A rendering of Bjarke Ingels Group’s plans for Freedom Plaza, which would feature four new towers atop a sprawling waterfront park on the East Side of Manhattan.
Photo courtesy of Bjarke Ingels Group
Renowned architects with Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) have unveiled the design plans for the proposed Freedom Plaza — a massive development project featuring four towering buildings along the East River, which would collectively house apartment units, multiple hotels, a museum, and an underground casino.
Situated just steps from the United Nations complex, the 4.1-million-square-foot plot of land would be transformed into a sprawling cultural hub, while transforming the Manhattan skyline with the quartet of striking skyscrapers.
Two of the towers would be conjoined with a “skybridge” connecting them at 615 feet above ground, and would be home to a pair of new hotels, restaurants, bars, art galleries, and a rooftop infinity pool.
Below those buildings, the developers are looking to open a subterranean casino — if they can win the high-stakes game and secure a coveted casino license.
Nearly 10 years after voters approved a referendum to allow Las Vegas-style casinos in the Empire State, there are three licenses up for grabs, and local regulators are reviewing bids from several groups looking to get their hands on one.
The Soloviev Group, which currently owns the Freedom Plaza property, has teamed up with Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment in their attempt to get a casino license, and their bid is considered among the front-runners to secure that permission.
But even without the casino, development at Freedom Plaza is sure to transform the area.
South of the conjoined hotel towers, the plans call for two residential towers, which would rise 50 and 60 stories tall, while housing 1,325 apartments.
Of those housing units, 510 would be earmarked as “affordable” and be rented for below-market-rate.
“The revenue generated by the project’s…
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