This rendering shows what a convention center at Aqueduct could have looked like, if the plan had gone through. File photo.
Preliminary plans to build the United States’ largest convention center in Ozone Park—and the centerpiece of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s state of the state speech—have collapsed.
On Friday, Cuomo spoke on former governor David Paterson’s radio show, revealing that the operators of the Aqueduct racino won’t follow through on the original plan to build a 3.8-million-square-foot convention center at the site.
The development was part of Cuomo’s plan to legalize full table gaming, which was the incentive for Genting to foot the center’s $4 billion construction bill.
On Friday, Cuomo said negotiations with Genting—a casino giant based in Malasyia—fell through.
“We’ve had those conversations going on for a few weeks. Those conversations haven’t really worked out,” he said.
Instead, Cuomo will put the project out to bid next year. This didn’t rule out Genting still constructing the site, as it will likely participate with other businesses in the bidding process.
Cuomo told Paterson that he began listening to offers from other casino companies a few weeks ago—casting the breakdown in a positive light. “They put options on the table frankly that we didn’t even think of.”
Despite some groups calls for an open bidding process—which will now happen—the assemblyman whose district includes Aqueduct was quick to cry foul, saying the governor had pulled a bait-and-switch.
“I’m disappointed; I’m upset; and quite frankly, I think for the community, we’ve been cheated,” said Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Ozone Park).
He laid the blame squarely at Cuomo’s feet, “To me it seemed like the governor was running scared from something. It’s unclear what that is.”
In a press conference Monday, Cuomo said negotiations with Genting stalled when they asked for assurance that there wouldn’t be other casinos built nearby.
Opening up to the possibility of new developers adds an extra layer of uncertainty for southern Queens residents who were already familiar with Genting, Goldfeder said.
“Genting is a proven quality developer who has shown a willingness to work with the community board and work with the community,” he continued.
Adding to that, Genting owns most of the land meant to hold the convention center. With other companies bidding, the convention center’s location is up in the air too.
Genting originally said the first phase of construction would be completed by 2014, and Goldfeder complained this delay pushes back the desperately needed 20,000 jobs Cuomo promised.
Despite no guarantee gaming would even be legalized, Genting has already invested heavily in the prospect.
Over the last year, the company spent more than a $1 million on lobbying for legalization in Albany and almost $80,000 in political donations.
Goldfeder, who has been a vocal proponent of development—especially headed by Genting—received $4,100 from the gambling company.
A Genting representative did not respond to The Forum’s request for comment but told other outlets the company plans to bid on the project.
It’s unclear if anyone is willing to kick in as much money as Genting had planned to, and Cuomo added convention centers are often loss leaders, which is why he wants to package the project with a money-making casino as a “mega-development.”
Cuomo said by next year, he hopes to have the final legalization of Las Vegas-style gambling passed, which would be a firm bargaining chip with bidders.
“…I think we have the opportunity to get that done probably in a way that’s most competitive for the state,” he said.
By Jeremiah Dobruck
j.dobruck@theforumnewsgroup.com
