David Flaum making his presentation Friday in Albany. (Photo: Joseph Spector , Staff photographer )
Story Highlights
- The proposed casino would be near Exit 23 off the state Thruway
- Flaum and Wilmot have separately been trying to land a casino in New York for at least a decade
- The Albany area is one of three regions in the state that is eligible for a privately owned casino
- The other two areas are the Southern Tier and Catskills
ALBANY – A Rochester developer with proposals for casinos in the Rochester and Albany areas Friday unveiled a new plan for the Capital Region: a resort casino near Exit 23 off the state Thruway.
David Flaum is working with the Seneca Nation of Indians for a casino in Henrietta despite local opposition. Flaum has been considering sites in the Albany area for another casino, and he recently abandoned plans at another Albany site in favor of the new one near the Thruway.
Meanwhile, another Rochester developer, mall magnate Thomas Wilmot, is facing a legal challenge from residents for his proposed $350 million casino in Seneca County. A lawsuit was filed late Thursday by 61 residents in Tyre, saying zoning changes last month to allow the casino are "not for the general welfare of the community, but instead was for the benefit of a commercial developer."
More: Lawsuit filed over zoning for proposed Tyre casino
Flaum and Wilmot have separately have been trying to land a casino in New York for at least a decade. Wilmot was unsuccessful in building a downtown Rochester casino a decade ago; Flaum has long owned property in the Catskills to entice a casino developer.
In recent months, Flaum expanded his efforts into the Albany area and Henrietta.
Flaum said his proposals in Henrietta and Albany are independent of one another.
"The Senecas will be not coming with me on this project. They are focused on western New York. They're focused in Rochester," Flaum said.
He declined to comment about opposition in Henrietta to the casino, saying he is under a confidentiality agreement.
Flaum made a presentation Friday to the Albany City Council on the local proposal, saying the property would create thousands of jobs and pledging to create a $1 million to $2 million annual fund for community development.
He asked the City Council to support a resolution backing his plan. It includes a 63,000-square-foot casino, a 275-room hotel, a 40,000-square-foot indoor waterpark and a parking garage.
"This is where we want to be. And I humbly and respectfully ask you please to help us achieve this goal," Flaum said.
Council members were largely receptive. Council member Catherine Fahey said she's concerned about the social ills that could come with casino gambling. Flaum had a human behavioral specialist along with him to address concerns about gambling addition.
The Albany area is one of three regions in the state that is eligible for four privately owned casinos as part of legislation approved last year. The other two areas are the Southern Tier and Catskills.
A siting board through the state Gaming Commission will pick the sites, perhaps as soon as this fall. There are at least three casino proposals in each area.
Video: Flaum makes pitch in Albany
The 60-acre Albany site is located on Noonan Lane and is part of a compound of homes where Polly Noonan, the mother of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and other members of the powerful local political family have resided, the Times-Union in Albany reported Friday.
Flaum is teaming up with the Capital District Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. on the proposal. It would allow OTB to boost its coffers and share the revenue with 21 upstate municipalities in which it resides, the agency said.
Flaum, a Republican, been a major campaign contributor. Since 2010, Flaum has contributed $153,000 to Democratic and Republican campaigns in New York. He and his wife have contributed $98,500 to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's campaigns.
Flaum is also among the leaders of the Republicans for Cuomo effort. He denied any pay-to-play scenario, saying he support candidates who do good work.
"None whatsoever," Flaum said, when asked about any quid pro quo. "He took the state from the $10 billion deficit to a $2 billion surplus. That is amazing. My hat is off to him, and I'll support him any way I can."
Wilmot also gives out campaign cash. He has contributed $45,000 to Cuomo's campaign since 2010. Wilmot's company, Wilmorite, has proposed a casino with 2,000 slot machines, at least 100 gambling tables and a 200-room hotel in Tyre, Seneca County.
He responded late Friday to the lawsuit.
"Wilmorite respects the concerns of the citizens and looks forward to a review by the Town Board of our application that was submitted last evening," Wilmot said in a statement. "This lawsuit does not question Wilmorite's application and therefore we defer to the Town Board for comments on this lawsuit."
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Includes reporting by Press & Sun-Bulletin staff writer Jon Harris.
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