THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2008
Arredia Remains Confident In Landing Casino Here
By TODD WESSELL
Journal & Topics Editor
There's little doubt that ultimately a decision will be made whether Illinois's 10th casino license will be awarded and if additional licenses to operate gaming establishments in the Chicago region will be approved.
The biggest question after years of lawsuits and disagreements is when will a decision be made.
With Illinois' deep financial problems hampering the state's ability to finance as much as $25 billion worth of road, bridge, school and other improvements, some believe that the day or reckoning is approaching. Of course, that's been said before. Still, at least two local players in the derby to see where one of the casinos will finally wind up aren't standing still.
Rosemont is continuing its quest to serve as the host community for the 10th license. Mayor Brad Stephens is recommending that the state of Illinois own the casino and it hire a company that specializes in casino management to run the operation. (See story in today's Journal & Topics).
Des Plaines, too, has not given up in its bold effort to land a casino. Having teamed with Chicago real estate billionaire Neil Bluhm, city leaders are optimistic that the state will eventually see it that way.
"I think we're in excellent position," said Des Plaines Mayor Tony Arredia Monday, sounding as confident as ever. He said he continues to receive feedback that the company that wants to own a casino in Des Plaines is in a solid position because it's "the cleanest group and has the most money."
Arredia said that every five or six months he speaks with Bluhm or company president Craig Carlin about the prospect of the state choosing Des Plaines.
"I ask, where are we?" Arredia said. "They're still paying on the property." That property, the former Xerox office building on River Road north of Devon Avenue, is the site chosen by Bluhm and Carlin to locate a casino in Des Plaines. They are paying regular fee to the owner to keep the property available if their plan is approved. It lies only a few blocks from Rosemont's northern border and close to O'Hare Airport which casino applicants say is critical to bringing in gamblers on layovers or staying in the area.
Arredia said it is his understanding that lawmakers are strongly considering approving three casino licenses. Mentioned is one in Des Plaines or Rosemont, one in downtown Chicago, and one in either the South or North suburban area.
"They have a good reputation," Arredia said about Midwest Gaming. "They recently opened a casino in Philadelphia."
Operating under the name of SugarHouse Gaming, Bluhm, Carlin and several other investors, developed a $550 million casino project on a 22.6-acre former refinery site on the Delaware River waterfront. Plans called for 3,000 slots, a pedestrian promenade and plaza, restaurants and boutique retail stores, possible gaming expansion, a 500-room hotel and an event center.
Midwest Gaming's Des Plaines proposal filed in 2004 and worth $360 million, calls for a 40,000 sq. ft. casino on a permanently moored barge located on the nine-acre parcel at 3000 River Rd. It included restaurants and a 300 to 500-room hotel.
"We all feel we're going to get it," said Arredia. "I'd like that to happen before I leave." Arredia's term in office expires in May of 2009. He cannot run for reelection due to term limits in Des Plaines, which restricts elected officials to two, four-year stints in office.