Bally’s in line to develop 3 million square foot complex on 17+ waterfront acres of Ferry Point Park
After a lengthy process that saw Bally’s bid to develop and operate a casino and hotel complex in Ferry Point Park in the Bronx rejected at both the community board and City Council levels, Save the Sound expressed its profound disappointment at Monday’s decision by the New York State Gaming Facility Location Board recommending Bally’s to receive one of three casino licenses. Two Queens-based projects, Metropolitan Park in Flushing and Resorts World New York City at Aqueduct Racetrack, also were approved. Both Bally’s and Metropolitan Park would negatively impact Long Island Sound.
The approved projects await a final signoff by the New York State Gaming Commission, which is expected to issue the licenses before the end of December.
Save the Sound has argued that Bally’s Environmental Impact Statement insufficiently addresses the company’s plan to manage the increased volumes of stormwater and wastewater it will create and the additional burden it will place on aging infrastructure; the air quality risks posed by the millions of extra vehicles projected to make their way to Ferry Point Park every year; and the loss of irreplaceable waterfront parkland for the surrounding community. The environmental organization also lobbied against the state’s passage of parkland alienation legislation necessary for the Bally’s and Metropolitan Park projects to move forward.
“It is extremely disappointing that the State Gaming Facility Location Board has approved Bally’s application to develop a massive casino and hotel complex on public parkland without adequately addressing its environmental impact,” said David Ansel, vice president of the Center for Water Protection at Save the Sound. “Throughout the process, Save the Sound has warned about the degrading effect this project would have on water quality in Westchester Creek and the upper East River—two impaired waterways in the Western Narrows of Long Island Sound. Without a comprehensive plan for managing stormwater that maximizes green infrastructure benefits, the increased runoff will make it even more difficult to reduce pollution in New York City waters.”
“We are very disappointed to see Bally’s Corporation rewarded with a casino license after their repeated failures to acknowledge and respond to concerns Save the Sound and community members have raised throughout the City Environmental Quality Review process,” said Dara Illowsky, New York staff attorney, Save the Sound. “The Environmental Impact Statement fails to explain how Bally’s will avoid environmental impacts such as increased stormwater runoff from large areas of additional impervious surface, loss of at least 17 acres of public parkland, and air pollution from increased traffic, including in state-designated disadvantaged communities.” “The Gaming Facility Location Board’s decision to move forward Bally’s application to build a 3.1 million square foot casino complex at Ferry Point Park is dismaying for the countless Bronx residents who spoke out to defend their public parkland and environmental quality,” said David Abreu, clean water advocacy specialist, Save the Sound. “A project that was opposed by the local community board, pushed through the City and State legislatures, and has only vaguely discussed significant environmental concerns should not be considered for licensure. Should Bally’s ultimately receive a casino license, Save the Sound will continue to monitor their application to ensure adherence to all city and state environmental regulations and permitting.”