Steve Cohen on Tuesday shared plans for a total revamp of the area around Citi Field.
Since Cohen became owner of the Mets, he wanted to transform Flushing. That started with the idea of building a casino nearby, but it since developed into a plan to bring a full-on “sports and entertainment park” to the area. The renderings for the plans were unveiled this morning.
The complex will include things like:
- 20 acres of public park space
- Hotels and conference venues
- A casino
- Bars and restaurants
- A renovated train station
- A live music venue
- Structured parking (rather than lots)
Via Empire Report New York
“It’s time the world’s greatest city got the sports and entertainment park it deserves,” Cohen said. “When I bought this team, fans and the community kept saying we needed to do better. Metropolitan Park delivers on the promise of a shared space that people will not only want to come to and enjoy, but can be truly proud of.”
Since the Atlanta Braves opened The Battery in the Atlanta suburbs, sports teams across all leagues have planned to develop—and some have built—areas around their non-city-center stadiums to be an all-in-one event. People who travel to the area can get all they need in one spot, from food to entertainment to hotels. The Battery itself has been a massive success for the owners. (The success of park itself—which the county largely paid for—is another story.)
There’s no word on how much of the reported $8 billion in investment Cohen will pay for, and how much the city and other private partners will invest.
Cohen stressed wanting to involve the community in the development of plans, and he says that 89% of local residents support the framework of the project.
Pastor Patrick Young of First Baptist Church of Corona said, “This is an opportunity to elevate and celebrate the spirit of Queens, with more local restaurants and vendors, a live music venue, and space for community groups and local artists.”
“And it is an opportunity for real investment in local infrastructure, to connect neighborhoods and provide greater transportation options for residents. Above all, though, this is our opportunity to bring thousands of new, good-paying local jobs to the area.”
No timeline for the project has been announced.
