Soloviev Group and Mohegan amend application to deliver an unprecedented response to the housing crisis facing New York City residents.
Freedom Plaza, the bold $11.2 billion civic and cultural vision for Manhattan’s East Side led by Soloviev Group and Mohegan, today announced a landmark commitment to make 1,080 residential units on site permanently affordable. Reinforced by a legally binding restrictive declaration, this positions Freedom Plaza to deliver the largest number of newly constructed affordable homes in Manhattan’s Central Core in more than a decade.
“We are prepared to answer the call from elected officials that New York City is in desperate need of affordable housing. The heartfelt testimony of neighbors – particularly young people – and the thoughtful input of community and civic leaders reinforces this decision,” said Michael Hershman, CEO of Soloviev Group. “Soloviev and Mohegan believe a gaming license is a privilege and an opportunity to leverage its full economic power to deliver social, civic, and community benefits that would not otherwise be possible.”
According to Ray Pineault, CEO of Mohegan, “Housing is the foundation of stability, and this commitment represents our unwavering investment in New York’s future. Honoring our values and culture, we are proud to join Soloviev Group in delivering a fully affordable, inclusive community that will enrich Manhattan’s East Side for generations to come.”
“By making every single home affordable, Soloviev and Mohegan are addressing New York City’s housing crisis with meaningful action,” said Jamie A. Smarr, President of the NYC Housing Partnership. “I have spent my career advocating for affordable housing, and I did not think I would ever see this type of commitment from private development. This will ensure that working families, seniors, and future generations will have access to quality housing paired with world-class amenities and public spaces that make neighborhoods thrive.”
As part of its broader community investment, Freedom Plaza recently announced a new partnership with Settlement Housing Fund, a nonprofit that has preserved more than 8,900 homes for low- and moderate-income families since 1969. Soloviev Group and Mohegan have committed $1 million to support the organization’s work at Tanya Towers. Located at 620 East 13th Street, Tanya Towers provides 138 permanently affordable apartments, many of which are home to residents living with disabilities, seniors, or veterans.
Over the past two years, Freedom Plaza leadership has engaged thousands of residents, activists, advocates, and civic leaders to talk about the public benefits that Freedom Plaza will bring together. Recognizing the impact of this once-in-a-generation project, more than 58 percent of those that participated in the two Community Advisory Committee (CAC) public hearings spoke in favor of the project, in addition to more than 5,000 individuals who have submitted written testimony to the CAC.
They join the 10,000 Manhattan residents and 250 local small businesses who previously signed a petition supporting the proposal. A September 2025 Tulchin Research poll further confirms this momentum, finding that nearly two-thirds of Manhattan voters support the project and 58 percent of voters in Midtown East specifically in favor.
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