New York's Times Square will not be getting a casino. The Community Advisory Committee voted down the proposal Wednesday morning by a 4-2 count. 

It's a major blow for the developers behind the Caesars Palace bid, effectively killing the project before it even reaches the state's licensing board.

"We've heard overwhelmingly from residents from Manhattan Plaza to Midtown, even small businesses, emailing, calling us, over 1,000 emails and phone calls saying they did not want this to be the economic driver in our district," Assemblyman Tony Simone said.

The Caesars Palace Times Square plan

The Times Square proposal centered around the Minskoff Theatre building, home of the Broadway hit "The Lion King."

The show would have gone on, but everything above the theater would have been transformed into a casino and resort. 

Developers SL Green, Caesars Entertainment and Jay-Z's Roc Nation said the project would generate an estimated $7 billion in taxes for the city and state, as well as thousands of jobs, and would boost local restaurants and shops.

"What you did here today was despicable, a display of cowardice," SL Green CEO Marc Holliday said.

A Caesars spokesperson said the company is disappointed, but respects the CAC's decision.

"While we are disappointed by the outcome, our commitment to New York remains unwavering," Caesars said in a statement. "We are proud of our strong partnerships across the state as anchored by our Caesars Sportsbook platform, where we continue to invest and innovate to serve New Yorkers. New York is a dynamic part of our national footprint, and we look forward to exploring future opportunities."

Hudson Yards casino also voted down

A second vote was also held Wednesday on a separate casino bid, called The Avenir near Hudson Yards on Manhattan's West Side.

The Avenir requested the Community Advisory Committee delay that vote, saying the CAC asked for more information Tuesday night and it hadn't had enough time to respond. However, the committee decided to move forward anyway, voting against the project 4-2.

"It's just very disappointing after working two and a half months with the CAC, and over two years with various constituents to put forth a proposal that we thought took into consideration everything that the elected officials wanted, the community board, and the hundreds of community residents that we met with," said Dino Fusco, COO of Silverstein Properties.

Supporters of the project argued the massive entertainment complex would help revitalize an area that's still struggling to bounce back after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This was a win for our entire ecosystem"

Both casino bids drew criticism, especially from Broadway producers and community members who raised concerns about adding more congestion to already crowded streets and diverting audiences away from shows, instead of boosting them.

"This wasn't just a win for Broadway; this was a win for our entire ecosystem," Tony Award winner LaChanze said.

New York is looking to award three downstate casino licenses, and there were eight proposals in the running. Each must win support from its local Community Advisory Committee before it can be considered by the state Gaming Facility Location Board.

There is still one more proposal in Lower Manhattan -- a United Nations site on the East Side -- along with others in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Yonkers.

All CACs are required to vote on their respective projects by Sept. 30.