Protecting Tudor City: Say No to the Proposed Casino at 686 First Avenue
Tudor City is a vibrant, family-friendly neighborhood, home to a diverse mix of residents, small businesses, historic landmarks, and essential institutions. However, a proposed casino development at 686 First Avenue threatens to disrupt the very fabric of our community. Spanning from 38th to 40th Streets between the FDR and First Avenue, this project poses a severe risk to our safety, quality of life, and local economy.
The Heart of a Residential Community
Tudor City is not an entertainment district—it is a residential enclave where families, professionals, and retirees have built their lives. With its 5,000 residents, historic Tudor-style cooperative apartment buildings, and walk-ups, this neighborhood thrives on a sense of community and stability. The area is known for its quiet tree-shaded benches, parks, and playgrounds that offer a refuge from the city's fast pace. A casino would introduce an unwelcome shift, transforming a peaceful, family-oriented neighborhood into a high-traffic, high-crime commercial hub.
Traffic and Emergency Response Concerns
First Avenue is a crucial corridor for five major hospitals—NYU Langone, New York Presbyterian, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and the VA Campus. The roads surrounding the proposed casino site are already congested, particularly during rush hour and weekends when traffic to and from Long Island intensifies.
Casino developments bring increased vehicle traffic, rideshare congestion, and late-night activity, further clogging streets and impeding emergency vehicles. Lives depend on clear roadways for ambulances and medical personnel responding to critical situations. A casino at this location would introduce an unnecessary burden to an already strained infrastructure.
Security and Public Safety Risks
Tudor City sits adjacent to the United Nations, a globally significant institution that frequently enters high-security lockdowns, particularly during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) each September. At that time, streets are blocked off, motorcades with heads of state flood the area, and security measures are heightened. A casino in this proximity introduces serious security complications and creates new vulnerabilities that could jeopardize diplomatic proceedings and public safety.
Beyond security threats, casinos are often linked to increased crime rates, including theft, drug activity, and organized crime. These dangers will directly impact residents, small business owners, and local schools, undermining the safety and integrity of our neighborhood.
Protecting Our Children
One of the most alarming aspects of this proposed development is its proximity to schools. The River School (PS 281), which serves 500 local children, is located just 500 feet from the proposed casino site. The United Nations International School (UNIS) is a a short walk to the North.
Children will inevitably cross paths with casino patrons, including individuals struggling with gambling addiction or those engaging in illicit activities often linked to gambling establishments. The psychological and social impact of exposing young, impressionable minds to this environment cannot be ignored. There is a reason the legal gambling age is 21—our children should not have to navigate a neighborhood transformed by an industry built on addiction and financial loss.
The Impact on Local Businesses
The small businesses in our area including family-owned restaurants, coffee shops, gift stores, and bars, are the backbone of the community. Many of these establishments have already struggled due to the effects of COVID-19 and inflation.
Contrary to claims that a casino would bring economic growth, gambling establishments are designed to keep patrons inside, offering food, drinks, and entertainment within their walls. Local businesses will not see an increase in foot traffic, but rather the opposite—more crime, noise, and late-night disturbances that deter their loyal customer base.
A Permanent, Detrimental Change
The Soloviev Group, in partnership with Mohegan, is positioning this casino as a boost to the local economy, but in reality, the costs far outweigh any benefits. Increased crime, overwhelming traffic, disruption to emergency response services, and the erosion of our neighborhood’s character will leave lasting damage.
A casino in our area will forever alter the identity of this beloved and historic neighborhood. Instead of enhancing our community, it will bring instability, danger, and economic harm.
Take Action Now
We urge all residents, business owners, and concerned citizens to join the campaign against this proposed casino. Protect our homes, schools, businesses, and way of life by making your voice heard.
Together, we can preserve the essence of Tudor City and ensure it remains a safe, welcoming, and thriving neighborhood for generations to come.
#SaveTudorCity #NoTudorCityCasino #SaveMurrayHill #NoMurrayHillCasino #ProtectOurNeighborhood #CommunityFirst #SayNoToCasinos #KeepMurrayHillSafe #KeepTudorCitySafe