By: Jordan Baker

In a bold vision for Manhattan’s West Side, World Trade Center developer Larry Silverstein is throwing his hat into the competitive New York City casino sweepstakes, unveiling plans for a 785-foot skyscraper that would house a luxury casino, 1,000-room hotel, upscale restaurants, and a vibrant food hall. The development, to be called Avenir, is proposed for the intersection of 11th Avenue and 41st Street — a neighborhood Silverstein Properties has long invested in and helped shape.

According to renderings and plans reviewed by the New York Post, the project would be built on land already owned by Silverstein, which gives the developer a significant edge. Unlike some other proposals, the Avenir site would not require approval from the local community board or City Council, streamlining the path to construction — at least at the city level. However, Silverstein and his partners still need one of the three coveted downstate casino licenses from the New York State Gaming Commission. Bids are due June 27, and the licenses are expected to be awarded before the end of 2025, the Post reports.

Silverstein’s team is partnering with gaming operators Rush Street and Greenwood Racing to bring Avenir to life, betting that their vision — combining entertainment, hospitality, and neighborhood-minded urban design — will stand out in a crowded field.

“Over the last 40 years, we have invested heavily in this neighborhood and care deeply about the fabric of this community,” said Lisa Silverstein, CEO of Silverstein Properties, in comments to the New York Post. “This development will bring more security, enterprise, and entertainment on a level that doesn’t exist in one establishment. It’s a sophisticated addition to the New York skyline.”

The architecture firm CetraRuddy, which designed the project, describes Avenir as a cultural hub that aims to stitch together the Far West Side, connecting isolated pockets of development. “The site is located at the crossroads of diverse neighborhoods and activity districts that currently are not connected,” said founding principal Nancy Ruddy. “It will reinforce New York’s identity as a pedestrian-friendly and walkable city.”

Silverstein’s proposal comes as other high-profile bids have fallen away. According to the Post, both Related Companies/Wynn Resorts’ Hudson Yards plan and Las Vegas Sands’ Nassau County pitch have withdrawn from the race, leaving Silverstein’s Avenir as a serious contender in an increasingly volatile casino race.

But the field is still far from empty. Other active bids include:

SL Green/Caesars and Roc Nation for a Times Square casino.

Steve Cohen and Hard Rock pitching the $8 billion Metropolitan Park development near Citi Field.

Thor Equities and partners eyeing a Coney Island location.

Bally’s proposing a Bronx waterfront casino.

The Soloviev Group and Mohegan Gaming for a site near the United Nations on the East River.

The Hudson’s Bay Company, proposing a high-end casino above Saks Fifth Avenue.

With at least seven other bids still in play, the competition is fierce. Each project offers a different flavor — from Coney Island’s beachfront gaming to Midtown’s glitzy Times Square attractions — but Silverstein’s plan stands out for its integration with the West Side’s evolving skyline and infrastructure.

Founded in 1957, Silverstein Properties has developed more than 40 million square feet of commercial, residential, and hospitality space.