The Coney Casino Sweetens Brooklyn Resort Pitch With Rooftop Public Space

The multibillion-dollar Coney Casino & Resort project, which is planned for Coney Island in Brooklyn, is enticing potential investors with the promise of a rooftop public area that might serve as the neighborhood's hub.

The Coney is one of around a dozen offers vying for one of the three commercial casino licenses in the downstate of New York. The applications will soon be received and reviewed by the state's Gaming Facility Location Board, and licenses should be granted by the end of the year or the beginning of 2025.

The developers of The Coney claim that a casino resort will be built on the famous Boardwalk of Coney Island if The Coney is awarded one of the coveted concessions, which each come with a $500 million upfront investment. 

Five acres of land at Surf and Stillwell Avenues, close to the well-known amusements like the Wonder Wheel and Cyclone rollercoaster, are the project's aim.

A group led by Chickasaw Nation's Global Gaming Solutions, located in Oklahoma, and including Saratoga Casino Holdings, Thor Equities, and Legends, based in New York, is proposing the Coney.

Public Facility

A rooftop public space was recently added to the project, the Coney developers informed Casino.org on Tuesday. The public won't have to go through the casino to get to the community amenity because it will be reachable from the street. 

"The public roof is one acre, roughly the size of the central lawn at Bryant Park or Little Island. It will be a free attraction for the public and will help to extend visitation in all seasons,” a statement from The Coney team explained.

There is currently very little public space in Coney Island, with the beach being the main exception. According to the Coney developers, the rooftop might develop into a gathering spot where neighbors can socialize, play, sunbathe, read, and unwind.

"It is a unique space that makes for a variety of uses, including a calming respite, children’s play, a place to enjoy food and beverage, and take in the art installations.”

An outdoor café with lush greenery and unhindered views of New York Bay is depicted in the rendering that was submitted.

Each casino bid will be scored by the New York Gaming Facility Location Board according to four weighted criteria. The proposal's "economic activity and business development" will account for 70% of the total score. The remaining three factors—"diversity framework," "workforce enhancement," and "local impact siting"—will each contribute 10%.

Community Revolutionary

According to Brian O'Dwyer, chair of the New York Gaming Facility Location Board, planned casinos ought to try to "transform" the communities they are intended for. The developers of Coney think they have the greatest proposal to complete that task. 

In addition to creating thousands of well-paying jobs, the casino's supporters claim the resort will turn Coney Island into a year-round destination by bringing in tens of millions of dollars in new local tax money annually and possibly expanding public transportation to Brooklyn's south end.

According to Paul Pippin, the chief operating officer of Global Gaming Solutions, "we can completely reactivate the whole Boardwalk area into a new entertainment district," which he told Casino.org in January.

There is a great deal of local opposition, including that of Community Board 13, the city government representative for Coney Island. However, a bid is not eligible to proceed without the support of the Community Board. Instead, before a project is considered by the Gaming Facility Location Board, it must receive the approval of the Community Advisory Committee, a panel of six people chosen by elected state and local leaders.