Las Vegas Sands Submits Zoning Application For Proposed NY Casino
Las Vegas Sands, an American casino and resort company based in Las Vegas, Nevada, is very serious about a proposed New York casino-resort which will be located in Nassau County, Long Island. Relatedly, a zoning application filed with the Town of Hempstead showed the company plans to construct “over 3.7 million square feet of development above ground, another 3.9 million square feet for parking and garages and more than 765,000 square feet of underground space, while the proposed square footage for the casino itself is 396,726.”
The third biggest casino in the U.S.:
If the aforementioned application receives validation from state gambling regulators, the community and officials, the proposed casino, Sands New York, would, upon completion, be the third biggest casino in the entire US and one of the largest in the entire world. In addition, just Mohegan Sun in Connecticut and WinStar World Casino & Resort in Oklahoma will be bigger than the aforementioned casino, whose owners are also in the competition for one of three “downstate New York casino licenses.”
However, a zoning application is necessary in the aforementioned NY casino license competition. In that regard, according to the petition, the company “is looking to turn the 72-acre site into the Mitchel Field Integrated Resort District around Nassau Coliseum.” As soon as it gets the necessary approvals, it may move forward with the said competition.
The opposition is not abating:
As the possibility of actual construction of Sands New York increases day by day, the opponents are not abating, but are becoming more and more numerous. Relatedly, one group claims that “the zoning application proves the casino is unequivocally wrong for its county.” While it is certain that the new casino will become a new tourist destination and bring money to the county, it is still not the favorite topic for some locals, particularly following the company’s announcement that happened earlier this year that “casino gambling would only account for about 10% of the project.” However, when looking at it mathematically, “almost 400,000 square feet would only be about 10%, considering Sands intends to develop over 3.7 million square feet (not including parking) above ground.”
What’s more, one of the most loud opponents is the Say No to the Casino Civic Association. It was formerly very vocal in the backlash after reports surfaced that Sands “may seek a sales tax exemption” on building materials purchases and a tax cut on mortgage records. However, for this situation, the group noted that “the zoning petition from Sands provides a clearer picture of the mammoth scale of the project and validates the concerns of the Say No to the Casino Civic Association and the countless residents of Nassau County who adamantly oppose letting a casino move in and exploit our community for profit,” in its statement. It also emphasized the importance of the company’s former statements that the casino would make up only 10% of its general project.
On that note, a Garden City local, commented on the group’s claim: “Its behemoth casino will be 393,726 (square feet) – the size of seven football fields.” In addition, another local commented: “Make no mistake, LVS is hungry to take root in our community to drive as many people as they can to their gaming floor. … And the one they want to build in the Town of Hempstead will be colossal. I expect the elected officials in the Town of Hempstead will reject LVS’ request. Why would our elected officials let LVS move in and prey on their own constituents?”
There are also other statements from the group about “concerns of increased traffic, crime and pollution.” On that note, Bellmore local, said: “We want to make sure everyone in the Town of Hempstead understands what’s at stake. If LVS gets the opportunity to build, our communities will be shattered.”
Layout of the proposed casino:
Sands, which entered into a 99-years lease agreement with Nassau County, has “other big plans for its proposed project at Nassau Hub,“ according to the filling.
These plans are:
- 1,670 rooms between the two hotels;
- 31,200 square meters of retail space;
- 60,000 square meters of “public attraction space”;
- 213,000 square meters of meeting space;
- 147,929 square meters for restaurants and bars;
- a live performance venue with 4,500 seats.
It also revealed its intention to introduce Canyon Ranch to design “a spa, fitness and food destination” at the proposed casino project.
Nevertheless, the Nassau Coliseum was not mentioned once in the aforementioned application and it’s still unclear what the firm will do with this complex.