New York Design Commission Postpones Metropolitan Park Vote

New York City's Public Design Commission (PDC) unanimously postponed its design vote on the public portion of the Metropolitan Park casino project on Tuesday, October 20. The decision came after a public hearing that lasted about five hours. The main topic of the hearing was the project's possible environmental impact.

Queens residents asked whether the $8 billion complex planned by Steve Cohen and Hard Rock would worsen the situation in an area that already faces flooding problems.

The commission reviews the design of structures, artworks and other installations on city land. The review was initially limited to the casino's staircase and balcony area. This section will overlook and connect to the planned public park between the complex and Citi Field. PDC Chair Deborah Marton said the order of the review left conditions on the ground unclear, and that the whole site needs to be better understood.

The commission had previously approved the master plan, the lighting proposals and the parking structure. The city, for its part, concluded in February 2025 that the project's benefits outweighed its negative environmental effects. No date was given for the new vote. Member Merryl Tisch said she was confident the project will eventually be approved.

The commission's authority is limited to design only. In 2025, the project received one of the three casino licenses issued for the southern part of the state by the New York State Gaming Commission, and it also obtained the city permits needed for construction. The plan includes new sports fields, a renovated transit station, 20 acres of public park space and a food hall.