Story posted Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Casino Plans Taking Shape
By TODD WESSELL Journal & Topics Editor
The planned new Des Plaines casino is apparently moving on a fast track as officials from three separate city panels are scheduled to review site and engineering plans this month.
Members of the advisory Des Plaines Economic Development Commission (EDC) will discuss the casino project at a public meeting today (Wednesday) in city hall at 7:30 a.m.
The city's plan commission has scheduled a meeting on Monday, Jan. 25 in city hall at 7 p.m. where detailed plans on the proposed preliminary Planned Unit Development (PUD) project will be discussed.
A day later on Tuesday, Jan. 26, city council's community development committee will meet in city hall at 6:30 p.m. where more discussion will take place.
The committee will forward its findings and any recommendations to the full city council.
A planned unit development usually encompasses a single large tract of land where major development is scheduled. In order for construction to begin, a final PUD must be approved by city council. The casino's owner, Midwest Gaming and Entertainment, LLC has said that it wants to begin demolition of two or three buildings where the gaming operation will be located as early as March.
Midwest Gaming, owned by Chicago real estate billionaire Neil Bluhm, plans to construct a 140,000 to 150,000 sq. ft. casino and 1,200-car parking garage on property located on the west side of River Road north of Devon Avenue. Long-term plans call for development of hotels and restaurants on the 20-acre parcel.
In December 2008, Midwest's casino plan was chosen over similar proposals from Rosemont, Waukegan and other towns to become Illinois' 10th licensed riverboat operation.
Projections are that as much as $9 million in new revenue will be generated for the city after committed payouts are made to the state and needy suburbs.
Should the land be cleared in March, construction could begin between May and July with the casino opening 16 months later.
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