NEW YORK | Resorts World New York (Casino)

[NYguy]

http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/stor...xpanded-gaming

NY could see expanded gaming

Jan 4, 2012
By Tom Precious

With state money tight, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is proposing a plan to create the world's largest convention center at Aqueduct financed by the operator of the track's new casino facility.

Genting New York would finance the convention center as part of a broader plan by the governor to expand casinos on non-Indian lands in the state.

"We have long flirted and dallied with another potential economic engine -- casino gaming -- and when it comes to gaming, we have been in a state of denial," Cuomo said in his State of the State address Jan. 4. "It's time we confronted reality."

Cuomo said the plan by Genting, which is also pressing for rights to offer more gambling beyond its 5,000 VLTs, would amount to an overall $4 billion private sector investment at Aqueduct. The plan would also include 3,000 hotel rooms.

[NYguy]

http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2012...er-evaluation/

Cuomo’s Agenda: Convention Center, Gambling, Teachers



By Jacob Gershman
Jan 4, 2012

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.....unveiled his plan to construct “the largest convention center in the nation” on the site of an antiquated racetrack in Queens. On the Aqueduct site in Queens, Cuomo envisioned a 3.8-million-square-foot complex anchored around a glitzy new, Las Vegas-style casino that would require a loosening of the state’s constitutional ban on table games.

Under the plan, Cuomo would convert the 18-acre Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan to a mixed-use facility that could include housing, museums and hotels, along with smaller-scale trade shows.

_______________________________________


http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...sEnabled=false

Gov. Cuomo wants Aqueduct racino to serve as 3.8 million square foot convention center
Part of plan to legalize casino gambling

By Kenneth Lovett
Jan 4, 2012

Gov. Cuomo wants to up the ante on the future of the Aqueduct racino in Queens and make it home to the country’s largest convention center, the Daily News has learned.

“The notion is that (Cuomo) is going to put the project on the fast-track to get it done,” one source said. “They need a couple of big economic development initiatives to announce.”

The convention center plan dovetails with what is expected to be another key part of the governor’s speech: legalizing casino gambling to create new revenue for the state. The convention center the governor has in mind — at a whopping 3.8 million square feet and located near the city’s two major airports — could spell the demise of the oft-maligned Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan, which has long been criticized for being too small a venue for a world-class city.

Genting officials revealed in July they were considering a convention center and hotel for the site — concepts that for years have been discussed as potential redevelopment options for Aqueduct. “Obviously, there’s a lot of land there that we think we can develop,” a Genting official told The News this week.

[sbarn]

^^^ Interesting proposal, however they are really going to have to improve rail service between Manhattan and that location. It used to take my an hour from lower Manhattan (Chambers Street) to get to the AirTrain at the Howard Beach station. Not optimal for out of town visitors.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by sbarn

^^^ Interesting proposal, however they are really going to have to improve rail service between Manhattan and that location.

That's true. But with a $4 billion private sector investment on the site, and Cuomo's ambition, I'm sure they can work it out.
Maybe it's time to reopen that LIRR line, which runs conveniently close to the site...
http://www.observer.com/2012/01/what...e-v-rail-line/




There's been talk of making it another "High Line" for Queens...













The park is a good idea, but I think overall for Queens, using that line for active rail would be better. They would face a fight, because back in the Airtrain planning, it was suggested as being a logical and preferred idea for a one seat right into Manhattan. That didn't happen.


Just a little more on that...

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...sEnabled=false

Transit advocates oppose plan to turn defunct railroad into QueensWay park
Assemblyman Philip Goldfeder says borough needs better transportation instead



By Lisa L. Colangelo
January 4 2012

A plan to transform an abandoned rail line into a park in southern Queens is generating a lot of buzz, but a group of transit advocates have another vision.

They believe the tracks, which have sat idle for five decades, should be reactivated to give southern Queens residents an easier commute to Manhattan.

“Certainly a quick trip to JFK Airport from the core of the city is something people have talked about from Year One,” said George Haikalis, a civil engineer who heads the Institute for Rational Mobility, a nonprofit umbrella group for transit advocates. “Nobody in the rest of the world would be so dumb as to let a valuable asset like that sit there.”

The Long Island Rail Road operated the line, which once ran from Rockaway, up through Ozone Park and Forest Park to Rego Park. It was discontinued in the early 1960s and the property is currently owned by the city.

[NYguy]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/ny...in-queens.html

A Convention Center at Aqueduct Is Urged


Arquitectonica
An illustration of the proposed $4 billion exhibition hall, hotel and expanded casino at the Aqueduct racetrack in Queens.

By CHARLES V. BAGLI
January 4, 2012

Mr. Cuomo said the Javits center, which is in the middle of a $500 million renovation, no longer belongs in Manhattan, where it is too small to compete for the large trade shows now going to convention centers in Chicago, Orlando and Las Vegas.

Under Mr. Cuomo’s proposal, the state would forge a joint venture with the Genting Group, the Malaysian company that has invested $800 million in opening a gambling hall at Aqueduct. Genting, not the state, would finance a $4 billion convention center, with a hotel and expanded gambling space, while the government would contribute the land in Queens.

“This will bring to New York the largest events, driving demand for hotel rooms and restaurant meals and creating tax revenues and jobs, jobs, jobs,” Mr. Cuomo said in his State of the State speech. “In addition to the new convention space, up to 3,000 hotel rooms will be developed. We will make New York the No. 1 convention site in the nation.”

________________________________________________



http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...-proposal.html

Genting Malaysia Rises to 1-Month High on New York Proposal

By Gan Yen Kuan
Jan 5, 2012

Genting Malaysia Bhd. (GENM)’s shares climbed to a one-month high on expectations its $4 billion plan to build the biggest convention center in the U.S. may help boost visitors to its nearby casino, the first in New York City.

The convention and exhibition center will include hotel rooms and an expansion of its casino in the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, the Kuala Lumpur-based company said in a statement to the Malaysian stock exchange today. New York (STONY1) Governor Andrew Cuomo yesterday called for replacing the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan with the new 3.8 million-square-foot complex.

“It is a long-term planning that they do to make sure that in the future, there will be more consistent flow of business and people there,” Low Yee Huap, head of research at Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd., said in an interview in Kuala Lumpur today.

Genting Malaysia’s New York unit is in talks with the state and expects a binding agreement by the end of November, it said in the statement.

______________________________________________




http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...sEnabled=false

Cuomo administration inks agreement with developer to build convention center at Aqueduct racetrack
Malaysian firm pledges $4 billion to build country's largest convention center in Queens

By Kenneth Lovett
January 4 2012

Before Gov. Cuomo’s State of the State address Wednesday highlighted his vision to build the nation’s largest convention center at Aqueduct racetrack in Queens, the plan had already taken a major step forward.

On Tuesday, the Cuomo administration quietly inked a letter of agreement for the project with the operator of the Aqueduct racino, Genting New York, a Cuomo source told the Daily News.

In the letter, the Malaysia-based casino operator pledged to invest $4 billion to build the 3.8 million-square-foot facility, the source said.

Genting already controls 67 acres at the South Ozone Park site. But the source said the state will help make adjacent Port Authority land available for the project, and turn existing mass-transit infrastructure into a “convention center” train.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by NYguy

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...sEnabled=false

Transit advocates oppose plan to turn defunct railroad into QueensWay park
Assemblyman Philip Goldfeder says borough needs better transportation instead

When I first heard of it, I thought a park wouldn't be a bad idea for the unused line, assuming they were never going to use it. But the Aqueduct idea changes all of that. I'm hoping the quote below (from the last article) means what I think it does.

the state will... turn existing mass-transit infrastructure into a “convention center” train.

[ardecila]

They could probably revive the Aqueduct Special for far less money than a new LIRR extension.

[k1052]

Originally Posted by ardecila

They could probably revive the Aqueduct Special for far less money than a new LIRR extension.

Convention attendees would be most interested in a quick link to Midtown though (Penn and GCT). Reactivating the LIRR Rockaway Branch at least as far at Aqueduct would provide that. Rebuilding the stations along the line also gives Queens more much needed transit access to the city. Also, I think the 7 line extension destroyed the lower level of the 42nd Street/PA station that served the Specials.

[ardecila]

That's true but it doesn't stop them from loading the train somewhere else. It's not like there aren't tons of unused platforms in the subway.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by ardecila

They could probably revive the Aqueduct Special for far less money than a new LIRR extension.

It wouldn't really be new, though judging from the photos the line would probably have to be partly rebuilt.
The portion that would reactivated is shown here in green:





It's also possible but I think unlikely Cuomo could be talking about using that right of way for another subway extension.
The A train takes over the right of way where the line passes Aqueduct, shown in this Google Earth photo:




The biggest problem up front (for once, money doesn't seem to be the issue as financing is up to Genting to secure) would be traffic on Rockaway Boulevard. There were some fixes developed for the casino, which haven't been implemented yet. But with a major convention center there, more would have to be done on the northern front, even with the Belt Parkway to the south. Eventually, the Port Authority could extend the Airtrain a few blocks north so it terminates at Aqueduct directly, a direct rail link between Kennedy and the convention center with its hotel rooms.

Still, I like Cuomo's take charge, get it done attitude. It's been missing from New York for a long time, even with Bloomberg's initiatives.

[NYguy]

http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2012...t-subway-link/

Queens Convention Center Builder Seeks Swift Subway Link

By Joseph De Avila
January 5, 2012

The Malaysian gaming company behind a proposal to build a new convention center in Queens — a centerpiece of New York Gov. Cuomo’s agenda for 2012 — released new details on its $4 billion project.

The project, dubbed the New York International Convention and Exhibition Center, or NICE, would be the largest convention facility in the U.S.

On Thursday, the Asian gaming giant said it will work with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to fund uninterrupted subway service between Midtown Manhattan and the proposed convention center — a bid to alleviate concerns over site’s remote Queens location.

It’s not clear what such service would look like. In the 1980s, the MTA operated the “Train to the Plane,” which ran along the A line and stopped in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn before running nonstop to Howard Beach, where passengers transferred to a shuttle bus to JFK Airport. But that service lost money, drew complaints from people in neighborhoods that were skipped and was ultimately discontinued. In addition, with ridership higher now than it was in the 1980s, the MTA runs more trains overall, making it harder for a convention center express to avoid getting stuck behind regular A trains.

The first 2.6 million-square-foot phase of the project is slated to be completed by 2014 at the earliest, Genting said Thursday, with construction of hotel rooms slated to begin in November 2015.

Genting said it will foot the multi-billion bill using a combination of debt and equity.

[NYguy]

http://www.qchron.com/news/genting-r...9bb2963f4.html

Genting releases Queens convention center images



January 5, 2012

The company that is expected to build and run a $4 billion convention center by the casino at Aqueduct in South Ozone Park has released images of what the site will look like, giving the public a glimpse into the massive structure that could open as soon as 2014.

Gov. Cuomo announced plans to build the structure in his State of the State address on Wednesday, saying the site would be the nation's largest convention center. Genting Americas, a company that runs casinos and hotels throughout the world, first presented plans to the state to build a convention center in Queens in June.

The $4 billion project would be financed by Resorts World, a part of Genting, using a combination of debt and equity. The company expects the project would create more than 10,000 construction jobs and 10,000 direct permanent jobs.

The project would be constructed in two separate phases. The completion of the first phase could open as early as November 2014 on land currently leased to Resorts World.

[k1052]

Originally Posted by ardecila

That's true but it doesn't stop them from loading the train somewhere else. It's not like there aren't tons of unused platforms in the subway.

True however adding express service to the A just for the convention center will generate some public animosity, especially considering the increasing strain the subway system is under.

If the LIRR is used the MTA can say that they aren't only doing it for the convention center but also to provide improved service to Queens (which realistically is badly needed). The added bonus of connecting directly to Metro-North (GCT) and NJT/Amtrak (Penn) also should be strongly considered. Ideally a new station at Aqueduct would accommodate both the A train (for service in both directions), the reactivated LIRR Rockaway branch termimus, and an extension of the AirTrain.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by k1052

True however adding express service to the A just for the convention center will generate some public animosity, especially considering the increasing strain the subway system is under.

If the LIRR is used the MTA can say that they aren't only doing it for the convention center but also to provide improved service to Queens (which realistically is badly needed).

I don't think it will simply be extra express service, which won't work. I think they are leaning towards that non-stop line to Midtown. The unused right of way works best because it will have access to both Penn Station and Grand Central. And it has the added bonus of service to Midtown in under 30 minutes, which would be a big plus.

The Port Authority's extension of the Airtrain directly to the site itself would also be extra convenient for people arriving at the airport. Below from the Google Earth photo, you can see both the current Airtrain/subway station (bottom) and the Aqueduct subway station. Just a stop away, but a direct hit would be a "hit" for people who don't know how to navigate New York's systems.

[NYguy]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...474410466.html

Convention Pact Includes Queens Casino
Malaysian Group Could Land Rights.

Jan 6, 2012
By JACOB GERSHMAN
AND JOSEPH DE AVILA

The Cuomo administration's plans to build a massive convention center in Queens may also pave the way for the city's first full-blown casino.

The Cuomo administration entered Tuesday into a nonbinding agreement with a Malaysian conglomerate to build a massive complex at the Aqueduct racetrack in Queens that includes a "casino expansion" of an existing gambling space at the site.

The new details are contained in a copy of an agreement between the state and Genting released by Mr. Cuomo's office Thursday. According to the document, the state and Genting would work together to develop a project that would include a "convention, exhibition, hotel and parking space, as well as a casino expansion to the existing video lottery terminal facility."

A spokesman for Mr. Cuomo said the governor hasn't made any assurances to Genting about a casino at Aqueduct. Representatives of Genting said they intend to move ahead with the convention center regardless of New York's laws on casino gambling.

People familiar with the matter said Genting has committed to building the first 2.6 million-square-foot phase of the convention center and Mr. Cuomo has indicated that he would support giving it the rights to build a casino there. Genting would complete the 3.8-million-square-foot project if a constitutional amendment for casino gambling is passed, which could happen in November 2013 at the soonest.

A New York City casino would be sure to garner "gigantic revenues," drawing business from competitors in Connecticut and Atlantic City, said Cory Morowitz, a gambling-industry consultant not involved in the Aqueduct project. "I think it's a home run," Mr. Morowitz said.

Genting officials said they hoped to complete the first 2.6 million-square-foot phase of the project by 2014 at the earliest, with construction of hotel rooms slated to begin in November 2015. It envisions adding more convention space in a second phase, building on a 22-acre space to the east that's currently owned by the Port Authority.

________________________________



http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...sEnabled=false

Phase one of new Aqueduct convention center could open in 2014
Developer Genting Americas touts first 2.6 million square feet of massive Queens project




January 5 2012

Genting Americas, which already runs the racino at the site, says it would build in two phases the 3.8 million-square-foot facility announced Wednesday by Gov. Cuomo.

The first would be a 2.6 million-square-foot facility on land already leased by Genting and would open in November, 2014 at the earliest. The second for 1.2 million square feet would require the use of land currently owned by the Port Authority.

The company did not give a time estimate on when the second phase would be completed because the land deal must be finished first. The plan also calls for an expansion of the existing racino and up to 3,000 new hotel rooms, with the first 1,000 rooms to open in November 2015.

Because Genting is footing the $4 billion project bill, sources say the company wants area exclusivity should casino gambling become legal. It also is seeking to pay the state less of its racino proceeds and transfer all horse racing to nearby Belmont race track.

[aquablue]

I have a few questions.

Are they really considering restoring the old Rockaway line for LIRR service?

If so, will the subway service on the part of the line currently open be maintained or eliminated?

If they were to bring the LIRR to the new convention center, wouldn't it be a fantastic opportunity to build some kind of direct LIRR link right into the airport? It seems that the distance between the racetrack and the airport is very small. The benefits of a one-seat-ride on a proper train from the airport to midtown, bypassing the slow air-train, would be incredibly valuable for the city. Expanding the air train to the race-track would the economical but less elegant solution. Still, the air-train journey from the airport to a new LIRR station at the race-track could be the new connection point for LIRR, which may prove to be a more convenient place to connect than Jamaica station given its closer distance to airport. However, what a missed opportunity it would be not to do a proper rail link into the airport either underground or above-ground to a new station(s) at the airport terminals given the small distance. That would elevate NYC's airport-city links up to international standard.

All in all, this could be the only feasible way to have a one-seat-ride to an airport terminal in NYC. Once the convention center link is done, the airport option might become viable although it would cost billions I'm sure. However, perhaps less than the new brooklyn tunnel option. The cost of a new tunnel/bridge to link the race-track would be worth it over the long haul IMO.

One could then have a route of JFK Central Station (or individual terminals)-C.Center-Penn/GC on the LIRR or a new train service. A european or Asian express service could run limited stops with local trains if there were bypass tracks at stations.

[k1052]

Since it seems to be the only viable way to serve the convention center from Midtown (both train stations), I'll go with yes. There are too many problems (political and infrastructure) to use a potential A train express. The ROW is entirely intact except for one missing wooden trestle over the Montauk Branch ROW.

I don't see any reason why existing A service can't be maintained or even improved with respect to Aqueduct. The ROW is four tracks wide so for platform space they'll have to demolish the old station and build a new one that can serve the A in both directions and the LIRR.

I highly doubt the MTA has the extra cash to burn for a LIRR connection directly to JFK at this point. I think an AirTrain connection to a new A/LIRR station would be the best we could hope for.

[aquablue]

Originally Posted by k1052

Since it seems to be the only viable way to serve the convention center from Midtown (both train stations), I'll go with yes. There are too many problems (political and infrastructure) to use a potential A train express. The ROW is entirely intact except for one missing wooden trestle over the Montauk Branch ROW.

I don't see any reason why existing A service can't be maintained or even improved with respect to Aqueduct. The ROW is four tracks wide so for platform space they'll have to demolish the old station and build a new one that can serve the A in both directions and the LIRR.

I highly doubt the MTA has the extra cash to burn for a LIRR connection directly to JFK at this point. I think an AirTrain connection to a new A/LIRR station would be the best we could hope for.

An air-train connection being the best case scenario for one of the most powerful and important cities in the world is rather lame, no offense. NY should be looking to bring its transporation links up to international standards and the standards of its major global competitors. Settling for inferior solutions and technology is not going to help NY in the long term. A JFK link would be the best solution and I'm sure the MTA would not be funding it alone if it were proposed. I realize that NYC is incapable of doing large infrastructure projects very well due to budget and politics, but I think it is time to evaluate the airport connection before they fall too far behind. NY is already 10+ years behind other major cities when it comes to rail links to airports.

Again, it seems to me that if the LIRR were extended to the new CC it would be such a sad wasted opportunity to extend air-train instead of going all out and fixing the decades old problem once and for all in one shot without more years of piecemeal solutions that are never quite good enough. That is, to create a proper 1-seat-ride from JFK to midtown via the new CC and queens. The train link could even be elevated above the belt Parkway into the airport to save digging costs.

NYC is probably the only city of its class to lack such a rail link. If you can get the old rockaway branch opened with all the NIMBY problems, it would be wise to go all the way and complete the old proposed JFK rail link because it is the best possible solution to that problem and probably more cost effective than that new E. River tunnel.

Anyway, this is all for naught unless the NIMBY problem is dealt with, which is unlikely.

[k1052]

Originally Posted by aquablue

An air-train connection being the best case scenario for one of the most powerful and important cities in the world is rather lame, no offense. NY should be looking to bring its transporation links up to international standards and the standards of its major global competitors. Settling for inferior solutions and technology is not going to help NY in the long term. A JFK link would be the best solution and I'm sure the MTA would not be funding it alone if it were proposed. I realize that NYC is incapable of doing large infrastructure projects very well due to budget and politics, but I think it is time to evaluate the airport connection before they fall too far behind. NY is already 10+ years behind other major cities when it comes to rail links to airports.

Again, it seems to me that if the LIRR were extended to the new CC it would be such a sad wasted opportunity to extend air-train instead of going all out and fixing the decades old problem once and for all in one shot without more years of piecemeal solutions that are never quite good enough. That is, to create a proper 1-seat-ride from JFK to midtown via the new CC and queens. The train link could even be elevated above the belt Parkway into the airport to save digging costs.

NYC is probably the only city of its class to lack such a rail link. If you can get the old rockaway branch opened with all the NIMBY problems, it would be wise to go all the way and complete the old proposed JFK rail link because it is the best possible solution to that problem and probably more cost effective than that new E. River tunnel.

Anyway, this is all for naught unless the NIMBY problem is dealt with, which is unlikely.

The only other entity that might contribute to such a link would be the Port Authority and they most definitely have their own money problems and loads of higher priorities. Also, AirTrain would operate a much greater frequency than a LIRR connection so people needing to make the short hop from the airport to the convention center can do so quickly.

I doubt the Gov is going to let a few cranky people from Queens derail a multibillion dollar plan that has the potential to generate massive cash influxes from land sales/leases and boost convention business/tourism just because they don't want trains to run where they have run before. He'll toss some stations in for the locals and that will be the end of it.

[aquablue]

Originally Posted by k1052

The only other entity that might contribute to such a link would be the Port Authority and they most definitely have their own money problems and loads of higher priorities. Also, AirTrain would operate a much greater frequency than a LIRR connection so people needing to make the short hop from the airport to the convention center can do so quickly.

I doubt the Gov is going to let a few cranky people from Queens derail a multibillion dollar plan that has the potential to generate massive cash influxes from land sales/leases and boost convention business/tourism just because they don't want trains to run where they have run before. He'll toss some stations in for the locals and that will be the end of it.

The frequency argument is a non-starter. Even if the air-train has higher frequenices, the change of trains for midtown bound pax would still deter travellers going to the city from JFK. Special high frequency express services could be run like in London or HK as long as the stations have bypass tracks for overtaking stopped trains. They could also use special trains suited for the task at hand, rather than the conventional LIRR cars.
Why go all that trouble to restore that rail link and not bridge the track into the airport for a one seat ride into the city from JFK? Can you see how close the airport property is to that line? A 2 seat ride will never attract enough pax to help reduce congestion on the roadways or improve the entire experience for nyc visitors.

Anyway, it seems like they are interested more in a direct subway link with the A train.