Community Advisory Committees voted Wednesday not to advance the applications for Caesars Palace in Times Square and The Avenir in Hell’s Kitchen, effectively killing both casino proposals.

The Times Square proposal, backed by SL Green Realty, rapper Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and Caesars Entertainment, failed in a 4-2 vote. Two representatives appointed by the governor and mayor supported the project, while the remaining four members opposed it.

What You Need To Know

  • Community Advisory Committees voted Wednesday not to advance the applications for Caesars Palace in Times Square and The Avenir in Hell’s Kitchen, effectively killing both casino proposals

  • The Times Square proposal, backed by SL Green Realty, rapper Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and Caesars Entertainment, failed in a 4-2 vote. Two representatives appointed by the governor and mayor supported the project, while the remaining four members opposed it

  • Similarly, The Avenir project was struck down in a 4-2 vote, with representatives appointed by the governor and mayor being the only ones to vote in favor

Mark Holliday, chairman and CEO of SL Green Realty, blasted the decision, calling the vote “despicable.”

“We met the standard and then some,” he said. “The only one with courage to stand up is the governor and the mayor appointees, and everybody else runs and hides.”

“Go run and hide, because what you did, the benefits you denied, this community and this city and state, you have to live with that history forever,” he added.

The Times Square casino would have been located at 1515 Broadway, converting an existing building, creating an estimated 3,800 jobs and investing $90 million in public safety.

Similarly, The Avenir project was struck down in a 4-2 vote, with representatives appointed by the governor and mayor being the only ones to vote in favor.

That proposal, backed by Silverstein Properties, was set for West 41st Street and 11th Avenue, near the Javits Center. It included plans for restaurants, a food hall, a community center and housing on what Silverstein Properties COO Dino Fusco previously described as an “industrial site.” Developers said it would have created 5,000 permanent jobs.

On Wednesday, Fusco said he was shocked by the result of the vote.

“We’re putting forth a project in a location which could really use this type of complex jobs, housing, a hotel, restaurants,” he said. “These are all things that we heard from the community, both in advance of putting together our proposal and then again, at the public CAC meetings that were held over the past month.”

The Avenir requested the vote be postponed before it happened, writing in a statement: “Despite the Avenir team working in good faith throughout the process to respond to questions and concerns and amend our proposal as needed, last night at 10:50 p.m. the Community Advisory Committee made a very significant request and our team has not been given a chance to consider this request before today’s vote. This action taints the CAC process and today’s vote should be postponed.”

Community reaction was mixed for both proposals, but local officials and theater advocates were quick to welcome the rejection of the Times Square project, which some felt would hurt the theater community.

Manhattan state Assemblyman Tony Simone, a Democrat, said residents had sent and made more than 1,000 emails and calls opposing the Caesars Palace project, saying they “did not want this to be the economic driver in our district.”

“Overwhelmingly, the residents of the surrounding area do not want it. And in addition, I think there is a very legitimate concern that a casino in the Times Square area would do serious damage to the Broadway theater business, which is an extraordinary gem and a very vital part of the New York economy and our culture, former Assemblyman Dick Gottfried added.

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Caesars Entertainment thanked the advisory committee’s members “for their time, dedication, and thoughtful consideration throughout the evaluation process.”

“We respect their decision and appreciate the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of Times Square,” the statement read. “While we are disappointed by the outcome, our commitment to New York remains unwavering. We are proud of our strong partnerships across the state as anchored by our Caesars Sportsbook platform, where we continue to invest and innovate to serve New Yorkers.”

“New York is a dynamic part of our national footprint, and we look forward to exploring future opportunities to grow alongside the state and its communities,” it added.

Wednesday’s votes leave Manhattan with just one proposed casino, at Freedom Plaza near the United Nations headquarters.

Six more casino proposals need to be voted on before Sept. 30. If any of them pass, the state will decide which proposals will receive one of the three casino licenses it has to give out.