By CLOEY CALLAHAN
Sullivan County’s Resorts World Catskills will be expanding with a new gambling hall with video lottery terminals in the Newburgh Mall.
Senator James Skoufis called it a “big win for the Town of Newburgh and all of Orange County.”
He wrote in an Instagram post that the project was originally planned to happen at the old Nepera location in the Woodbury and Harriman area. When a comprehensive environmental review showed the site to be far more contaminated than suspected, they found a new location for the project. Skoufis said he negotiated the agreement to bring the gaming center to Orange County, a promising location considering the crossing of two interstate highways.
“It was of utmost importance to me that the proposal revitalized a community blight,” wrote Skoufis. “In this case, the Newburgh Mall, a dying property with its best days far behind it, will see a major renovation, receive an enormous infusion of investment, and lay the groundwork for attracting high-quality amenities in the remaining spaces of the mall.”
The enclosed mall, located near the intersection of Interstate 84 and the New York State Thruway, opened in 1980. Only one of its original anchor stores - Sears - remains. In its heyday, it also boasted retail giants like Caldor, Old Navy and Radio Shack.
Skoufis suspects the project will not only revitalize the mall, but employ “hundreds of permanent, good-paying jobs with an emphasis on hiring from the City of Newburgh.”
Annual local benefits will also be provided to the Town of Newburgh and surrounding areas, especially with legally required casino taxes and increased property tax payments from Newburgh Mall.
“This creates another entertainment option for people in Orange County while also creating jobs for area residents,” said Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus. “We are happy to see a new opportunity for the Newburgh Mall.”
Resorts World Catskills is based in Monticello, where they have an 19-story hotel and casino, in addition to an entertainment complex.
“Developing a VGM facility in Orange County has, for many years, been part of Resorts World’s long-term vision for Hudson Valley and the Catskills,” said a spokesperson from parent company Genting. “It will create hundreds of good-paying unions jobs, generate significant revenue for New York’s public schools, and is an important step in ensuring the long-term sustainability of Resorts World Catskills.”
The number of machines that will come to the former 68,877-square-foot Bon-Ton site in the Newburgh Mall has not yet been determined and a spokesperson has said they are finalizing projections. Skoufis said there would be more details to come in the next few weeks. Resorts World will present its plans to the Newburgh Town Board on February 22. Before construction begins, the project must go through a number of local approvals.
After the time of final approval, Genting said there will be six to 12 months of construction. The construction will allow for approximately 200 jobs. They expect the facility to have 200 to 225 employees. Genting said the jobs will be created almost immediately after approval.