Bronx Community Board Rejects Bally’s Casino Rezoning Proposal

_{Bally's Casino in Las Vegas is owned by the same company behind the proposed casino in the Bronx, New York, which was recently rejected by the Bronx Community Board. (Image: Shaun Cunningham / Alamy)}

Bronx Community Board 10 overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to rezone a plot of land at Ferry Point Park for a Bally’s casino, with the board voting 29-5 against the plan.

Bally’s is hoping to secure a downstate casino license in New York by building next to the Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx, a course that was formerly owned by the Trump Organization.

Rowdy Crowd Repeatedly Interrupts Meeting

Bally’s prepared for the meeting by making multiple promises to the local community in recent days. The company said residents would be able to buy shares in the casino destination and pledged at least 1% of all gross revenue from the resort—a minimum of $100 million over 10 years—as part of a total $625 million investment in community benefits for the Bronx.

But that didn’t appear to placate many of the locals who showed up for Thursday’s meeting at Villa Barone Manor. A rowdy crowd heckled and interrupted speakers throughout the hearing, with even Bally’s Chair Soo Kim unable to complete his comments on the project—something that drew the ire of Community Board Chair Joseph Russo.

“God damn it, what the hell is wrong with you?” Russo said, admonishing the crowd. “Where did you guys grow up, in a f***ing barn?”

That was the last straw for the public portion of the meeting, as Russo closed the session to everyone except representatives of elected officials who were scheduled to speak and members of the press.

Kim later thanked the board for its consideration.

“We appreciate having had the opportunity to participate in last night’s Community Board 10 meeting and remain grateful for the chance to be a part of this important local process,” Kim said in a statement to the Bronx Times.

 “While we acknowledge the board’s advisory vote, our commitment to the Bronx remains unwavering.”

Community Boards Hold Advisory Power Over Casino Zoning

Community board votes have been a sticking point for many of the casino projects vying for a downstate casino license. Proposals in Hudson Yards, Coney Island and other locations have gotten rejections from their local boards. There have been exceptions, however, including New York Mets owner Steve Cohen’s Metropolitan Park proposal, which received a green light from its local community boards.

Ultimately, these votes are only advisory. But given the competitive nature of the downstate casino licensing race, such overwhelming opposition is not seen as a good sign. 

The board votes are part of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure in New York City, with borough presidents—in this case, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson—also getting the chance to make a recommendation before the City Planning Commission and the City Council vote on any rezoning. The city’s mayor has the final chance to review such requests.

Bally’s is proposing a 500,000-square-foot casino along with a 500-room hotel, an event center, retail shops and more as part of its proposal. The company will also need the New York State Legislature to pass a parkland alienation bill, the same hurdle facing the Metropolitan Park project in Queens.