A project that would have seen the largest convention center in the U.S. constructed in New York City will not come to fruition.
Back in January, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo had proposed building a 3.8-million-square-foot convention center and casino in Queens, N.Y., at the site of the Aqueduct Racetrack near John F. Kennedy International Airport. The $4 billion facility would have been the largest in the country. Under the plan, the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan would be demolished and the site on the West Side would be redeveloped.
However, on June 1, Cuomo said that talks between the state and the developer, the Genting Group, had broken down, according to The New York Times. The Times reported that talks broke off because the Malaysian-based developer wanted exclusive rights to operate a casino in the New York City–area. The state legislature has passed a constitutional amendment that allows seven new casinos to be built in the state, which still needs to be brought before voters for approval.
The governor said next year he would entertain proposals from other companies to build a similar casino and convention center at a site yet to be determined.
Many in the meetings industry are opposed to the governor’s plan. A group of 21 trade-show producers called the Friends of Javits wrote a letter to the governor saying they would not patronize the new facility if it were built at the proposed location. The main objection among show producers is the distance from Manhattan and the lack of public transportation. Many would like to see the Javits, which is undergoing a $463 million expansion and renovation, remain open. "Our main concern is the preservation or expansion of Javits, or the creation of a comparable facility in Manhattan,” said Joseph Spinnato, president, Hotel Association of New York City. “We are watching with great interest any future proposals regarding Aqueduct {Racetrack} that might come forth.”
