Diplomat Suzan Johnson Cook Endorses Freedom Plaza in Fresh Editorial: "Emphasizing Fairness, Chances, Sight, and Morals"
In the heart of East Midtown Manhattan, a transformative $11.1 billion mixed-use development project is taking shape. Known as Freedom Plaza, this ambitious project is the brainchild of the Soloviev Group in partnership with Mohegan, and it enjoys the support of figures like Rev. Dr. Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook.
Freedom Plaza is poised to become a vibrant metropolitan destination, offering a state-of-the-art casino, flagship hotel, food market, affordable housing, expansive open green spaces, and community resources. Spanning 6.3 acres, the project will reconnect the Murray Hill neighborhood to the waterfront, making it New York City's only tri-borough waterfront access.
Economic growth is at the heart of Freedom Plaza. The project is expected to generate nearly 40,000 jobs throughout the economy and $3.2 billion in annual economic impact. Over 25,000 construction jobs and more than 13,000 permanent jobs will be created, with a strong emphasis on workforce development. Mohegan, one of the project partners, is committed to training programs that aim to diversify the workforce and create careers, not just jobs.
Union backing and a community advisory approach underscore Freedom Plaza's commitment to inclusive economic growth and long-term community investment. The project will support 17,000 high-quality full- and part-time union jobs during construction and operations. It also allocates 30% of construction contracts and retail food opportunities to homegrown Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs).
Environmental sustainability and social responsibility are cornerstones of Freedom Plaza. The project invests in mentorship, technical training, access to capital, and bonding support for minority- and women-owned firms. It partners with organisations like the Queens Economic Development Corporation, Accompany Capital, Hot Bread Kitchen, Global Black Women's Chamber of Commerce, and Women on the Worldstage (W.O.W.).
Freedom Plaza also connects with programs like Helmets to Hardhats and Pathways to Apprenticeship to ensure workforce diversity. The project will deliver 1,049 new homes, including 513 units affordable for working families.
Rev. Dr. Ambassador Johnson Cook, a minister, former U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, and a native New Yorker, believes Freedom Plaza offers a better way for economic development, one rooted in equity, inclusion, and community. The project's partners include Mohegan, another partner in the project, which is the owner, developer, and manager of premier entertainment resorts in the United States and Canada.
The project is more than just a mixed-use development. It includes a daycare center, food market, museum dedicated to democracy, and community center. With its integrated approach to economic development, Freedom Plaza anchors economic vitality in good union jobs and affordable housing while reviving underutilized urban space into a mixed-use destination that bridges residential life, entertainment, business, and natural resources. By reconnecting historically disconnected neighborhoods to the waterfront and providing extensive amenities, it reshapes East Midtown’s identity and economic prospects, blending civic, cultural, and economic priorities in one place.
[1] Freedom Plaza Official Website [2] New York Times Article on Freedom Plaza [3] Architectural Digest Feature on Freedom Plaza [4] Crain's New York Business Article on Freedom Plaza
- The development project, Freedom Plaza, in the heart of East Midtown Manhattan, is set to feature a state-of-the-art casino and is involved in policy-and-legislation discussions regarding its operations, demonstrating the intersection of casino, politics, and policy-and-legislation.
- The ambitious Freedom Plaza project, which includes a daycare center and a museum dedicated to democracy, is making headlines in general-news outlets for its integrated approach to economic development that emphasizes equity, inclusion, and community, aligning with the priorities of civic, cultural, and economic progress.
