Story posted Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Seeking 'Common Ground' On Casino Displacements
By TIM O'CONNOR Journal & Topics Reporter
There's little help Des Plaines can offer to businesses being displaced by construction of the new casino at the corner of River Road and Devon, according to one city official.
"It's a difficult situation when people are being displaced," said Economic Develop Commission Chairman James Ulett. "The city is exploring all aspects of the displacement and we'll work to hopefully find some common ground or some resolution that will help."
New commission member Wendy Gruen, who owns a business with her husband at the site, brought the issue before the Economic Development Commission during their meeting Wednesday, Jan. 13. She was concerned her business, Turner Financial Services, Inc., wouldn't have enough time to move before construction begins this spring.
Director of Community and Economic Development Michael Conlan said he would contact Midwest Gaming and Entertainment, LLC, the casino's developer, to see if the company could give any type of assistance to the displaced businesses.
"We will redouble our efforts to provide any assistance we can," Conlan said.
But Ulett said the responsibility was on the building owners to help their tenants move because they are still under a lease. Ulett added he hopes the businesses remain in Des Plaines and that those companies can use the Economic Development Commission website to find a listing of vacant space in the city.
Although there isn't much the city can do to help displace businesses, Ulett said they're working hard to get local companies involved with the casino.
The commission is considering adding language to the casino's development agreement that would ask Midwest Gaming to give Des Plaines companies a preference for contracting daily operations such as dry cleaning or painting work.
"If we have a viable business give them the opportunity to bid on (casino) business," Ulett said.
Des Plaines companies can register through the Chamber of Commerce and city websites to be listed as a potential vendor for the casino.
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