Council to Vote on Western Yard Modifications; plan drops casino and adds housing and open space

The New York City Council put zoning modifications for the West Side Yard — part of the Hudson Yards special district — on its stated agenda and described a revised project that no longer includes a casino and would add housing and public open space.

Council representatives said the modified special permit and restrictive declaration for the Western Yard would allow approximately 4,000 total residential units. At least 420 units, or 25% of the total rental units under the proposal, would be newly constructed affordable units, the council said. The project would also increase publicly accessible open space from 5.6 acres to 6.6 acres within the development and include at least 1 acre of lawn space.

The matter was presented as part of a package of land use items scheduled for a vote. The speaker noted discussions had occurred in committee and among members, and that the measure was on the floor to be considered; no vote outcome was provided in the transcript.

Members asked procedural and substantive questions on the floor about the council’s handling of the item, including whether the body had votes to pass and whether community member deference had been considered. The presiding member responded that conversations and negotiations had taken place, the measure had passed committee, and it would be considered by the full council.

The transcript also referenced negotiations and member concerns in connection with Bally’s (the casino proposal previously linked with development of the yard). The council’s summary said the current modified application “will no longer include a casino.” The record does not include further details about any community benefits, developer commitments, or the specific terms that led to removal of a casino from the proposal.

A vote was scheduled; the transcript does not record the outcome, any amendments, or any final vote tally.

The council also placed other land-use items on the floor during the same segment, including private rezoning applications and Article 11/HPD applications for mixed-use or affordable housing projects in other districts, but the Western Yard modification was the largest item discussed in this portion of the agenda.

Looking ahead, the council will consider the item on the floor; the transcript does not record follow-up dates, required approvals beyond the council, or any effective date for the zoning changes.