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Pictured: Freedom Plaza NYC is one of eight applicants competing for three highly sought-after casino licenses, including major casino operators and a group led by Mets owner Steve Cohen (Credit: Rubenstein PR)

Freedom Plaza Casino Planners up the Ante With More Housing

Originally posted on Action Network | By Dave Grendzynski | Last updated Sep 16, 2025 9:22 AM ET

Developers are battling intensely as they keep changing their plans to try to win one of the three downstate casino licenses in New York.

The Freedom Plaza team announced it will expand its affordable housing project. They’ve also made legal commitments to deliver on the community benefits they promised in their application.

At a recent meeting, planners shared that they will increase the total number of housing units to 1,080, with 600 designated as affordable. This represents an increase from their earlier plan of 1,049 total units, with 513 units designated as affordable. They will also create apartments designed for growing families.

“The increase to 600 homes that working people can afford is the direct result of listening to the elected leaders and the community, and it affirms our core belief that development must serve the people who live and work here,” said Michael Hershman, CEO of Soloviev Group.

The team also states that it is committed to implementing a Transportation Monitoring Plan, which will track conditions in coordination with the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT). If the project comes to fruition, it is expected to reshape New York City’s East Side.

Freedom Plaza Developers Add More Affordable Housing

Hershman mentioned that they are prepared to work with local leaders to make sure the community benefits the most from this development, and they think the expanded housing meets the community’s needs.

This project will offer more affordable housing than any other plan in Manhattan and will give people access to great facilities.

Developers plan to bring the most new affordable homes to the heart of Manhattan in more than a decade. Furthermore, Freedom Plaza will be the only project in the area to have open green space.

Park and recreation space are planned for the Freedom Plaza development along Manhattan’s East River. Image Courtesy: OJB Landscape Architecture/Soloviev Group

Freedom Plaza developers also announced a new partnership with Settlement Housing Fund, a nonprofit organization that has maintained over 8,900 homes for low- and moderate-income families since 1969.

Soloviev Group and Mohegan have committed $1 million to support the organization’s efforts at Tanya Towers. Tanya Towers, located at 620 East 13th Street, provides 138 permanently affordable apartments, many of which house residents with disabilities, seniors, or veterans.

Mohegan’s U.S. operations include resorts in Connecticut (Mohegan Sun, which recently paid out a massive jackpot to one lucky winner) and Pennsylvania.

Lobbying For New York Downstate Casino Licenses Continues

The Freedom Plaza project is one of eight applicants competing for three highly sought-after licenses, including major casino operators.

These applicants are some of the richest and most well-established companies in the gaming industry.

The licenses are intended for full-scale casino development in the New York City metro area, which is seen as a major untapped market. Analysts estimate these projects could bring in annual revenues ranging from $1 billion to $3.9 billion once they are fully operational.

Caesars Palace New York Times Square. Rendering courtesy of MOTIV via SL Green.

To select the winners, each proposed site has a Community Advisory Committee that evaluates local support and reports its findings. The Gaming Facility Location Board will review these findings before granting the licenses. Therefore, having strong local community support is crucial for these applications to move forward.

Freedom Plaza Getting Support From All Sides

Three thousand people have sent comments to the Community Advisory Committee, showing their support for Freedom Plaza. They join the 10,000 Manhattan residents and 250 local small businesses that had earlier signed a petition backing the project.

A poll done by Tulchin Research in September 2025 shows this growing support, revealing that nearly two-thirds of Manhattan voters favor the project, with 58 percent of voters in Midtown East particularly in support.

A decision on which three projects will be approved for downstate casino licenses is expected in December.

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