew for years that the downstate casinos were coming. What they didn't know was that Hochul would drop the ball in their court. So that's why at the 11th hour, the city itself had to scramble to get something on the books to say it would allow casinos at all. That round was a shitshow, with the general pubic not realizing the issue at hand wasn't any particular casino proposal. The led to the second round of shitshows, the land-use approvals, which again, the pubic failed to understand that what was going through approval wasn't a particular casino itself, but the zoning for buildings that could contain them. So you had the public going back and for to useless meetings, only to NOW say "oh, by the way, we're going to have a few rounds of meetings on these new casino proposals we just got". As if these people haven't been screaming about the same thing for the past couple of years already. Yes. Shit. Show.

[NYguy]

https://www.theavenir.com/media-gallery

[NYguy]

A look at Silverstein's traffic circulation plan for this site, which is sometimes an island (separated from the rest of the city by a see of tunnel traffic). I still don't think it's a good site from a pedestrian's point of view.

[ChiND]

This looks incredible! I hope that this is selected for two reasons. First, it's an absolutely iconic tower that would dramatically enhance the west side skyline and HY in general. Second, it would be a big win for Larry. If he wins this and starts 2 WTC, it would be well-deserved for an iconic New Yorker.

[ChiND]

NY Guy: are there plans to redevelop the heinous, almost block-long structure to the north of this proposal? (I'm referring to the horrendous blue and tan PoS in the photo below.) I think that the bulk of that eyesore is a police facility of some sort.m

If Larry wins, I’d like to see a plaza/park in the middle of that site so that pedestrians could access the casino directly from 42nd St.


NYPost

[NYguy]

There isn’t, and this site may sit empty for a while longer if Silverstein doesn’t shift back to residential development.

[ChiND]

Originally Posted by NYguy

There isn’t, and this site may sit empty for a while longer if Silverstein doesn’t shift back to residential development.

I think when Bloomberg first proposed the Hudson Boulevard park, it was supposed to extend through this property to 42nd Street. I assume that the city owns it since it seems to be a police building.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by ChiND

I think when Bloomberg first proposed the Hudson Boulevard park, it was supposed to extend through this property to 42nd Street. I assume that the city owns it since it seems to be a police building.

I believe it was supposed to go to 40th Street, with some sort of bridge structure at the northern end, but there were some ideas floated.







Northward here...



https://www.archpaper.com/2018/09/hudson-yards-park-boulevard-expensive-mvva/



You can see here an extension to 42nd...




https://arquitectonica.com/architecture/project/hudson-yards-west-midtown-manhattan-redevelopment/

[NYguy]

Silverstein Properties finally files land-use for the casino air rights transfer. Unlike what goes on in Midtown East, the Hudson Yards transfers don’t undergo another full ULURP process.

[chris08876]

Teaser site is updated: https://www.theavenir.com/


Reference the "HEAR FROM OUR TEAM AND YOUR NEIGHBORS" below in the link for some videos and renderings and just general info in teaser fashion.

Media gallery as well.

Also following: https://vimeo.com/user/222515794/folder/25754824?isPrivate=false

For videos. Few added for August.

[chris08876]

Additional reference: https://silversteinprop.canto.com/v/KLESNIVIH8/album/R6BI1?viewIndex=0

2025-08-14 folder.

[NYguy]

https://gothamist.com/news/times-square-casino-bid-nixed-by-local-advisory-board

2 Manhattan casino bids are dead after advisory boards reject Avenir, Caesars Palace


By Arun Venugopal
Sep 17, 2025

There won't be a casino in Times Square or Hudson Yards.

The committee tasked with reviewing a proposal by Caesars Palace rejected the bid Wednesday morning by a 4-2 vote. Another committee formed for the Avenir bid in Hudson Yards, likewise nixed the project.

"I believe casinos must clear a particularly high bar, requiring a uniquely strong degree of community buy-in before being sited in a neighborhood," said Councilmember Eric Bottcher, who controls one vote on the Caesars Palace Times Square Community Advisory Committee. "Despite extensive outreach by the applicants, that level of support has not materialized."

The Avenir was a $7 billion proposal in Hudson Yards and included a 1,000 room hotel and 2,000 units of housing, including 500 affordable units. The proposal also called for 12 restaurants and a public art gallery. The company said in a release that the project would create 4,000 union construction jobs and another 5,500 permanent union jobs.

[NYguy]

https://w42st.com/post/councilmember-bottcher-votes-no-on-west-side-casino-bids/

Councilmember Bottcher Votes No on West Side Casino Bids






by Catie Savage and Dashiell Allen
September 17, 2025

It’s the end of the road for two West Side casino bids. Councilmember Erik Bottcher cast decisive “no” votes on Wednesday, after the Community Advisory Committees weighed the high-stakes proposals for Caesars Palace Times Square and The Avenir.

In an email statement timed with the first vote, Bottcher said his decision followed “countless conversations with constituents in coffee shops, living rooms and on street corners, extensive public engagement and careful deliberation.” While he acknowledged the economic potential of the projects, Bottcher argued that casinos carry a “particularly high bar” for community support that has not been met. “Despite extensive outreach by the applicants, that level of support has not materialized,” he said.

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine also announced his opposition in an email sent during the Caesars Palace Times Square vote, revealing that he would say no to both that proposal and The Avenir. While acknowledging that casinos can deliver jobs, tax revenue and nonprofit support — and even noting the Caesars proposal’s “laudably diverse ownership group” — Levine warned that the potential benefits were outweighed by the dangers of destabilizing Broadway’s $14 billion cultural engine and worsening congestion, safety and quality-of-life issues in Times Square and Hell’s Kitchen.

Laura Smith, Mayor Eric Adams’ representative on the committee, cast one of the two “yes” votes but voiced frustration over how the decision unfolded. She argued that the timeline was accelerated at the request of some committee members, cutting short nearly two weeks of deliberation. “These are complex proposals with significant changes along the way,” Smith said. “The accelerated timeline has constrained the committee’s ability to meet the very standards of transparency, engagement and thorough review that were built into the CAC framework.”

After the meeting adjourned, SL Green CEO Marc Holliday lashed out in an impromptu address. Visibly shaking with anger, Holliday called the outcome “a despicable display of cowardice, lack of leadership, lack of consideration for all the people who would benefit from this proposal.” He accused opponents of running from their responsibilities, declaring, “The benefits you denied this community and this city and state — you have to live with that history forever.”

The CAC vote on the Caesars Palace Times Square bid:

Governor Kathy Hochul – Yes
Mayor Eric Adams – Yes
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine – No
Senator Liz Krueger – No
Assemblymember Tony Simone – No
Councilmember Erik Bottcher – No

The CAC vote on the Caesars Palace Times Square bid:

Governor Kathy Hochul – Yes
Mayor Eric Adams – Yes
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine – No
Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal – No
Assemblymember Tony Simone – No
Councilmember Erik Bottcher – No

[NYguy]

Unbuilt casino vision…


https://radiiinc.com/silverstein-avenir

[Busy Bee]

It is what it is, I just hope that what ever does eventually get built here it's similar scale wise.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

It is what it is, I just hope that what ever does eventually get built here it's similar scale wise.

Silverstein should go back to the original residential proposal, and with the City of Yes rezoning (which the new mayor thanked Adams fir), he gets a little bump in size. Seems a no brainer, but you never know.