The New York Mets will be hosting “Amazin’ Mets Day” at Citi Field on January 25th. This event will mark the first time that the public will have access to a 360-degree panoramic view of the proposed renovation of the Citi Field parking lot into “Metropolitan Park.”
Owned by Steve Cohen, the Mets have 50 acres of land in the Citi Field parking lot with an 80-year lease. The plan for “Metropolitan Park” involves an $8 billion investment to create a complex that includes a casino, hotel, food court, and music hall, as well as a park covering half of the area (25 acres). There will also be upgrades to the Mets-Willets Point subway station on the 7 train line, road improvements, bike lanes, and enhanced flood protection. Once completed, Hard Rock International will co-operate with Mets owner Cohen in managing these entertainment facilities.
During a media briefing on January 24th, the development team for “Metropolitan Park” presented the history, current status, challenges, and potential solutions for the Citi Field parking lot. They showcased a simulated space with a 360-degree view, transforming the vacant concrete space into a modern and grand facility.
Originally a swampy area, the Citi Field parking lot was once a landfill site. In 1926, when the elevated 7 train line was being constructed, it was still a swamp. It later became a dumpsite.
In 1939, after the decision was made to hold the World’s Fair on the Flushing Meadows, then Parks Commissioner Robert Moses designated this location as a parking lot for the fair, spanning 63 acres. After the fair, it became a commuter parking lot until Shea Stadium was built in 1961. Shea Stadium was demolished in 2008, and Citi Field became the new home of the Mets, opening in 2009. The land of the Citi Field parking lot has always been designated for park use, although it has never been used as one.
The development project for “Metropolitan Park” requires a change in land use from park use to commercial use, which necessitates the approval of an “alienation bill” by the New York State Legislature.
In terms of the State Assembly legislation, it is believed to face no resistance, as former Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry previously proposed it, and current Assemblywoman Larinda Hooks has expressed support. However, in the State Senate, local State Senator Jessica Ramos (who is currently running for Mayor of New York City) stated in May last year that she would not introduce a bill for land alienation, citing opposition from her constituents to the establishment of a casino.
Currently, the Mets are working on two fronts to advance the project: lobbying legislative bodies and concurrently progressing through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). According to the team, the ULURP process has reached the stage where the project will be submitted for approval by the City Planning Commission, and upon approval, it will be presented to the City Council.
As for the legislative aspect of the land alienation bill, if Senator Ramos does not introduce a proposal, will another senator step forward? High-level representatives of the development team did not answer this question, stating that efforts will be made during this session and that there are several months until June – if passed, the project will move forward. There will also be a Community Advisory Council process in the summer.
The development team’s high-level representatives mentioned that applications for casino licenses will be submitted to the Gaming Site Selection Committee. By the end of this year, the committee will decide who will receive one of the three casino licenses.