MGM Yonkers, Inc., was ready to go before the Yonkers Planning Board at its July 9 meeting to formally present its site plan for a major redevelopment of its property at 808-812 Yonkers Ave. The redeveloped property operating with a full-casino license from New York state would be named MGM Empire City.
MGM is hoping to receive one of three downstate Class III gaming licenses that New York state is expected to award this coming December. One of the requirements of the New York Gaming Commission and its Gaming Facility Location Board is that all zoning and land use approvals must be in place before Sept 30 in order for a gaming license prospect to be considered.
The Yonkers City Council recently approved a Casino Zoning District for the MGM location that would allow the redevelopment and MGM is hoping to receive site plan approval from the Planning Board in time to meet the state’s Sept 30 requirement.
Mark Weingarten of the White Plains-based law firm DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise & Wiederkher LLP in a letter to the Planning Board said that the property consists of approximately 97.5 acres and the property and its improvements, which also include Yonkers Raceway, are owned by MGM Yonkers, Inc., and YRL Associates L.P.
“Empire City Casino is currently the sixth largest gaming floor in the country,” Weingarten said. “It is the premier gaming, horse racing, and entertainment facility in the region, the largest private employer in the city, and one of the most important contributors to the overall economic wellbeing of the city.”
Weingarten noted that if MGM is granted the full-casino license, it will be required by the Request for Applications that was issued by the state and state law to make a minimum $500 million dollar capital investment in the casino facility.
“The applicant’s proposed redevelopment program would include approximately 275,000 square feet of new construction, bringing the total floor area of the gaming and entertainment facility to approximately 845,000 square feet, and a new central plant and parking structure to serve the facility,” Weingarten said. He added that in the redevelopment the existing gaming floor would be transformed to incorporate table games, slot machines and electronic table games. The existing restaurant and lounge areas would be reinvented. There also would be a new sportsbook venue, and there would be three new restaurants, new back-of-house and employee areas, and a new four-level state of the art entertainment venue.
Weingarten said, “A new food hall in the space of the existing food court will elevate the space’s culinary options and customer experience.”
Weingarten explained that outside there would be a new entry canopy, marking the arrival area with a “sleek geometric statement” anchored by MGM Resorts’ iconic gold lion as a centerpiece. A new building addition is proposed of approximately 7,000 square feet, which will house a viewing area for a new BetMGM Sportsbook venue. The interior of the sportsbook will feature wraparound LED screens, business class-like seating, and a bar area.
The project also includes the construction of a new, two-story expansion to the existing casino building consisting of a total of approximately 183,000 square feet. This expansion will add new high limit gaming areas, including domestic and international table games, high limit slots, and a high limit lounge.
The entertainment venue would have about 162,000 square feet of space and approximately 4,125 seats. Weingarten described it as adding an essential amenity for the city and being a significant regional attraction.
“The venue has been designed to accommodate a variety of events, and flexible seating configurations will allow concerts and performances at varying scales, including banquets,” Weingarten said. “A sleek lobby space can double as a pre-function area during meetings and banquets and will also include dynamic bar spaces. Meeting rooms and associated pre-function spaces of approximately 11,000 square feet are also included.”
A new eight-level parking structure would have approximately 4,800 parking spaces, which will bring the total number of on-site parking spaces to approximately 7,945. It will provide covered access to the casino and valet parking will be available.
The site plan includes new features for handling stormwater. New lighting designs would meet modern standards for avoiding unwanted light spillage both outward and upward. Two large-format digital display boards are proposed to be located on the western building façade. The digital display screens will be equipped with light sensors for managing light output based on time of day and ambient light levels to ensure optimum visibility and energy efficiency.
