Nas is spearheading a plan to change the landscape of New York City.
The music icon has partnered with Resorts World Casino New York City and its parent company, Genting America East, to revitalize his beloved Queens neighborhood.
As reported by Commercial Observer, Genting America East executives, including the artist, shared plans for a $5 billion redevelopment endeavor to transform the Resorts World establishment into a “Las Vegas-style casino.”
The blueprint for the project includes amenities such as 30 new opportunities for food and beverage vendors, a 7,000-seat performance space, and 1,600 new hotel rooms inside the existing Hyatt Regency at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Genting America East also proposed a 350,000-square-foot extension of the Resorts World casino floor. If approved, the move would position the casino as the largest gambling establishment globally, per the outlet.
Beyond revenue-generating additions, the proposal includes housing units that could serve up to 3,000 employees and a 10-acre park space for commuters.
The ability to give back to the neighborhood he grew up in is a huge accomplishment for Nas, who shared his excitement with his fans.
“This is an ambitious project that will give new opportunities to the hard-working families who call Queens home, attract top-tier talent, and build up the next generation of leaders. Clearly, with this project, the world is ours,” he captioned his celebratory video on Instagram.
While this redevelopment plan is in the works, Resorts World still has to cross some barriers to see the expansion come to fruition.
“Resorts World, however, will need to throw its hat into the crowded field of contestants for one of the three available downstate casino licenses with a price tag of $500 million for its grand redevelopment plan, according to Genting,” the outlet reports.
Resorts World holds a “race-ino” license, which limits it to operating racing and slot machines. It would need a full licensing permit for table games before they could begin movement on the project.
Their casino bid will go up against those like SL Green Realty and Caesars Entertainment, which partnered with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation to propose building Caesars Palace Times Square, as AFROTECH™ previously reported in December 2022.
“New York is a beacon, the epicenter of culture. We have the opportunity to create a destination at the heart of Times Square, the true crossroads of the world,” Jay-Z said in a press statement at the time. “My partnership with SL Green and Caesars, this coalition, has all the promise and commitment to economic opportunity, growth and enrichment for the community, and everyone who visits the Empire State.”
