MGM Empire City Casino redevelopment plan faces more scrutiny from neighbors
A proposed redevelopment plan for the MGM Empire City Casino in Yonkers is continuing to spark concerns among Yonkers residents.
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A proposed redevelopment plan for the MGM Empire City Casino in Yonkers is continuing to spark concerns among Yonkers residents.
The plan, which would bring one of three state-issued gaming licenses to Yonkers, is expected to generate over $41 million in annual tax revenue and more than $1 billion in economic activity. It would also create thousands of high-paying jobs.
However, residents are worried that the plan will negatively impact their quality of life, citing concerns over traffic, garbage and safety. They feel that the proposal ignores the structural capacity of the surrounding neighborhoods, which are primarily single and two-family homes.
"It’s really an exciting time to finally be able to develop this into its full potential," says Taryn Duffy, vice president of Public Affairs for the casino. "If we’re successful in getting the commercial casino license, we’ll be able to really develop this site and do a lot of improvements."
On Thursday, the public got to see new images of restaurants and entertainment venues that would be built. The casino also gave updates on their studies for public safety, traffic, stormwater management and landscaping.
But local neighbors still have concerns.
"The additional traffic, the additional people, the taxing on the resources, is going to affect my life," says Tom Martin, a Yonkers resident who lives near the casino.
Larry Wilson, with the Hyatt Association of Southeast Yonkers, represents the neighborhoods surrounding the casino. He says flooding is a big problem in that area and a big concern for residents.
At the community forum, neighbors also mentioned concerns about crime.
MGM's new study predicts about five additional calls to police per week.
But residents think it would be more than that.
