Silverstein Properties has unveiled plans for a massive mixed-use development on Manhattan’s West Side. The project, called The Avenir, would include a 785-foot skyscraper with a casino, hotel, restaurants, and other amenities. The complex would be located at 11th Avenue and 41st Street, just north of the Javits Center.
Silverstein Properties, partnering with Rush Street Gaming and Greenwood Gaming, owns the site. The Avenir would feature a 1,000-room luxury hotel, over 12 bars and restaurants, conference and meeting rooms, a spa and fitness center, and an outdoor pool. A community gallery spanning the entire block between 40th and 41st Streets is also planned.
The casino would occupy 12 percent of the development’s footprint on the second floor. It would have natural light, setting it apart from traditional casinos. The casino would also have a separate entrance from the community gallery and hotel.
“We worked hard to create a design that brings a vibrant and dynamic ethos and contextually fits within this special part of the city,” said Lisa Silverstein, CEO of Silverstein Properties.
Silverstein’s Avenir project announcement
“We hope to bring many components to this project and balance the right amount of activity to serve the community thoughtfully, elevating the neighborhood.”
CetraRuddy is the architecture firm behind The Avenir’s design.
Nancy Ruddy, founding principal of CetraRuddy, emphasized that the development will connect diverse neighborhoods on the Far West Side and create an exciting cultural hub. Silverstein Properties said it has received input and feedback on the architectural design, stressing its pedestrian-friendly nature. The developer also plans to include 100 units of permanently affordable housing, available through New York’s housing lottery system.
The Avenir is one of several bids competing for three casino licenses in the downstate region. Bids are due to the state by June 27, with licenses expected to be awarded by the end of the year. Other bidders are proposing casino projects in Times Square, by the East River waterfront, near Citi Field in Queens, in the Bronx, and in Coney Island, Brooklyn.
Two major contenders recently withdrew from consideration, making the Silverstein proposal a serious competitor. Silverstein Properties, founded in 1957 by chairman Larry Silverstein, has developed, owned, and managed over 40 million square feet of commercial, residential, retail, and hotel space. Notable projects include 7 World Trade Center, 4 World Trade Center, and 3 World Trade Center.
