As long-time small enterprise operators within the coronary heart of Chelsea, we’ve seen our neighborhood evolve. We’ve weathered storms, celebrated successes, and at all times felt a robust connection to the neighborhood that helps us. That’s why we’re deeply involved concerning the proposed on line casino growth within the Western Rail Yards, and we’re compelled to talk out concerning the potential injury it poses to the livelihoods of native entrepreneurs, their workers, and the character of our neighborhood.
The present plan, spearheaded by Associated and Wynn Resorts, locations a large on line casino and resort advanced on a three-block stretch from West thirtieth to West thirty third Road that may dramatically alter the material of our neighborhood. We share the will for growth and financial development. However this challenge, in its present type, is a direct risk to the small companies that make Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen distinctive.
The unique 2009 zoning plan for the Western Rail Yards envisioned a balanced method, with a mixture of residential and business growth. This plan promised an inflow of as much as 5700 new households – potential prospects who would go to our eating places, retailers, and companies. The revised plan, nonetheless, drastically reduces residential housing (right down to 1,500 flats) and replaces it with a on line casino and resort designed to maintain guests contained inside its partitions. It’s Vegas on the Hudson.
The “stay-on-campus” on line casino mannequin is deeply troubling for operations like ours. The proposed on line casino/resort will home 10-15 eating places and bars. It’s explicitly designed to maintain guests inside and playing. That will imply fewer folks exploring our streets, discovering our native gems, and contributing to our neighborhood financial system. As a substitute of shopping our retailers and eating in our eating places on ninth, tenth Avenues and eleventh Avenues, guests shall be funneled into the on line casino’s choices, siphoning away essential enterprise. That’s how this sort of on line casino/resort makes cash.
Competitors is the cornerstone of capitalism, however this recreation could be rigged by the home.
We nonetheless really feel the lingering impacts of the pandemic, and we’re working laborious to recuperate. This on line casino growth may undo a lot of that progress. The lack of potential prospects from the lowered residential growth, mixed with the on line casino’s self-contained ecosystem, could be devastating for many people.
It’s necessary to notice: We’re not essentially against casinos in New York Metropolis. However the way in which this challenge is structured is deeply flawed. Another on line casino proposals truly incentivize friends to discover meals eating places and distributors of their surrounding areas. That’s serving to small enterprise, not hurting it.
The excellent news is that this isn’t a finished deal. The local people board (earlier than which Robert testified) and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine have already voiced their opposition.
The proposal is now earlier than the Metropolis Planning Fee (the place Fathy’s son testified), and the Metropolis Council and Mayor have the ultimate say. We urge our fellow small enterprise homeowners – and everybody who cares concerning the vitality of Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen – to talk out in opposition to this dangerous proposal.
We have to make the voices of small companies heard by letters, social media, and by testifying at public hearings. We should display to our metropolis leaders that this plan will harm, not assist, our neighborhood. Let’s work collectively to make sure that growth advantages everybody, not simply the builders.
Rady operates a Halal cart in Chelsea and Sanfiz is the manager director of La Nacional on 14th Road.
