MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST | (Biloxi, Gulfport, and other MS Coastal Cities) [Archive] - Page 4

BLX 101

Mar 24, 2008, 6:54 AM

Posted on Mon, Mar. 24, 2008
Popeyes founder Al Copeland dies at 64
By MARY FOSTER
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW ORLEANS -- Al Copeland, who became rich selling spicy fried chicken and notorious for his flamboyant lifestyle, extravagant weddings, bitter divorces and lawsuits over Christmas decorations, died Sunday at a clinic near Munich, Germany.
Copeland, who was 64, had been diagnosed shortly before Thanksgiving with a malignant salivary gland tumor. His death was announced by his spokeswoman, Kit Wohl.

After growing up in New Orleans, Copeland sold his car at age 18 for enough money to open his own one-man doughnut shop. He quickly turned the shop into a moneymaker and went on to spend 10 modestly successful years in the doughnut business.

After entering the chicken business without much success, Copeland chose a spicier Louisiana Cajun-style recipe and reopened the restaurant under the name Popeyes Mighty Good Fried Chicken, after Popeye Doyle, Gene Hackman's character in the film "The French Connection." The chain that grew from the one restaurant became Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken.

In its third week of operation, Copeland's revived chicken restaurant broke the profit barrier.

Franchising began in 1976 and the company grew to more than 800 stores in the United States and several foreign countries by 1989.

In 1983, he founded Copeland's of New Orleans, a causal dining, Cajun style restaurant. In the next two decades the chain expanded as far as Maryland and west into Texas.

He also started Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro and Fire and Ice restaurants and Al's Diversified Food & Seasonings - a line of specialty foods and spices for large national restaurant chains.

In March 1989, Popeyes - then the third-largest chicken chain - purchased Church's Chicken, the second largest. The two chains, operated separately, gave Copeland more than 2,000 locations.

The Church's purchase was heavily financed, however, and escalating debt forced Copeland to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the company in April 1991. Although Copeland lost both Church's and Popeyes in the bankruptcy, he retained the rights to some Popeyes products, which he manufactured through his Diversified Foods & Seasonings plants, along with a few Popeyes stores.

Copeland frequently made headlines away from his business empire.

His hobbies included racing 50-foot powerboats, touring New Orleans in Rolls Royces and Lamborghinis, and outfitting his Lake Pontchartrain home with lavish Christmas decorations, including half a million lights and a three-story-tall snowman.

In 1983, he was sued by his neighbors to remove the Christmas light display, which he said cost about $50,000 a month in electricity. The display attracted so many visitors the street was blocked for hours every night. Neighbors said they were held hostage in their own homes.

Ten years later, Copeland made an unsuccessful bid for a Louisiana gambling license. The successful bidder, Robert Guidry, later testified that he had bribed then-Gov. Edwin Edwards to secure the license.

In 2001, Guidry and Copeland ran into each other at an upscale restaurant in New Orleans and a fight started involving Copeland, Guidry, and Guidry's sons. Witnesses said that Copeland's then-wife, Jennifer Devall, who was six months pregnant, was knocked to the ground during the fight, and both Copeland and his spouse were hospitalized.

Copeland and his third wife, Luan Hunter, were married at the New Orleans Museum of Art on Valentine's Day 1991. As they left the ceremony rose petals were tossed from a helicopter and fireworks exploded over the building.

The original presiding judge at Copeland's divorce from Hunter, Ronald Bodenheimer, pleaded guilty to promising a custody deal favorable to Copeland in return for a possible seafood contract and other benefits. Two Copeland associates and Bodenheimer went to federal prison for participating in the conspiracy.

Copeland was never personally accused of participating in the scheme.

Survivors included five sons, four daughters, a brother and 13 grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were pending.

BLX 101

Mar 24, 2008, 7:41 AM

Red UM Rebel

Mar 25, 2008, 1:43 AM

I agree with your words of condolence. It is a shame. I bet now, as you first postulated BLX, that the land will be taken by the Hard Rock and be used for an addition of some sort.

BLX 101

Mar 25, 2008, 1:32 PM

I mentioned in a previous post that I had heard that he was ill but I didn't know that it was that serious. I am really sorry to hear of his passing. I pray that his family can soon find some peace and comfort. I am eager to learn what will become of the property that he has assembled in downtown Biloxi in an attempt to build a casino resort. For years, he had owned a couple of units in the former Wind Jammer Condominiums across from the Bombay Bicycle restaurant that he owned also. Since Katrina, the property has sat vacant between Hard Rock and Beau Rivage. It was the last piece of property Al needed in order to advance his hopes of buiding a Biloxi casino.

Posted on Tue, Mar. 25, 2008
Copeland had Coast ventures
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

BILOXI -- Al Copeland flashed around the Coast in his sports cars searching for casino sites and in his power boats racing in the Sound, and although he has died, his Biloxi ties remain.
The founder of the Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken chain and the owner of a Bombay Bicycle Club franchise in Biloxi, Copeland died Sunday at a clinic in Germany. He was diagnosed with a malignant salivary gland tumor last fall.

Biloxi Attorney Michael Cavanaugh talked to Copeland's representatives last week about developing a plan for the Biloxi property Copeland had amassed in the city. "I knew he was really ill," Cavanaugh said. "He fought this all the way and wanted to live much longer."

The 64-year old New Orleans businessman rose from childhood poverty and limited education to become a self-made millionaire. Although he achieved many of his financial goals, he didn't live long enough to realize his dream of owning a casino.

Now it's left to his son, Al Copeland Jr., and others in the organization to decide what can and should be done with the Biloxi properties. Cavanaugh said Copeland was buying land around the Bombay Bicycle Club before Hurricane Katrina destroyed the restaurant and felt the Biloxi development was more Copeland's deal than under the corporate structure.

"He acquired a lot of property," and Cavanaugh said he wanted to build a "lifestyle center," now referred to as mixed-use development with entertainment, retail, residential and office space.

Copeland also looked at the Broadwater site in Biloxi when it was up for auction several years ago. "He did not want to get into something as large as the Broadwater without a gaming partner," said Cavanaugh, and there wasn't time to put that kind of deal together.

Instead, he set his sights on the Windjammer condominium building between the Beau Rivage and Hard Rock Casino. Copeland owned two of the 48 condo units and, after Katrina destroyed the building, he was the lone holdout on an offer by California developers to pay $25 million for the site. His company matched the offer and Copeland saw himself as the only person who could build a casino there. The 1.5-acre Windjammer site alone is too small for a casino, he argued. By combining it with the land he owned across the street, the beachfront property could be developed as a casino resort.

Cavanaugh described Copeland as "gracious" and "full of life."

The Popeyes restaurants Copeland founded still dot the Coast and Copeland said in a 1998 Sun Herald interview, "Am I living the American Dream? If I am, I'm sure enjoying every minute of it."

BLX 101

Mar 25, 2008, 2:39 PM

After nearly 6+ years of promising a resort, the lot still sits empty. I have heard that one reason the lease was terminated was because there was no construction began before 2008. The owners of the lot as part of the lease was going to gain more revenue once a casino was operational. I think you will see the owners of the property now try to attract a different group (most likely a corporation) to the spot. As another forum person pointed out though, being that close to I-110 will be a very difficult sell.

Although I have faith in Marlin Torguson as one of the founding casino developers in Biloxi, I must admit that I was never sold on the location but thaught that the design was unique and would be a great addition to the coast. A resort right next to a freeway on a ditch, would be a difficult sell. Maybe the lease expiration is good news afterall. If Marlin has found a more suitable location, I'm all for it. Can you imagine two large resorts, designed by Dale/Morris, sitting side-by-side on Biloxi's Back Bay? I believe that the property immediately to the west of Vieux Crescente would be the perfect location for Bacaran Bay. The two properties would create an enormous amount of synergy on the bay. If the city follows through with the suggestion to develop a mixed-use Seafood Festival and Market Place in this area, it would generate even more local and tourist excitement. It would be awesome if Marlin could partner or negotiate with the owners of this property. I'd like to hear you guys thaughts.

Velastor2

Mar 26, 2008, 2:13 AM

This from WLOX

The Bacaran Bay casino project on Caillavet Street will be built, without condominiums, and without its creator Marlin Torguson. On Tuesday, members of a newly formed company called the Phoenix Gaming Group confirmed that they now control the Caillavet Street site.

Their plan is to reconfigure Bacaran Bay, refinance it, and move it forward. Whatever the new design looks like, it won't include condos. Phoenix Gaming Group spokesman John Ed Ainsworth says the market isn't right for condos to be part of a casino resort.

Torguson has agreed to be a minority equity holder and a consultant on the new design. A news release from the Torguson Gaming Group, Inc. says it has entered into an agreement with Caillavet Street Development Group, LLC (CSDG), owners of the land under the proposed Bacaran Bay Casino Resort and Firegame, LLC, a finance company holding security interests in some of the land, to convey the majority of its land and interests in the project to Phoenix Gaming Group, LLC, a new company formed by all three parties to direct development of Bacaran Bay Casino Resort.

According to Torguson said, "We are pleased to remain a partner in the Bacaran Bay project and are committed to working with CSDG to support the success of the resort. It is important the project will go forward with local ownership. Our agreement will also allow us to pursue other gaming developments."

Ainsworth says no timelines have been established yet to develop Bacaran Bay.

Velastor2

Mar 26, 2008, 2:13 AM

Btw for some strange reason I had to reregister because my password got screwed up and I couldnt get the site to send me a password reset. So ive added a 2 to my name.

BLX 101

Mar 26, 2008, 2:46 PM

I'd have to strongly disagree with Mr. Ainsworth's statement. I see absolutely no reason why condominiums, as part of a casino development, can't work in Biloxi. Especially if it has the right location...location...location. Maybe, the Phoenix Gaming Group should reconsider their selected site? I understand that Katrina, the insurance and now the economy issues, that some regions are experiencing, may have affected the sells; but in time, it would have worked. Other than a better location, I would suggest that they build the resort as designed and utilize the condo units as part of the hotel inventory. Once those issues (condo sells) have been resolved, they could upgrade and convert the units back into condominiums. It has been predicted by the economic experts that the Katrina affected region will continue to do well over the next several years. This is due to the billions of dollars and the incentives that were put in place by the government to rebill and stimulate growth. People that would normally travel to Vegas, are more likely to visit the coast because it's a more affordable gaming destination and a lot closer.

BLX 101

Mar 26, 2008, 3:51 PM

Posted on Wed, Mar. 26, 2008
Bacaran Bay Casino is on track again
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

BILOXI -- Bacaran Bay Casino is back on again with changes to the design and new management.
Torguson Gaming Group announced Tuesday it had come to an agreement with the property owner, Caillavet Street Development Group, and finance company, Firegame. CEO Marlin Torguson retains an interest in Bacaran Bay. "He and his staff will provide some consulting services to the project," said John Ed Ainsworth, managing member of Caillavet Street Development Group.

"This effectively allows the Bacaran Bay project to go forward," said Ainsworth. "The name Bacaran Bay will remain," he said, but there will be other changes. "There will be no condos in the new project," and the bowling alley and some of the other amenities will be eliminated in the new design.

There will be between 700 and 900 hotel rooms plus restaurants, and an additional 300 hotel rooms built in a second phase.

Caillavet Street Development Group and Firegame will be the primary partners in the Phoenix Gaming Group, a new company formed with Torguson to direct development of Bacaran Bay.

"We are pleased to remain a partner in the Bacaran Bay project," said Torguson, "and are committed to working with CSDG to support the success of the resort. It is important the project will go forward with local ownership. Our agreement will also allow us to pursue other gaming developments."

Ainsworth expects the reorganization to be complete in three to four weeks.

and a new management team and investment partner to be announced soon after. "We're going to get the project under way as soon as possible."

BLX 101

Mar 26, 2008, 6:17 PM

Posted on Wed, Mar. 26, 2008
Recession-proof?
By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAS VEGAS -- In a town enthralled with its own mythology, Las Vegas would like to hold on to one myth in particular these days: Gambling is recession-proof.
It's conventional wisdom characteristic of a city and an industry far more accustomed to boom than bust, but it's just not true, experts say. Gamblers, whether motivated by compulsion or hope, don't necessarily double down when the economy spirals and belts tighten.

"It's an old idea that has very little relevance and maybe no relevance to the United States today," industry analyst Eugene Christiansen said.

Christiansen and others trace the notion to decades old economic research conducted when gamblers' options in the U.S. were limited to horse racing and a handful of Nevada resorts. Such tight supply ensured demand for gambling was steady.

"They fared pretty well," said William Eadington, a professor of economics and director for the University of Nevada-Reno Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming. "Part of this was a pent-up supply of gaming product."

Not so in 2008, when 48 states have some form of legal gambling and millions of Americans are within driving distance of a slot machine. Casino companies today have moved gambling to the mainstream of the U.S. tourism and entertainment industry and have moved themselves into the competition for consumers' discretionary spending.

MGM Mirage chief financial officer Dan D'Arrigo said his company, which owns Beau Rivage in Biloxi and Gold Strike in Tunica, sees no difference between the way consumers manage their gambling dollars and the entertainment and lodging spending that has grown to make up the majority of casino companies' revenue.

"They're all in one bucket," he said.

With the housing market tanking and gasoline and food prices rising, operators are seeing the effects of that bucket being emptier than it used to be. Still, gaming companies are going ahead with resorts that will add thousands of new rooms in Las Vegas.

A survey of 19 states with casino or race track gambling found about half saw gross gambling revenue drop in December 2007 from the year before. (Mississippi's gross gaming revenue for December, normally one of the slowest months of the year, was a record $103.54 million.) In January 2008, the portion grew to 12 of the 19 states, including Nevada. The state saw gambling revenue fall nearly 5 percent from a year ago to $1.06 billion, although analysts note it's too soon to discern a clear downward pattern.

Harrah's Entertainment, which owns Grand Casino in Biloxi and is the world's largest gambling company by revenue, noted several soft patches in its fourth quarter earnings report.

Because companies have started to cut budgets for employee travel and conventions, booking cancellations have increased and attendance has dropped at major conventions, Harrah's chief executive Gary Loveman said.

Room rates are "off a bit," he said, and consumers who don't use the company's loyalty rewards card - typically low-rollers - have been the first to drop off.

MGM Mirage noted similar weak spots, despite reporting a revenue increase of 4 percent, which was aided by a rush of foreign investment. Dubai World, the investment arm of the Dubai government, completed a joint venture giving it a 50 percent stake in the $8.1 billion CityCenter megaresort on the Las Vegas Strip.

While the CityCenter development remains a bright spot on the horizon, other smaller projects face uncertain futures due to the shaky credit market. In January, the Cosmopolitan, a casino resort under construction on the Strip, defaulted on a $760 million construction loan from Deutsche Bank and appears to be moving toward foreclosure. Questions also have been raised about the future of The Plaza, a 3,500-room resort modeled on The Plaza Hotel in New York.

Atlantic City properties are more clearly feeling the pinch of competition from new Pennsylvania slot parlors and tight credit markets.

The city's gambling halls suffered through a 10-month decline in revenue until a much welcomed 1.5 percent uptick in February. Pinnacle Entertainment recently announced it was considering scrapping a $2 billion megacasino project if credit markets don't improve.

Christiansen said such news has precedent. In 1991, when the U.S. was facing a similar mix of economic woes, the casino industry felt the blow. After outpacing increases in personal income for most of the 1980s, the growth in gross gambling revenue fell behind that year.

This time around experts and executives are talking about the industry's resiliency, rather than immunity, to economic downturns.

"Historically, gaming has been extremely resilient, very durable and held up better than almost any other sector during recessions," MGM Mirage president and chief operative officer Jim Murren said recently.

The industry, particularly in Las Vegas, pointed to several factors to bolster the claim.

Compared with other top U.S. tourist destinations, major gambling hubs - Las Vegas and Atlantic City - are still affordable to the bargain traveler.

D'Arrigo said MGM Mirage has seen an increase in comparison shopping for room rates with visitors opting for companies' mid-market properties over high-end luxury resorts.

Meanwhile, the high-end resorts may increasingly fill up with international travelers, thanks to a U.S. dollar so weak that a Las Vegas Strip room at the tony Bellagio can seem like a bargain for tourists from Europe and Asia. Roughly 13 percent of all visitors to Las Vegas are from outside the U.S. and that number is expected to rise.

But Eadington notes Las Vegas' fortunes are often closely tied to the development of new properties that create buzz and draw repeat visitors. In the past, when gambling revenue in the city has bested economic growth it's been in the wake of a building boom.

It's too soon to know whether the first new resort hotel on the Strip in three years, Las Vegas Sands' $1.9 billion Palazzo which began opening in late December, will be that sort of driver.

Early signs don't look promising. The number of visitors to Las Vegas fell slightly in January compared with year-ago numbers. Daily drive-in traffic has slowed compared with last winter, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Many analysts are looking farther down the road to the late 2009 opening of the CityCenter project and its 6,300-rooms for the rebound.

"There are a lot of arguments that this should be a softer market in '08 that it was in '07," Eadington said.

Robbie Hamilton, a regular at the Hooters and Orleans hotel-casinos, makes one such argument. The 27-year-old student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas typically spends at least $40 a week betting on games, but he expects that amount to fall as gas prices rise.

"Gas and gambling kind of come out of the same pocket," he said. "I'll have to have less action because my gas tank needs it."

BLX 101

Mar 27, 2008, 2:19 PM

Due to the present slow sells in the local condo market, some of the previously proposed projects will not be built, according to Mike Boudreaux, the founder of Gulf Coast Investment Developers. He does however, remains optimistic about the future of condos here on the coast. I myself, believe that it is a good thing because I feared that they would overbuild. I don't want to see a wall of condos like in Miami or the Florida panhandle, but a few well designed projects that are able to co-exist with the magestic Oaks. I believe that we will begin to see more hotel developments in the near future to support the expansion of the convention center. And over the next couple of years, see a return of the beachfront restaurants if the insurance rates continue to decline along with a couple more hurricane-free seasons. That would be the best thing for the coast, not an over-kill of condos. The condo developers along the central beach strip are banking on the rezoning approval of the Gold Coast Casino. They feel that it is esential in order for their projects to remain viable. I believe that the city council will agree and grant the rezoning at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday. Once it is approved, the Tivoli will gain new life. I personally am in support of both casino projects but fear a domino effect along the western beachfront. I hope to see several mixed-use developments downtown and on Back Bay.

Biloxi Condo Market Not As Plentiful As Once Anticipated

Posted: March 26, 2008 04:09 PM CDT

Updated: March 26, 2008 04:40 PM CDT

BILOXI (WLOX) -- The decision to eliminate condos from the Bacaran Bay casino project is a reminder to developers that south Mississippi is not the condo market they hoped it would be. The list of condo proposals WLOX News has reported on in the past that are no longer being sold includes the Tower at Edgewater, Bienville, Pelican Plantation, Shores of Paradise, and Bacaran Bay.

Bacaran Bay's Caillavet Street property is just like Shores of Paradise at the old Hook, Line and Sinker site on Highway 90. They both have signs on them touting condos. But developers now say neither condo project will ever be built. Mike Boudreaux was part of the team trying to market and sell Shores of Paradise and a variety of other condo proposals around Biloxi.

"We had 14-17 developments pre-Katrina. We lost eight of those," he said, citing the sagging market as a contributing factor.

Yet, despite the appearance that so many people are turning away from Biloxi condos, Boudreaux remains optimistic about their future.

"I am very optimistic. I'm also a realist in that again, things aren't selling like they were before," he admitted.

A few weeks back, the head of RW Development told WLOX News sales of his initial South Beach condominium building on the southside of Highway 90 were going strong. And Granville Smith said other RW condos would be built along the Biloxi strip. Especially if the city council gives his company permission to put a casino at the foot of Veterans Avenue.

"What we think is the gaming component will become the economic engine that will allow us to finance and develop a project of this scale," Smith said.

Mike Boudreaux says approval of that casino project will dictate what happens to other condo sites in this area of Biloxi.

"If there is a silver lining along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, it's what Katrina provided, meaning everything destroyed is being rebuilt, but being rebuilt better," Boudreaux said.

The zoning change needed to allow casinos at Biloxi strip properties, where condos never materialized, could be voted on next Tuesday.

According to the director of Biloxi's planning department, 27 condo projects have been proposed for properties around the city. Ed Shambra said If they were all built, just more than 13,000 condo units would be in the market. However, those numbers were as of last September. And Shambra says it's likely they haven't been updated to include condos that are no longer being built.

By Brad Kessie

BLX 101

Mar 27, 2008, 2:26 PM

Error

BLX 101

Mar 27, 2008, 4:17 PM

Posted on Thu, Mar. 27, 2008
Casino incentives OK'd
By MICHAEL NEWSOM
mmnewsom@sunherald.com

JACKSON -- A bill giving tax breaks to casinos to build non-gambling amenities - South Mississippi's last surviving piece of legislation for the 2008 session - passed the Senate Wednesday after a lengthy debate.
The bill was part of a deal between the House and Senate. The Senate, which has a large anti-casino faction, agreed to the incentives package. The House, where there is more support of casino gambling, agreed to pass the Senate's moratorium on casino counties.

House Bill 1196, offered by Rep. Diane Peranich, D-Pass Christian, provides tax breaks to casinos that invest more than $10 million on non-gambling developments. It covers theme parks, water parks, cultural or historical centers, motor speedways or other large, non-gambling tourist attractions. The bill would also provide incentives for hotel investments of more than $40 million, as well as golf courses with investments of more than $10 million.

The bill was up against a deadline Wednesday. The Senate amended the House's bill and the two will have to agree on language before it could be signed into law.

Senate Tourism Chairwoman Lydia Chassaniol, R-Winona, said she was excited the bill passed both houses, which it had failed to do in several attempts. She said that over the years, north Mississippi senators have cast the bill as a morality issue to defeat it, but she believes it's really an economic issue.

Sen. Billy Hewes, R-Gulfport, Sen. Tommy Gollott, R-Biloxi, and Sen. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, championed the bill in the Senate Wednesday. They sparred with Sen. Gary Jackson, R-Kilmichael, who is a Baptist pastor, as well as Sen. Hob Bryan, D-Amory, and Sen. Alan Nunnelee, R-Tupelo.

Gollott - one of the architects of the legislation that allowed offshore gambling in the mid-1990s - told the Senate that casinos are driving the recovery from Hurricane Katrina and are pumping out some $250 million in state tax revenue each year.

"If we would not have had gaming back when Katrina hit, we would have asked that the last one to leave Biloxi please turn the lights out," said Gollott, whose family leases land to casinos.

Hewes said the incentives plan would allow a casino group to take advantage of incentives already offered to other businesses through past legislation that excluded casinos. The bill would allow a casino to recoup up to 30 percent of the project's value over a 10-year period, by giving it access to a percentage of the sales tax the project creates. Coast senators said the incentives would likely cause much investment on attractions in the state from casino groups.

Bryan said he doesn't believe casinos are interested in building other attractions to keep people out of the casinos, but Baria said that he and many South Mississippians go to casinos to eat or see shows and never gamble.

"People can buy Playboy for the interviews, too," Jackson said in response to Baria.

The Senate vote Wednesday was 34-16 and the only member of South Mississippi's delegation to vote against the measure was Sen. Billy Hudson, R-Purvis.

A Senate bill that would limit casinos to the counties where they are currently legal passed the House Wednesday.

Senate Bill 2199 was amended in the House and the two chambers will have to come to terms before the bill can be signed into law.

Behind the scenes, lawmakers brokered a deal on the two pieces of casino legislation. The incentives bill was killed last year by anti-gambling forces in the Senate and the deal required pro-casino lawmakers to vote for the geographical limit, and anti-casino ones to vote to allow the incentives.

The moratorium on casino expansion, which has also failed in previous legislative sessions, would not affect plans for tribal casinos because American Indian groups operate as sovereign nations and do not have to adhere to state law.

A motion to reconsider was entered on the moratorium bill, and that will have to be dispensed with before the bill could move forward.

Peranich

Gollot

Hewes

Baria

BLX 101

Mar 29, 2008, 8:41 PM

I must say that I am very impressed with Biloxi's downtown Renaissance thus far. It seems as though all entities are on the same page with regards to the selection of the right business establishments, their locations and architectural designs. Approved this past Tuesday by the council, was an upscale jazz club and eating establishment on Howard Avenue. The large building which was the former Merchiston Hall Furniture store between I-110 and Caillavet Street, will be renovated (according to the renderings) to look like a New Orleans style club. The architect is Frank Genzer, who also designed the new Hancock Bank that will be built just to the east on the Northeast corner of Howard and Caillavet. The former Union Planters Bank on Lameuse Street, just north of Hardrock, has previously been approved for a blues lounge that will feature live entertainment. The Music Bank is the name that was given during the permitting phase. It is a beautiful building also with wrought iron balconies. Venues, a sports bar that also serves meals during lunch hours, recently opened on the Northeast corner of US 90 and Caillavet across from the Beau Rivage; business seems to be good. The new multi-event center, also home of the new public library, will be on Howard as well, just east of downtown on the large vacant lot that use to be Dukate school. The downtown renaissance would be almost complete if two mixed-use developments were to come to fruition: City Place on Main Street and Lameuse Place on a large block, at the eastern end of the Vieux Marche, where the former federal court building sits gutted and vacant.

http://www.sunherald.com/201/story/454924.html

http://www.biloxi.ms.us/PDF/peoplesbank.pdf

http://www.coasttransit.com/images_upcoming/New%20Facility%20North%20View%201.JPG

The Biloxi city council has scheduled a special 11a.m. meeting this Tuesday to hear about plans for a Wyndham hotel at the downtown small craft harbor. Previously, developers were proposing Harbor Point Condominiums at this location.

http://biloxi.ms.us/mayor/sotc2007/SOTC-0607pg12.pdf

The following link is a development near LSU in Baton Rouge that I feel would be an excellent choice as a mixed-use project as Lameuse Place on the site of the former federal court building in Biloxi.

http://www.fieldhousebr.com/

http://www.cordarocompanies.com/includes/City_Place_Flyer.pdf

On the next link, click on Recent then scroll to Village at Bon Secour. A similar development on Back Bay near Vieux Crescente, incorporating a casino with a mixed-use fishing village that has been proposed for this area would be awesome.

http://www.dalearch.com/

The following is a link of an aerial view of downtown Biloxi. The intersections of Howard and Caillavet to the left, and Howard and Reynoir to the right are visible with the BVM Cathedral in the center. See if you can locate the sites of the new businesses and developments.

http://www.archiplanet.org/wiki/Nativity_BVM_Cathedral

On the link below, scroll down and click on downtown Biloxi over the Vieux Marche.

http://bigeyeinthesky.com/Default.asp?CID=Katrina

Red UM Rebel

Mar 30, 2008, 3:50 AM

http://www.sunherald.com/201/story/454924.html

http://www.biloxi.ms.us/PDF/peoplesbank.pdf

http://www.coasttransit.com/images_upcoming/New%20Facility%20North%20View%201.JPG

The Biloxi city council has scheduled a special 11a.m. meeting this Tuesday to hear about plans for a Wyndham hotel at the downtown small craft harbor. Previously, developers were proposing Harbor Point Condominiums at this location.

http://biloxi.ms.us/mayor/sotc2007/SOTC-0607pg12.pdf

SORRY! This post is incomplete because I must go to work. I wiil update it later.

I had not heard anything about Wyndham. That is very interesting. Pulling hotels like Hilton and Wyndham will be just another step in the right direction. Having nice non-gaming facilities will be crucial. With the current bust on Condos, nice hotels will serve as a great replacement.

There is an article on WLOX about the rebirth of Sharkheads in Biloxi near the RW Development's South Beach. I am glad to see that the tacky store is coming back; I always loved to take family there. The plans call for the store to be elevated 25ft and a restaurant on the third floor.
www.wlox.com

Velastor2

Mar 30, 2008, 6:42 AM

Here is the link about sharkheads he was talking about.

http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=8081251&nav=6DJI

While I was on Spring Break I managed to convince my folks to drive down to Biloxi and eat at one of the casinos, but mainly I just wanted to get a chance to see the progress since last July when I was last in the area. I have to say the new bridge is beautiful, especially at night when all the lights on the bottom come on. A few things I noticed;

The lots where houses once stood look much better now that they are cleaned up and grass is growing. Although it is strange still to see the long strip along the beach of nothing but grass.

The beach seemed to be having major work going on because there was a lot of piles of sand all up and down the beach.

I noticed a new sea wall/piles of concrete behind the Hard Rock and Beau. Is this to break the waves during storms and to protect boats or is this for the fish?

It looked like the first part of the RW development is nearing completion and the new Dillards, I think its Dillards, looks really nice on the outside.

I saw the 2 new gas stations going up, the one in download looks decent for the location, but the other one, the kangaroo station, looks like one of the old gas stations.

I also saw some other building underconstruction at the street where you turn into Hard Rocks parking deck. I tried to figure out what it was, but I couldn't see a sign from US 90.

It looked to me like Biloxi had redone most of the sidewalks up and down the US 90 and work was being done on what hadn't been replaced.

The only casino we visited was Hard Rock because my parents had free comped buffet and it looked like they had moved a few machines out into the lobby area since my visit this summer. I'm guessing they had wished they had built the casino a little bit bigger.

All in all though it seemed like all the casinos were busy that day even with the slowing economy which is good news for all the people working in the industy.

BLX 101

Mar 30, 2008, 4:21 PM

I had not heard anything about Wyndham. That is very interesting. Pulling hotels like Hilton and Wyndham will be just another step in the right direction. Having nice non-gaming facilities will be crucial. With the current bust on Condos, nice hotels will serve as a great replacement.

http://biloxi.ms.us/cityatwork/cityatworkdetail.asp?ID=638

BLX 101

Mar 30, 2008, 4:48 PM

The beach seemed to be having major work going on because there was a lot of piles of sand all up and down the beach.

I also saw some other building underconstruction at the street where you turn into Hard Rocks parking deck. I tried to figure out what it was, but I couldn't see a sign from US 90.

It looked to me like Biloxi had redone most of the sidewalks up and down the US 90 and work was being done on what hadn't been replaced.

The sandbeach restoration (replenishment) has been ongoing for several months now and is nearing completion; it looks great. Plans to rebuild the boardwalk and rest stations have been delayed because of the rebuilding of US 90. Mdot says that it would have caused them to not meet their mandatory deadline. All six lanes of the new Biloxi Bay Bridge will open completely this week, coinciding with the completion of US 90 from the bridge to I-110.

The new building under construction at the corner of US 90 and Main Street near Hardrock is McDonald's, with a more architectural friendly facade.

BLX 101

Mar 30, 2008, 5:16 PM

futuresooner

Mar 30, 2008, 5:18 PM

I'm really looking forward to returning to Keesler AFB for nearly a year of school, leaving Jacksonville. It was in such shambles when I first was there from FEB to MAY of 2006, I actually teared up a bit. It'll be nice to relax with my boys on the beach again. How does the water look now btw? Is it still Mississippi River mud brown?

Red UM Rebel

Mar 30, 2008, 5:30 PM

futuresooner

Mar 30, 2008, 5:43 PM

Biloxi just needs to make this their motto: " Biloxi, All the fun of Las Vegas, plus a beach!" :tup:

BLX 101

Mar 30, 2008, 6:12 PM

I will first be surprised if Wyndham actually builds in the harbor, but I find it unlikely that those chains would build in Biloxi. We are not the destination yet. Now in five years, if three or four new casinos open, including the Marg.Ville and possibly something big on the Broadwater property, than sure. There will have to be even more convention space though than is already under construction and many many more non-gaming options for entertainment.

I disagree with you. The numbers are consistently astounding wall street. These companies see the big picture (forecast). They will help the coast in obtaining the tier-one status that the coast is destine to reach. The coast is a well sought after convention location. The research has already been done. It is estimated that the coast will need approximately 1 million sf of convention space, including hotels and casino resorts in order to become a tier-one destination. Those international hotel chains are coming in to support the 400,000sf of meetng space that the convention center will offer when the current expansion is complete in 2009. Bill Holmes, the director of the Coast Coliseum and Convention Center has stated in the media that the commission is actively seeking funding to finance a future expansion within the next three to five years. That is the main reason why they are seeking to relocate the coliseum. They are already planning for another expansion to include an onsite hotel which was recently approved by the state legislature. I have addressed some of this in my recent posts. You will start to see more non-gaming entertainment return to surpass what was previously offered. Biloxi officials reported in the media this week, that they now have more rental units (apartments) on hand than they did prior to Katrina. And construction is still ongoing, not to mention the surrounding areas. North of the bay and I-10, constuction is full steam ahead on dozens of new housing subdivisions. The housing issue is being addressed. The industry (housing) realize that the casino, government and other jobs that are slated to come, will not if there isn't adequate housing to meet the needs. To many people, the coast is a very desireable place to live. Our schools are above the nations average with a number of them rating as level 5's (highest), Biloxi being among them. There's a variety of new technical jobs from Stennis Space Center, the industrial seaway, Keesler, Jackson County (Pascagoula/Moss Point) and the recent Eads-Northrop Grumman defense deal in Mobile to replace the Airforce aging tanker fleets. In recent years, the auto industry have taken notice of what Mississippi has to offer, opening a Nissan manufacturing plant in Madison and now a Toyota plant is under construction in Tupelo. Rumor has it that a third auto plant maybe coming to one of the six coastal counties. Predictions have the Mississippi Gulf Coast's population at more than 1 million within the next fifteen years. That's why these companies are coming. Analysists say that the economy in Mississippi and the Central Gulf Region will continue to be fueled by the billions of dollars that is circulating to rebuild the local infrastructure and new developments. With the settlements of insurance claims and federal grants, people here in general have more exposable income. Case in point, Dillard's reopened its Edgewater Mall store the weekend of March 1st for the first time since Katrina, along with new company stores in Houston, Tx; Macon, Ga and a fourth location. The Edgewater mall store exceeded the sales of the other three combined for the first week. If the economy is thriving here while it is slumping in most of the nation, what do you think will happen? Not to mention the fact that although we have seen a cost in living, it is still relatively lower than moast places. Now as the population inches closer to that predicted 1 million and our infrastructure begin to feel the strain, expect for that to change.

futuresooner

Mar 30, 2008, 6:41 PM

I really believe the MS Gulf Coast is poised to become one of America's Top 10 destinantions in the coming years. Katrina was actually a mixed blessing. It gave a large, clean slate for the cities to work with, especially Biloxi, now that the infamous "Strip" is gone. The Beau Rivage is currently the crown jewel, but I think within the next 5 years, it'll be dethroned big time. Expect to see some heavy hitting hotel chains to appear. Four Seasons wants a larger Gulf of Mexico coast presence, with Panama City Beach and Biloxi high on their radar. Eventually, New Orleans, G-B, and Mobile Metro areas could merge into a single, large metropolitan center, and it will probably happen before 2030 at current rates.

BLX 101

Mar 30, 2008, 8:09 PM

Biloxi just needs to make this their motto: " Biloxi, All the fun of Las Vegas, plus a beach!" :tup:

Plus a beach and three hundred years of rich cultural history. Mild (He-he) temperatures, awesome deep sea fishing, golfing, museums, food and shopping (more on the way... two Targets, Kohls, Marshalls, Macy,s ect....).

Regarding the water, unfortunately it will always be murky. If you want clear/emerald water with waves, you'll have to take a trip twelve miles out to one of the numerous barrier islands that help to create the Mississippi Sound. The mouth of the Mississippi River is due-south of Biloxi and the currents carry its contents inland. The barrier islands block the waves causing the silt to become trapped in the calm sound. It doesn't mean that the water is dirty or contaminated. There are plenty areas where the clear blue and emerald waters have a higher content and sometimes unsafe bacteria than our murky waters. One of the major benefits of murky water is that it has a higher amount of nutrients, thus becoming home to a variety of marine animals which is the reason why Mississippi is known for having the largest amount of Atlantic Bottle Nose Dolphins, its great deep sea fishing and once the seafood capital of the world, prior to the casinos buying up most of the cannery properties.

Red UM Rebel

Mar 30, 2008, 8:40 PM

I disagree with you. . . . .

I don't disagree with you, but even in your synopsis you put three to five years. It will be three to five years until these chains become VERY interested in the Coast. Wyndham is not the key, its hotels like Marriot, Sheraton, Loews, Omni, Intercontinental, or Westin that really signal growth. I don't disagree with you that the Coast is a great place to go. I just feel you are unrealistic with your expectations, at least for the time being. Now as I said, five years down the road with continued growth, then it would be a no brainier.

Velastor2

Mar 31, 2008, 3:11 AM

What the coast needs more of are those little action, adventure parks. Those you see with the bumper carts, go carts, a few water riders, bungy jumping things, and other little rides. A massive amusement park would be nice, but getting those smaller scale adventure parks like we had before katrina would be a nice addition.

Red UM Rebel

Mar 31, 2008, 6:35 AM

BLX 101

Mar 31, 2008, 8:30 PM

I was checking out the webcam today and noticed there are two large cranes on site, which is awesome. I also noticed they have started on the backside where the restaurant is supposedly going to be located. Obviously they are lifting the resort off the ground some, but I wonder what the space underneath will be used for. It looks too small for parking.

I just cannot wait till it gets its own website.

The space underneath will be utilized for parking. It is higher than what it appears from the camera image. In this Thursday's planning commission meeting, Harrah's is requesting the approval of two very large temporary signs to be placed along the south side of US 90 for the duration of the construction phase. They are to stand forty feet high. Hopefully, these two signs will give a virtual interpretation of what the project will look like. I also agree that it is time for Margaritaville to have its own website.

Red UM Rebel

Apr 1, 2008, 9:46 PM

By MARY PEREZ
SUN HERALD

BILOXI --A local developer wants to build a Wyndham Harbor Pointe Resort at the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor with a McElroy's Harbor House Restaurant on the lowest floor.

Kyle Gagne, senior director of franchise for Wyndham Hotel Group, told the city council at a special meeting this morning that the resort would include 400 hotel rooms, a spa and fitness center, meeting space and high-end retail shops. Besides McElroy's, there would be and a three-meal hotel restaurant with room service.

"This is it. This location has to be the one," Gagne told the council, and said the company's timeshare division is also very interested in bringing a resort to Biloxi.

LINK (http://www.sunherald.com/newsupdates/story/465626.html)

WLOX Story

Brad Kessie

BILOXI (WLOX) -- Biloxi may have found the non-gaming anchor that it needs to reinvigorate its waterfront. Wyndham Hotels presented a plan to the Biloxi City Council that would bring the world's largest hotelier to the small craft harbor.

Wyndham Hotels spent about a year looking for a site in Biloxi to build a four star resort. At the same time, Mickey McElroy was looking for a developer to take over a condo project that longer seemed viable. When the developer and the leaseholder met, they realized they had an opportunity to do something special in downtown Biloxi.

McElroy's Seafood Restaurant was always considered a special part of Biloxi's harbor area. But like so many other businesses, it got washed away by Hurricane Katrina.

Now, developers of the Wyndham Harbor Pointe Resort want to turn the McElroy's site into a 400 room hotel on Biloxi's waterfront. Wayne Hengen is McElroy's attorney. "It's bigger and better for everybody in the city of Biloxi, for the whole south Mississippi area for that matter. It's the Wyndham for goodness sakes," he told the Biloxi City Council.

Supporters of the Wyndham project showed council members a rendering of the 24 story resort that could be built in downtown Biloxi. Wyndham's representative at the council's special meeting was Kyle Gagne. "We love the project," Gagne said.

So does Mickey McElroy. The hot dog vendor turned seafood restaurant owner currently controls the lease at the small craft harbor site. "I'm just tickled to death that we got this far with it," he said. "I think it will be an asset to the community. I think Wyndham is first class. I wouldn't have entertained it had it not been a first class operation."

McElroy's original plan was to put a condo tower on the small craft harbor site he leases from Biloxi. But when the condo market weakened, McElroy turned to the Wyndham group. It considered the waterfront area next to Hard Rock Biloxi, and just down the street from Beau Rivage, an A plus location for a hotel.

Hengen sees the upside as well. "Having this available for casinos to spill over on and tourists to come to, it's going to be a win-win for everybody," he said.

Traffic is always a development concern. In this case, Mickey McElroy said traffic was a bonus. "The traffic is going to be phenomenal," he thought. "And right now, you know what we need on the coast, we need traffic."

If it's approved, the hotel would have 400 rooms. And the top couple of floors could be sold as condo units.

Biloxi city council members have asked the mayor to begin negotiations with Wyndham, to see if a lease can be ironed out. If Wyndham signs a lease, attorneys say financing to build the small craft harbor hotel could be secured in six to 12 months.

LINK (http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=8102183)

Red UM Rebel

Apr 1, 2008, 9:48 PM

BILOXI --The Biloxi City Council today voted 5-2 to approve rezoning for the RW Development South Beach Casino Resort.

The move allows developers to ask the Gaming Commission whether the property at U.S. 90 and Veterans Avenue is a legal casino site.

The council also voted unanimously to allow Mayor A.J. Holloway to begin negotiations with Wyndham Harbour Pointe Resort and Mickey McElroy for a hotel and restaurant at the small craft harbor.

LINK (http://www.sunherald.com/newsupdates/story/465766.html)

Velastor2

Apr 2, 2008, 12:18 AM

Velastor2

Apr 2, 2008, 12:24 AM

Ah there is a rendering on the video posted on WLOX.com and it doesn't look to bad.

Vinu007

Apr 2, 2008, 11:15 PM

So many buildings were destroyed in the Hurricane. its nice to hear that they are rebuildings some of those buildings..

BLX 101

Apr 2, 2008, 11:48 PM

I hope a rendering of the new propossed Wyndham tower is up soon. I believe that 24 stories is a little bit high because I think hard Rock is going to be much shorter than this hotel, but if the building looks good the height shouldn't matter.

With RW getting aproval from the council and mayor it looks like it falls to the gaming commision to decide.

I emailed a couple of people at The SunHerald to voice my disappointment for not enclosing photos with today's online article of the proposed Wyndham Harbour Pointe Resort. A photo is in today's hardcopy issue. I received a returned email apologizing, stating that it was an error and that they would try to get it uploaded sometime today.

I was able to attend both council meetings yesterday and the presentation of the hotel development by Kyle Gagne, senior director of financing and managed sales for Wyndham Hotel Group was quite impressive. The developers and all parties involve were there in a full united force to stress their serious commitment to this project. It is very unusual for the city to here a first proposal and immediately enter negotiations for a lease; such a thing would typically take one to two months. Also there were virtually only one person to speak in oposition of the Gold Coast Casino Resort in a standing room only council chamber. A stark contrast to the voting on the Tivoli Resort.

The architect firm for Harbour Pointe is Dean and Dean Associates of Jackson. They also have had an office in downtown Biloxi since Katrina.

http://www.deandean.com/

Red UM Rebel

Apr 3, 2008, 2:26 AM

:previous: Well write them again, i need a picture for the thread!

Red UM Rebel

Apr 7, 2008, 4:24 AM

futuresooner

Apr 7, 2008, 10:32 PM

Five tower cranes? If so, good lord. This area will have a new tree so to speak, the tower crane over the next few years.

pleasebiloxi

Apr 8, 2008, 3:14 PM

Velastor2

Apr 8, 2008, 5:15 PM

Velastor2

Apr 8, 2008, 11:05 PM

South Beach Casino heading to Gaming Commission

BILOXI --
Mayor A.J. Holloway has signed the zoning change for the South Beach Resort & Casino, and now it will be up to the Mississippi Gaming Commission to decide if the casino will be built north of U.S. 90 on the Biloxi Strip.

Public Affairs Manager Vincent Creel confirmed today that Holloway ratified the City Council's vote for a zoning change. Creel said Holloway gave the matter much consideration, especially after last year vetoing the proposal for the Tivoli Casino north of U.S. 90.

"Since there is already development on the south side of the Biloxi Strip, near where Gold Coast is proposing to be located, I do not believe this project would create pressure to open the entire beachfront to casino gaming," Holloway said. "In fact, this land was zoned for casino development from 1993 until recently, so we're not changing the rules for the casino resorts that are already here."

BLX 101

Apr 9, 2008, 5:39 PM

The gaming commision's job is to say if the site is Legal by state law. They will read the law and judge based on that alone. Whether the site falls within the 1500 foot mean high tide zone or if the proposal meets other standards, like size and cost. I think that if the project meets those then they gaming commision will give them the go ahead to build.

1500 feet is incorrect, that is a number that was initially proposed but 800 feet is what the legislature settled on because 1500 feet would have caused too much erosion of the surrounding communities. Also, if this is approved by the gaming commission, it will be a first. To date, no casino has been developed on the north side of Hwy 90 without controlling land adjacent to the sound (water's edge). Although RW Development owns property south of Hwy 90, it is not adjacent to the sound. There is several hundred feet of public sand beach between the Mississippi Sound and RW's property. The public sand beach is the sticky point. Where the local confussion comes in, which has led to hot confrontations in previous meetings, is what is considered the mean high-water tide. The state legislature didn't quite distinguish this in their bill. As you know, Harrison County is home to the world's longest man-made beach. The twenty-six miles of sand beach was constructed in 1951, prior to that, the mean high-water tide was the then man-made seawall. Thus, the gaming commission's task will be to determine whether the water's edge or the seawall is the mean high-water tide. The water's edge is constantly changing, due to constant erosion and each sand beach replenishment.

Regardless of the ruling, Mayor Holloway has vowed to oppose (veto) any casino development which he feels may lead to opening up the entire beachfront, particularly directly across from the public sand beach as was the Tivoli proposal. His view regarding the Gold Coast Casino site is that: it isn't neither directly adjacent to nor across from the public sand beach; the area was recently changed from waterfront which would have allowed gaming; and finally, The Strip as it was called, has long been the entertainment district of Biloxi with it's many motels, restaurants, illegal gaming halls and strip clubs. Believe it or not, at one time, the Biloxi strip was as popular as the Vegas strip being ran by mafias (Dixie) with its seedy activities, illegal gambling and frequent visits of Hollywood celebrities such as Elvis Presly (his second home), Jane Mansfield and others playing the clubs. Gus Stevens ran one of the most popular clubs at the corner of Veterans (Pat Harrison at the time) and Hwy 90, the exact site of the proposed Gold Coast Casino. Several factors led to the demise of the Biloxi strip: Hurricane Camille in 1969; the construction of I-10 in the early '70s (rerouting traffic from US Hwy 90); the fall of the Dixie Mafia in the '80s, in the wake of the Sherry murders (the novel Mississippi Mud); and gaming was not legalized in Mississippi until 1990.

BLX 101

Apr 9, 2008, 9:18 PM

Now that RW is approved by the city it is up to the gaming commission. Any predictions? Why? I am unfamiliar with this part of the process. If the city wants it, why would the gaming commission deny it? I think the general consensus is that people in Biloxi either want the project or don't care. I was at the city council meeting for both RW and Tivoli and the feelings of opposition were night and day. I believe the RW site does more for the city than the Tivoli deal. Sure Tivoli would have generated a lot of tax revenue, but the RW site does the same plus open a whole new corridor (Veterans Ave.) for the city, which will generate even more revenue. It seems that if this casino/resort can get approved that Biloxi could have a true lifestyle community there where you could have everything you need within walking distance between the beach and Pass Rd. Let me know what you think.

While I can not be certain, I do feel that there is a very good chance that the gaming commission will approve this site. No-one ever that that the Bacaran Bay site would get approval. It is on Keegan Bayou, which is literally a ditch. They have made similar rulings in Tunica County. The majority of those casinos are not on the Mississippi River, but on ditches, some are up to two miles inland. Although they have certain requirements to adhere to, the overwhelming factor is...whether or not the project have the united support of the local government, businesses and citizens, which Gold Coast clearly does.

Velastor2

Apr 10, 2008, 12:15 AM

When is the city planning to widen Veterans Ave for this project. I know in all this pictures it shows what looks to be a 4 lane road with trees in the center with RW stuff on either side. Yet on my last trip to the cost I tried to find Veterans Ave and couldn't locate it among all the RW signs.

BLX 101

Apr 11, 2008, 1:22 AM

In a conversation at the last council meeting, Mr. Boudreaux told me that they are indeed looking into developing some of the previously proposed condos as hotels while still offering some condo units.

Posted on Fri, Apr. 11, 2008
Ten condos’ approval lapses
By MARY PEREZ
SUN HERALD

BILOXI -- The approvals have lapsed on one-third of the condominium projects planned for Biloxi. That is 10 out of 30 projects, including Revelay Condos near the Coast Coliseum and Vue Crescente on the Back Bay, which was being considered as a casino site. Other less known projects, such as Beau Soleil Condos and Benachi Bay Townhomes, also had their approvals lapse.
“We feel it’s a combination of things,” said Biloxi Community Development Director Jerry Creel. His department hasn’t received notice from the developers of any of the 10 projects that they want an extension and he feels “they probably just lost track of time.”

Others may have changed their plans because the condo market has cooled since these approvals were given in 2006, not long after Hurricane Katrina.

Creel said once the developers see the published list, they will likely come to the city and ask for an extension. That process starts with the Design Review Committee, which will make sure the developers aren’t making any major changes to the approved master plan. The Biloxi Planning Commission and City Council will also have to approve any extensions, as they did recently with the Broadwater Casino and the site of the former Holiday Inn in front of the Coast Coliseum.

Minor changes can be approved by the DRC but if the developers decide to change their plans substantially and build hotels rather than condos, “They would have to come back,” said Creel, and go through the approval process again.

Two condo projects are under construction in Biloxi: South Beach Condos on Beach Boulevard and Sand Dollar Condos on McDonnell Avenue.

Last year the city issued 347 permits for $348 million in commercial construction and Creel said the numbers are fairly strong this year. Insurance continues to hold back development, but he said he is confident the problem is being solved and the city will be bombarded with projects.

http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNspecialReportBiloxiCondoSlowdown040708.htm

http://www.biloxi.ms.us/PDF/condostatus.pdf

BLX 101

Apr 11, 2008, 2:28 AM

Hey BLX,

Check the first post and make sure everything is updated correctly. Also please let me know anything I am missing.. Thanks!

Also: Five cranes now on site at margarittaville, Can't WAIT! Any news on Isle being redone blx?

I noticed that the photo of Bayview Casino Resort did not take and there are non of Gold Coast. It would probably be a good idea to post the rendering of the new William Carey University at Tradition which held its ground breaking ceremony the first of this week. The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast should be revealing plans for their new two hundred acre I-10 site later this year. I unfortunately recently lost hundreds of photos of new developments due to a lost account which I was unable to retrieve.

BLX 101

Apr 11, 2008, 3:12 AM

Yesterday, I emailed the investment developer who is marketing the City Place development. I suggested that in order to ensure that the project is viable and becomes a reality, that they offer the lower tower as condo units above retail and commercial space and the higher tower as a Sheraton Biloxi_City Place Hotel & Suites. He returned my email thanking me and asked me to give him a call to discuss the idea. I was late checking my email so I'll have to call him in the morning. Sheraton has a similar hotel in St. Louis. Some of you may find it interesting that the Treasure Bay Casino Hotel was originally the Sheraton Hotel before being renamed The Royal D'Iberville. The Hilton Hotel which was destroyed by Katrina, was nearby on the site of Ocean Club where the second condo tower is slated to be built. Both convention hotels were built in the early '70s following Hurricane Camille and was in operation until the mid '80s when they were sold.

http://www.cordarocompanies.com/includes/City_Place_PACKAGE.pdf

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1364

Red UM Rebel

Apr 13, 2008, 2:25 PM

By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

HARRISON COUNTY --Thirty-one months after Hurricane Katrina, the pieces are finally falling in place for the comeback of Beach Boulevard, but just how the 26-mile stretch of the Mississippi Gulf Coast between the bridges will look in a couple of years is a big question.

Now the FEMA flood elevations are known, the insurance rates are beginning to drop, U.S. 90 is being repaved and the cities have money to write comprehensive plans. The dreams and drawings for the Coast cities of Harrison County can be transformed into steel and concrete.

"Each city, county and community has a vision of what they want to be," said Biloxi Community Development Director Jerry Creel.

Biloxi will be a resort town, Gulfport a port with a mixed-use downtown, Long Beach a college beach town and Pass Christian a graceful, family-friendly tourist destination. Will or should the architecture for each of these cities and their personalities match the others?

"I don't know that we'll ever have one consistent theme for the entire Gulf Coast," said Creel, who believes that might be a mistake anyway. "That could create a boring landscape," he said. "Uniqueness is what sells."

He points to how being different works for the Biloxi casinos. Boomtown is country and Hard Rock is rock 'n' roll. "They have their own market that they're targeting," and both are successful.

Beach Boulevard will be a study in mixed use, with hotels, casinos, condos, Southern homes, shopping, marinas, a university and downtowns sharing the road.

"I think it will have a real diversity of architectural styles," said Coast architect Frank Genzer, who is designing several of the homes and businesses being built along the Coast.

Many developers want to see something that looks more traditional. "Others have their own vision," culled from the places they have visited such as Miami or the Florida keys, he said. South Beach Resort has Miami flair, he said, Island View Casino is a stylized traditional look and the Beau Rivage Resort is sort of Mediterranean.

Depending on the developer, "When they come in usually they'll spend some time looking at what's here," said Laura Brown, vice president and corporate liaison for Gulf Coast Investment Developers in Biloxi.

"There are a lot of mixed-use developments that are being planned," she said, and although residents aren't familiar with them and current Coast zoning regulations aren't conducive to mixed use, she said she believes they can be "a diversified development that's good for both visitors and locals."

The new architecture will pull the elements of Coast tradition into what will work today given the cost of materials and the stronger construction required. Historically, "This area was the summer getaway," Brown said, and Craftsman influences and cottage style were favored over the lavish style of city homes. "It's a little simpler, a little cleaner lines down here."

In Gulfport the challenge is to give the downtown a modern edge but retain the buildings and architecture Coast natives remember from their childhood. "We're ready to embrace new development," said Lisa Bradley, executive director of the Gulfport Main Street Association, but the new construction must respect the old design.

A very large mixed-use project is close to launching downtown in a prime location, she said, and the harbor will undergo a transformation to make it a destination. "Let's see it be something really special now" is the plan for the harbor, which will be fisherman-friendly and have shopping, family activities and upscale and casual seafood restaurants.

Bradley said Gulfport has "huge plans for Veterans Administration property and "we've got developers clamoring."

This week, said Mayor Chipper McDermott, Pass Christian will see the groundbreaking of two big projects near the beach: the Penthouse Condos near the Wal-Mart site Monday and Harbor Town mixed-use development at U.S. 90 and Market Street on Wednesday.

McDermott's seen the preliminary plans for Pass Christian's new beachfront Wal-Mart and said with its arches and design, "they've never built one in the South like this one." Construction begins in November; the Wal-Mart will open in early fall 2009.

The rebuilding of the city is going to take time, said McDermott, who estimates in five or 10 years "somebody's going to have a really great town." Pass Christian has more houses being rebuilt along the beach than other areas along the Coast because the city is six miles long and only one mile wide, so much of the development is concentrated along the shore.

Mayor Billy Skellie doesn't have a vision for the future look of Long Beach. But he can appreciate good design when plans are submitted, like the French Quarter look for a project on Jeff Davis, Long Beach's main street. The architect is drawing plans for a new Long Beach City Hall and Skellie hopes it will set a guideline for development.

"Basically I'd like to see more substantial buildings than what we've had in the past," he said, buildings that will still be standing along the beach after the next hurricane. Among the businesses that have returned, "Waffle House was first on the beach," and the city has a new Kangaroo gas station, McDonald's and Burger King. The architecture of the fast-food restaurants was an improvement from what was there before the storm and he said, "I'm glad they've come back to us."

The charrettes held across the Coast soon after the storm showed the Coast what is possible. "Ocean Springs is determined that their community will not be overrun by mediocre architecture," said Genzer. He said the cities in Harrison County should be equally protective of their landscape. He thinks they aren't asking enough of the fast-food restaurants, gas stations and convenience stores.

These franchises have plans they use in resort and upscale areas. "Once it's built it's there for 30, 40, 50 years," said Genzer. "We ought to demand the very best architecture on Beach Boulevard."

A Coast comeback

A vision of what Beach Boulevard will look like from the Bay St. Louis Bridge to the Biloxi Bay Bridge across Harrison County shows a variety of architectural styles. A few examples, from west to east:

1. Pass Marianne Condominiums, Pass Christian

2. VA property development, Gulfport

3. Armed Forces Retirement Home, Gulfport

4. South Beach Casino, Biloxi

5. Ocean Club at Biloxi

6. Biloxi Lighthouse Visitors' Center

7. Ohr-O'Keefe Museum pods, Biloxi

8. McDonald's franchise, Biloxi

9. St. Michael's Church, Biloxi

LINK (http://www.sunherald.com/278/story/486616.html)

Red UM Rebel

Apr 14, 2008, 2:53 AM

The first page should be pretty accurate. Thanks for help BLX.

BLX 101

Apr 14, 2008, 6:39 AM

You're welcome.

Construction is well underway at the Coast Convention Center. The steel framing looks awesome. I will have to email Mr. Bill Holmes to see what's the possibility of installing a construction webcam.

No response as of yet.

Speaking of steel framing, I have several updates:

The large steel framing on the site of the proposed mixed-use City Place in Biloxi was dismantled over the past week. It was once the skeleton of the mechanic shop at Dee's Chevrolet. I made an attempt to call Mr. Gregg Cordaro per his request following my email to him, but his secretary said that he was out of the office and forwarded me to his voice message. It is my belief, that this development isn't just a pipe dream and that Mr. Cordaro is committed to getting it out of the ground.

If you go to Margaritaville's construction web cam # 2, You'll notice that steel framing is beginning to rise from the elevated concrete deck on the far east of the construction site. You may need to utilize the zoom feature and maneuver the picture.

http://www.harrahs.com/casinos/grand-biloxi/casino-misc/margaritaville.html

Although you can't see any construction from US 90, there are several visible (tall) cranes on the site of the Armed Services Retirement Home.

futuresooner

Apr 14, 2008, 6:53 AM

Leave it up to Waffle House to keep their crappy design, aight food, but at least take that big sign down to size, its ugly, and directly in front of the Beau Rivage, COME ON!:yuck: You can be sure to see probably some of the South's most cutting edge designs on the way here, look at The Avalon.

Red UM Rebel

Apr 18, 2008, 3:41 AM

By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

LINK (http://www.sunherald.com/newsupdates/story/498578.html)

BILOXI --
Mayor A. J. Holloway welcomed the Mississippi Gaming Commission to Biloxi and the Hard Rock Casino this morning and said he hopes they will look favorably on the Gold Coast Casino.

Now known as the South Beach Resort and Casino, the project was rezoned by the Biloxi City Council. It now goes to the MGC to determine if the site on the north side of U.S. 90 on the Biloxi Strip is a suitable casino site.

Chairman Jerry St. Pe said the city could count on the MGC being "aggressive visionary partners."

Executive Director of the MGC Larry Gregory said he met with officials from the South Beach Casino and expects, "within 60 days we'll know one way or another" whether South Beach Casino will be approved.

Check back to the Sun Herald for updates.

BLX 101

Apr 18, 2008, 3:19 PM

See my last post for the update, I was attempting to do a quote but edited instead. :shrug:

Velastor2

Apr 19, 2008, 7:34 AM

Now that we are seeing some shape forming from Margaritaville, I wonder if the Isle is gonna release their new plan any time soon.

BLX 101

Apr 19, 2008, 7:56 PM

No updated news as of yet. Last information given was that the plans are still being reviewed but construction is expected to resume within the next several months.

Red UM Rebel

Apr 23, 2008, 6:15 PM

Gold Coast Pictures!!!! (THANKS BLX)

They will be updated on front page also!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2090/2436321673_fe193bff1c_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2387/2436321639_3ce82035c3_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/2436321709_bcc614f712_o.jpg

pleasebiloxi

Apr 23, 2008, 7:49 PM

Apparently the Tivoli group and others want to take another run at it. What are everyone's thoughts? Does this negatively effect what RW is trying to do? I realize they have different issues, but will the gaming commission look at RW and fear that its approval will open up casino development along the North side of 90? I believe this is bad timing and almost spiteful to an extent. Why would they not just wait and use RWs approval as leverage for their argument instead of adding more controversy to the issue.

Red UM Rebel

Apr 23, 2008, 9:11 PM

Council seeks public hearing
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

LINK (http://www.sunherald.com/casinos/story/509377.html)

BILOXI --Six months after Mayor A.J. Holloway vetoed rezoning the Tivoli Casino project in East Biloxi, neighbors in that area want the Biloxi City Council to start the process of rezoning the property between Kuhn and Dukate streets - including the Tivoli site - to waterfront for casino development.

Former Biloxi Mayor Jerry O'Keefe and his wife, Martha, asked the council to direct the planning commission to hold a hearing on the rezoning proposal. The same process was followed for the Tivoli Casino, with the council asking for the zoning change rather than a developer. Although the City Council narrowly passed the Tivoli developers' rezoning request, Holloway's appeal overturned the rezoning.

Jerry O'Keefe said, "Most of this property has remained undeveloped since 1969" and Hurricane Camille. The O'Keefes' attorney, David Wheeler, said rezoning to WF would allow multifamily homes, restaurants, bed and breakfast inns, hotels and casinos, and make the area "inviting to a developer."

Councilman Bill Stallworth said the zoning request excludes the sand beach, and the residents' zoning request stops at the toe of the seawall. The Mississippi Gaming Commission would still have to determine if the property is a legal casino site.

"You know I'm totally against it," said Councilman George Lawrence, in whose ward the property is located, but he went along with the other councilmen in voting to request the public hearing.

"I'd like to see it studied," said Councilman Charles Harrison. And Councilman Ed Gemmill said, "Something has to happen to have reinvestment in the city of Biloxi and it has to start on the beach."

In other action, the council rezoned 10.6 acres of land south of the IP Casino Resort to WF so an onshore casino can be built there.

Owen Nitz, a co-trustee of the IP, estimated it will take two to three years to build the casino, although the company will start immediately on an employee fitness and health center.

"It's a pretty expensive project," and Nitz said the economy and the expense of long range planning are factors in the timetable for the new casino resort.

"We're doing ok," he said. "We're still No. 2 (casino) in Biloxi. We know Margaritaville is coming. We have to look at the future - and we are."

Red UM Rebel

Apr 23, 2008, 9:12 PM

LINK (http://www.wlox.com/global/story.asp?s=8214597)

BILOXI (WLOX) -- WLOX News has confirmed that Hard Rock's biggest investor has a deal pending to buy the old Windjammer condo site. And that should pave the way for Hard Rock to expand its downtown Biloxi resort.

Papers were signed Tuesday night so the Leucadia National Corporation could buy Windjammer's 1.6 acre property, plus its harbor.

The property being sold is immediately to the west of Hard Rock's swimming pool. So, it could easily be incorporated into future expansion plans.

A purchase price, and a closing date, have not been released.

BLX 101

Apr 23, 2008, 9:18 PM

Looks as though Hardrock got there wish after all. I for one, did not care to see some small or out of place development in the heart of Biloxi's historic downtown district.

Velastor2

Apr 24, 2008, 8:20 PM

Now if we could get them and the Beau to work together on a walk way so people can get out of that wonderful 100 degree weather in the summer.

BLX 101

Apr 25, 2008, 11:56 AM

http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNnewsInfinityProjectRocketdyneDonation042408.htm

http://www.infinitysciencecenter.org/highbw/main.htm

http://www.islandstrikz.com/

Expect additional attractions at Gulf Islands Waterpark over the next couple of years. In an earlier email, management at the park told me that a new attraction was possible for this year and that they are here for the long haul and expect to compete with Blue Bayou waterpark in Baton Rouge. As conditions continues to improve, I'm hopeful that SixFlags Inc. will commit to rebuilding the New Orleans Gulf Regional theme park.

http://www.gulfislandswaterpark.com/

Now what we need is something similar to a Celebration Station. An ideal location would be near Edgewater mall on the site of the former United Artist Theatre.

http://www.celebrationstation.com/

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Listing/Profile/Profile.aspx?LID=14638282&StepID=101&RecentlyViewed=true&ItemIndex=15&PgCxtDir=Down

I'm also hopeful that Marine Life and an aquarium will be rebuilt on the coast. Before Katrina, the J. L. Scott aquarium in Biloxi was about to undergo a $76 million expansion with more than 700,000 gallons of marine exhibits which was also designed by Dale & Associates. Maybe they could be combined and emilate the John C. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

http://www.danheller.com/images/UnitedStates/Illinois/Chicago/Aquarium/Slideshow/img7.html

BLX 101

Apr 25, 2008, 1:33 PM

Here is my solution to saving some of the large proposed condo projects on West Beach Boulevard. The developers should partner with international hotel chains. This would provide Biloxi with first-class non-gaming resorts to support the expansion of the convention center, thus creating a tier-one destination. The condo towers would be reconfigured to offer traditional hotel rooms, suites and condo units while remaining true to their original designs. The condos could be utilized as condo-tels and leased on short or long term basis. The partnerships would be as follows: Shores of Paradise as a Marriott Resort; Pelican Plantation as a Hilton Resort; Revelay as a Hyatt Resort and a Wyndham Resort at the former Biloxi Beach Inn site just west of Beau View Towers.

http://www.vistaroyaleresort.com/

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3bh8u_revelay-biloxi-mississippi_travel

http://www.shoresofparadise.com/

http://www.biloxi.ms.us/PDF/condostatus.pdf

The following resort (designed by Dale & Associates but never built in Panama City Beach, Florida) with two lower flanking towers would make an excellent Biloxi Beach Wyndham Resort just west of the Beau View Tower. During the recent unveiling of the Wyndham Harbour Pointe Resort, company representative Kyle Gagne stated that Wyndham's timeshare division were also interested in developing a Biloxi resort.

http://www.dalearch.com/portfolio/hospitality/hosp_6.html

Yesterday, I emailed Mr. Drake Leddy of the Ocean Club development to voice my disaproval of his consideration of adding a casino to the site. I suggested that he instead build the second condo tower as the market dictates and the third tower as a hotel. I also suggested that he partner with a well known and proven hotelier such as the Omni Group. The following is his reply.

Dear Mr. ?????:

What is interesting is that we are exploring a hotel on the Phase 3 Parcel at Ocean Club. We have not totally put away any thought of a Casino on the Phase 2 site, but we are not actively pursuing that option and are actively looking at a variety of land uses. So it seems more likely than not that someone is listening to your prayers.

Drake

http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/CorpusChristiBayfront.aspx

http://www.oceanclubatbiloxi.com/

Velastor2

Apr 26, 2008, 3:35 AM

It seems a lot of the old condo plans are being slowly converting into hotel rooms. I think the best bet would be for them to shoot for around either 80% hotel and 20% condo or 90/10....Either way I see hotels as being a much easier sell than a condo on the coast.

Red UM Rebel

Apr 26, 2008, 5:55 PM

I agree Velastor. Since there still is such a huge hotel room deficit compared to before the storm, I think hotels are far more important than condos right now.

Red UM Rebel

Apr 27, 2008, 2:41 PM

The Bacaran Bay website has been updated!

www.bacaranbay.com

Velastor2

Apr 27, 2008, 5:00 PM

Lets just hope it doesn't take this new company 5+ years to get it off the ground.

Red UM Rebel

Apr 28, 2008, 3:41 AM

:previous:

We can only hope. I would still be skeptical though...

BLX 101

Apr 30, 2008, 3:28 PM

Posted on Tue, Apr. 29, 2008
Pushing Pine Street
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

BILOXI -- Hurricane Katrina wiped out the mostly residential Pine Street neighborhood in East Biloxi. Now the property owners are looking for developers to rebuild the area with restaurants, shops and entertainment venues.
One of the properties is a five-acre lot just north of Fifth Street where Tom Brosig envisions four or five restaurants like Wolfgang Puck's. "That quality, that level" of branded, recognizable restaurants, said attorney Michael Cavanaugh, who is representing the neighbors.

The location is just north of the Grand Biloxi and Margaritaville casinos, west of the Palace and Isle of Capri casinos and south of the casinos on the bay - "right in the middle of everything," said Cavanaugh. If the residents, who have formed the Pine Street Development Committee, and developers can create a zone and define it as a tourist destination, "It will draw people there," he said, "especially if it's a loop street."

Pine Street is the last leg of the Casino Loop in East Biloxi, which already connects Beach Boulevard on the south to Caillavet on the west to Bayview on the north. The city has budgeted $750,000 to complete the loop, and Cavanaugh said Pine Street is the closest road that can be a thoroughfare, since all the land to the edge of Pine is already zoned waterfront or could be.

Cavanaugh also represented several of the Pine Street neighbors who last year banded together to have their collective properties zoned waterfront. That zoning is necessary for a casino site and also permits hotels, shopping and multifamily housing.

"It's very preliminary," Cavanaugh said of the plans he showed to the Biloxi Planning Commission recently. Similar to the Oak Street neighbors, who are working together to determine how they want their street to redevelop, the Pine Street neighbors decided to chart their own destiny. They have identified "this is where and what we think will work."

The property owners are mixed nationalities, including some Vietnamese, and they see a mixed use for their neighborhood with some housing but mostly commercial. "They're talking about duplexes, townhouses and lofts," said Cavanaugh.

With Harrah's planning to widen sections of U.S. 90 for Margaritaville Casino, now may be the time to complete Pine Street, Cavanaugh said, and the neighbors would like it to be a boulevard with trees in the center.

There are a lot of developers out there who want to build and invest in Biloxi, and Cavanaugh said that by creating this plan, "It makes the developer understand that you have willing landowners."

Property owners on Pine Street in East Biloxi have created a vision for their neighborhood and now are looking for developers to make it happen. They propose shops, restaurants and entertainment that will draw visitors to the neighborhood.

http://www.sunherald.com/278/story/520827.html

BLX 101

Apr 30, 2008, 11:33 PM

Yesterday I noticed heavy equipment moving dirt on beachfront property between Treasure Bay and the site of the proposed Shores of Paradise. Hopefully it's another national chain restaurant. Nevertheless, it's a sign of continued progress on Biloxi's beachfront. A contract for the new beach boardwalk was awarded today.

Posted on Thu, May. 01, 2008
Hooters coming back to beachfront
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

BILOXI -- Hooters will return to Beach Boulevard and other restaurants could follow.
RW Development has submitted plans for a 6,500-square-foot Hooters restaurant to be built on the northwest corner of U.S. 90 and Althea Street, across from the Sea Breeze condominiums. Community Development Director Jerry Creel expects a construction permit to be signed in the next week to 10 days.

"We have been asked for some information from some other restaurants wanting to locate in the South Biloxi area," but Creel said it is too early to name the restaurants.

Hooters is one of the first restaurants other than Waffle House, McDonald's and casino restaurants to return to the Biloxi beachfront since Hurricane Katrina.

There are more than 400 Hooters restaurants in the country. The chain is known for its waitresses and its chicken wings and also serves hamburgers, steaks and seafood.

Creel said Hooters didn't require any zoning change or variances and green space will be provided all around the perimeter of the building. It will be west of RW Development's South Beach complex under construction on U.S. 90.

When the Biloxi Planning Commission meets today at 2 p.m., only two items are on the agenda. After recent meetings that have run more than three hours, Creel said this is a welcome break but not a sign building requests are slowing.

"We don't think people are pulling back," said Creel. "I'm sure we'll make up for it on the 15th," when the next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled.

"We get calls every day," from prospective developers, Creel said, and after a list of projects with expired permits ran in the Sun Herald, Creel said two developers contacted him with plans to ask for an extension.

http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNnewsKatrinaMcDonaldsandMore050508.htm

BLX 101

May 1, 2008, 12:10 PM

Construction to finally begin on the long awaited retail development that will bring the first of two Targets to the coast. The names of the eleven anchors have yet to be named but the city of D'Iberville recently approved waivers for two Target signs. The two developing partners are major players in the retail industry. Officials say that the 72 acres could eventually expand to 125 acres because nearby property owners have signed on to be included in the development. The other Target is slated for a retail development in Gulfport at Hwy 605 and Dedeaux Road off I-10. :banana:

Posted on Fri, May. 02, 2008
Make room for The Promenade
By MICHAEL A. BELL
mbell@sunherald.com

D'IBERVILLE -- A shopping center packed with major retailers and larger than the Gulfport's Crossroads is coming.
Construction on The Promenade, a 700,000-square-foot "power center," begins this month on 72 acres near interstates 10 and 110, according to a news release.

"Certainly it demonstrates that though the national economy is slowing, the economy in South Mississippi is not," said City Manager Richard Rose, adding the center would create more than 1,000 jobs and increase sales-tax revenue.

Rose said a confidentiality agreement prohibits him from disclosing the businesses that have signed on. However, CBL & Associates, co-developer of The Promenade, has built several shopping centers across the country with Targets as anchors.

The company is one of the largest real estate investment trusts in the country, with developments in 27 states. Promenade will feature 11 anchors and more than 80,000 square feet of specialty shops and restaurants.

Katie Reinsmidt with CBL said whenever the company eyes a market, it looks at demographic trendsetters, opportunities for growth, among other factors.

"We found the right formula with D'Iberville."

The project will benefit from tax-exempt bond funding through the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act legislation, or GO Zone, which is designed to encourage development in hurricane-affected areas.

CBL is partnering with Atlanta-based Forum Development Group to develop Promenade.

Larry Barnett, executive director of the Harrison County Development Commission, said the center would provide a better quality of life for Coast residents, and draw tourists.

"People will stop and shop and that creates sales tax dollars," he said, "and that's good for our community."

http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNnewsPromenadeDIberville050208.htm

Red UM Rebel

May 4, 2008, 5:07 PM

Another article on Promenade (BLX link)

by Keith Burton - GCN 5/2/08

There will soon be a major new shopping center in D'Iberville packed with major retailers, restaurants and larger than the Crossroads Shopping Center in Gulfport.

CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. and Forum Development Group, LLC (“Forum”) announced this week the acquisition of approximately 72.0 acres in D’Iberville for the development of The Promenade, a 700,000 square foot shopping center complex. (Photo right: Promenade property looking southeast near I-110 and I-10)

The Promenade will feature eleven anchors and more than 80,000 square feet of specialty shops and restaurants. The project is a joint venture of CBL and Forum with CBL as the majority partner responsible for development, leasing and management. Construction will begin this month with a grand opening scheduled for fall 2009. The new shopping center is to the west of the busy Super Wal-Mart and Lowe's in D'Iberville.

“Following the destruction and setback that the Mississippi Gulf Coast suffered from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, we believe The Promenade will serve to revitalize the area and create a much needed retail hub and service district for the D’Iberville community,” said Stephen Lebovitz, president of CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. "In large part due to the support of the city’s outstanding leadership, including Mayor Rusty Quave, City Manager Richard Rose and the entire City Council, together with the efforts of our joint venture partner

Construction on the Promenade, begins this month on 72 acres near interstates 10 and 110 along the empty land bounded to the south by Bobby Elueterius Blvd.

"This demonstrates again why D'Iberville will be the Coast's retail shopping destination of the future," said City Manager Richard Rose.

The new shopping center, which will include several major big box retailers, is expected to add more than 1,000 jobs to the area and increase sales-tax revenue for the small city to Biloxi's north.

Rose would not reveal to GCN what retailers are planned, but CBL & Associates, the co-developer of The Promenade, has built several shopping centers across the country with Target stores as anchors.

Rose tells GCN that major changes are coming also for the roadways around the new shopping center. He said the city and the developers have have met frequently with Southern District Highway Commissioners Wayne Brown and MDOT engineers. "We have an excellent working relationship with MDOT," Rose said.

What is planned is to tear down the motel that is immediately to the west of I-110 across from Sangani Blvd. and build a new road to serve the Promenade. The Kangaroo gas station just to the north of the motel is to remain, says Rose.

The new road will be five lanes. Sangani Blvd. itself is to be widened to five lanes starting in January. The Promenade property will also be served by Bobby Eleuterius Blvd. to the south.

Rose says the increased commercial traffic will require some changes to the I-110/I-10 interchange. While Rose didn't say exactly what those changes would be, he said that they will include some additional lanes along the I-110 near Sangani Blvd. There could also be some changes on how people get on and off the interchange, which many drivers know is one of the most dangerous interstate interchanges on the Coast.

LINK (http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNnewsPromenadeDIberville050208.htm)

Velastor2

May 6, 2008, 5:48 PM

Did construction slow down a bit on the Margaritaville Casino or is just hard to notice the work they are doing from the Camera angles?

Any more news on the Isle's expasion? We are still anxiously waiting to see what they have planned.

BLX 101

May 6, 2008, 6:46 PM

Although the doors couldn't open soon enough, construction at Margaritaville's site is continuing to move at a brisk pace.

Still no updated news regarding the Isle's expansion plans. Last week all of the corporate boardmembers were staying on property holding conferences.

Red UM Rebel

May 15, 2008, 2:48 PM

Muskavon

May 15, 2008, 11:50 PM

You guys ought to dupe most of your future topics in this thread in the South forum since there is a pretty good active group of posters all along the Gulf Coast and I think it all fits together pretty well. More people might notice more often and join in (if that interests you guys).

BLX 101

May 16, 2008, 2:05 AM

I went to both this weekend from about 9 pm - very early in morning, and they were both packed the entire time. I am hoping revenue numbers won't drop for the coast durning this weak spot in the economy because it will only enforce the strength of the Coast's market. How has Isle been BLX?

Weekends at the Isle is always busy. Marketing has been doing a great job in creating and advertising new promotions for cash and prize giveaways. There has been more poker turnaments lately as well.

On an unrelated subject, to my surprise this evening as I passed by the Avalon site, I noticed that wooden braces have been installed and the internal metal framing of the second level appeared to be complete. The latest news regarding the Avalon was that they were going back to the planning commission to request variances for a hotel instead of a condo. I was present and at the beginning of the meeting it was announced that the developers had asked at the last minute that the request be pulled from the agenda, I guess that they have decided to go with the original condo plans. In order for the project to be changed into a hotel, they would have to request another hearing before the planning commission then seek approval from the council, I don't recall that happening.

http://avalonbiloxi.com/

Red UM Rebel

May 16, 2008, 3:44 PM

Tien Asian offers both food and fantasy
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

BILOXI --In the space that used to be a movie theater, IP Casino Resort today premieres Tien Asian restaurant.

Guests enter the second-floor restaurant through a fog curtain with the Tien logo projected in the haze. Waiting to serve them, four hostesses in authentic kimonos lead guests beyond the bar and lounge with its saltwater fish tanks, past the cases displaying the fresh meat and fish shipped in daily from Hawaii and Japan, alongside the display cases illuminating antique saki vessels, to the dining room with windows overlooking the bay.

Tien is the centerpiece of a $55 million expansion that includes the adjacent casino room with 600 slots, 10 table games and a video poker bar with a view, "our first foray into land-based gaming," said IP General Manager Jon Lucas. The casino opens today with a 7 p.m. ribbon-cutting and after a private party at Tien tonight, the restaurant opens to the public at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Depending on their dinner choice, guests are seated at the 20-person sushi bar with its ever-changing mood wall projecting colors, or a table in the main dining room where the yin and yang circles on the ceiling are mimicked on the floor, or one of four Shabu-Shabu and Korean barbecue tables, or the sizzling Teppanyaki tables where chefs prepare their dinner, or in the private dining room decorated with brass bamboo and a wall of floating Asian artifacts.

A communal table accommodates singles in a hurry to get back onto the casino floor. "They were everywhere in Shanghai," said Stephen Morgan, vice president of food and beverage, who traveled to Shanghai, China, with IP Executive Chef Chris Poplin and with an interpreter visited restaurants and fish markets.

"I went back to culinary school after 22 years to prepare for the opening of the restaurant," said Morgan. He and Poplin attended the Culinary Institute of America's Asian boot camp and they, along with Lucas, Director of Food and Beverage Kurt Lind and Tien Manager Nancy Nelson, went to San Francisco to sample the Asian restaurants "and brought the best here," Morgan said. Chef Terou Kinoshitu has worked all over Japan and the United States and brings 30 years of experience.

"We've been working on these menus for a long time, getting ideas and flavors," said Poplin. Six menus written in English, Chinese and Vietnamese start with an "exciting wine list," said Morgan, along with 13 specialty Asian cocktails such as mandarin Margarita and passion fruit Mai Tai. "We serve a flight of three different sakis in a taster tray," he said.

Tien, which means fortune, good luck and prosperity, offers traditional and popular dishes from China, Vietnam, Japan and Korea. "We designed the menu so they can come to the restaurant and eat six times and not have the same experience," said Morgan. Sharing plates is encouraged.

Guests can stick with the familiar General Tso's chicken and other westernized dishes or opt for authentic Asian cuisine that blends the freshest meats and vegetables. New to this area, Korean barbecue is marinated meat thinly sliced and served with vegetables and "very tasty, very good and also very healthy," said Lucas.

Appetizers and combination plates such as steak and shrimp are dramatically prepared at the Teppanyaki tables, and Tien dinners come with soup and salad, vegetables and rice. "Little teasers," Dim Sum dumplings are presented in steamer baskets, said Morgan, and "the desserts are awesome."

When the sushi bar closes, the noodle bar opens for late night. "Basically you customize your own noodle bowl," said Poplin. Selecting from Japanese, Vietnamese and Chinese noodles, two meats or seafood, four vegetables and broth, "there's thousands of variations," he said.

As Tien restaurant and the adjoining casino open, IP Casino has more to come, said Lucas. "We want to get 100 percent land-based," and the resort's master plan includes a hotel tower, shops and more convention space.

LINK (http://www.sunherald.com/business/story/565206-p2.html)

Velastor2

May 16, 2008, 4:09 PM

Looks much better than the Beau's Asian restaurant. The Beau might want to watch out before they get passed as the number 1 casino. All the Ip lacks is more hotel, convention space and time to get everything moved off that barge and onto land.

Red UM Rebel

May 17, 2008, 12:13 PM

IP has done a great job redefining its image. Locals and tourist alike go in there and are shocked at what they see if they visited the hotel before the storm. I do not know if they will ever surpass the Beau, which has always been a great resort, but they really are working hard. Every article over the past several months has talked about their new facilities (hotel, convention, and onshore gaming), so I would hope plans will be announced soon. If they build another 20+ story super luxurious tower and redo the facade of the old one, it could be very interesting. I wonder if they will ever build themselves a golf course.

BLX 101

May 17, 2008, 8:23 PM

Weekends at the Isle is always busy. Marketing has been doing a great job in creating and advertising new promotions for cash and prize giveaways. There has been more poker turnaments lately as well.

On an unrelated subject, to my surprise this evening as I passed by the Avalon site, I noticed that wooden braces have been installed and the internal metal framing of the second level appeared to be complete. The latest news regarding the Avalon was that they were going back to the planning commission to request variances for a hotel instead of a condo. I was present and at the beginning of the meeting it was announced that the developers had asked at the last minute that the request be pulled from the agenda, I guess that they have decided to go with the original condo plans. In order for the project to be changed into a hotel, they would have to request another hearing before the planning commission then seek approval from the council, I don't recall that happening.

http://avalonbiloxi.com/

WOW!!!

Construction at the Avalon site seems to be at a feverish pace. As I drove by just an hour ago, I noticed that they have completed the internal metal framing of two more floors. That is three floors in three days. At this pace, construction may be completed by the first of the year. They are now up to the fifth level of the ten story building.

BLX 101

May 17, 2008, 8:32 PM

The space underneath will be utilized for parking. It is higher than what it appears from the camera image. In this Thursday's planning commission meeting, Harrah's is requesting the approval of two very large temporary signs to be placed along the south side of US 90 for the duration of the construction phase. They are to stand forty feet high. Hopefully, these two signs will give a virtual interpretation of what the project will look like. I also agree that it is time for Margaritaville to have its own website.

The construction of these two enormous temporary signs at both ends of the property is underway. It appears that they will be electronic graphic signs.

Red UM Rebel

May 18, 2008, 1:17 AM

WOW!!!

Construction at the Avalon site seems to be at a feverished pace. As I drove by just an hour ago, I noticed that they have completed the internal metal framing of two more floors. That is three floors in three days. At this pace, construction may be completed by the first of the year. They are now up to the fifth level of the ten story building.

The construction of these two enormous temporary signs at both ends of the property is underway. It appears that they will be electronic graphic signs.

Awesome! If you can get some pics, either email me and I will put them up, or I can give you a step-by-step tutorial how to do it. Is the framing looking like what the website advertises?

BLX: why are they waiting to fix the Isle's sign?

BLX 101

May 18, 2008, 11:57 AM

Awesome! If you can get some pics, either email me and I will put them up, or I can give you a step-by-step tutorial how to do it. Is the framing looking like what the website advertises?

BLX: why are they waiting to fix the Isle's sign?

I'll try to get some pics within the next week or two, by then the construction of both projects will be a little further along. It is hard to tell from the framing, especially at street level, whether or not the units will look as advertised on website.

http://www.sunherald.com/business/story/568351.html

Regarding the Isle's sign, I imagine that it is a financial decision. It will be of a new design, so I imagine they are timing its unveiling with the completion of the new construction. With the stream lining they've been doing, it doesn't make financial sense to repair the existing sign only to replace it in the next year. Their solution has been to cover the large sign using a temporary tarp displaying the property's name and logo. They still stand by their goal of having construction complete before Margaritaville's completion. I imagine that that is possible given the enormous size of the Margaritaville project.

By the way, what is the status of the posting of the Tivoli pic that I emailed several weeks back? There will soon be another round of public hearings on rezoning this property to waterfront. The request of the waterfront zoning has been extended from north of the small craft harbor to the Grand Casino. More property owners have joined the request. I also sent pics of the newly expanded airport. Do I need to resend them?

Red UM Rebel

May 18, 2008, 2:24 PM

Just forgot about it! Thanks

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2232/2501377227_3d8030586b_b.jpg

I will post it on first page later today

Velastor2

May 18, 2008, 3:27 PM

Red UM Rebel

May 18, 2008, 10:58 PM

I just still don't believe that even if they got the approval something like that would be built. I think it is a way for Biloxi Capital to make a large profit selling the site to someone else, and I am not too sure the City doesn't know that

BLX 101

May 20, 2008, 4:03 AM

The Tivoli would be a beautiful resort, I just wish they would find a new location because they gaming commision will never approve the project because they lack ownership of the water. Unless they can find someway to stay that the beach didn't exist and that the location they currently own was originally the beach front before the construction of US 90 and the man made beaches.

The upcoming Gaming Commision's ruling in early June on the site of Gold Coast Casino Resort will be a strong indication of whether or not the Tivoli will become a reality.

pleasebiloxi

May 21, 2008, 2:59 PM

Velastor2

May 23, 2008, 5:13 AM

What do you think will happen to the Grand once they finish their work south of US 90?

Red UM Rebel

May 23, 2008, 3:10 PM

I think that is anyone's guess. Since they are renaming the resort in Tunica from Grand to Harrahs this month, I would assume the name will change. My guess is that a year or two after the Margaritaville is going strong, they will close the decade only hotel and decide to do something else with the property. If they built something else there it would be a Harrahs, Horseshoe, or Ceasars

BLX 101

May 25, 2008, 4:00 PM

I agree 100%!!! Other than the Broadwater site, who's majority property (the golf course) lies north of the railroad tracks, this is the largest contingent casino property in Biloxi which is owned by the largest casino company in the world with no easily identifiable branded resort. When you see the Beau Rivage, you immediately recognize it as a Mirage property. When you see or hear the name Grand Biloxi, you are not so sure who the parent company is. Although MGM would be a logical guess, it would be incorrect. Within two years of the completion of Margaritaville, look for Harrah's to unveil a newly planned billion dollar casino resort on the North side of US 90. My preference is Caesars, there are two Harrah's resorts within a few hours drive from Biloxi and I am not so fond of the Horseshoe brand. Given the casino climate on the coast, I believe that Caesars is a better fit....Caesars Grand Casino Resort Biloxi would work.

BLX 101

May 25, 2008, 10:48 PM

Like I've said before, this will be the year when the new mega developments on the coast are revealed, to include the Broadwater property. To be able to take advantage of the Go Zone act which provides huge tax breaks and incentives, these developments will have to start coming out of the ground soon. Under the initial rules, construction had to begin by the end of 2008. A
short extension was approved by the legislature in the last week due to delays with Fema's new flood guide lines and sky-rocketing insurance rates.

In Thursday's upcoming planning commission meeting, Sandmark Bay LLP, the developers of the proposed Vieux Crescente Casino Resort, and the adjacent property owners will request rezoning to waterfront of the entire block bordering Oak to Crawford and Bayview to the four lane Back Bay Boulevard. This would give the developers more than thirty-four total acres to build upon, allowing for a resort that could be on par with the Beau Rivage, Margaritaville, Tivoli and the Broadwater development with access from Back Bay Boulevard. Although originally designed with two floors less than the thirty-two floors of both Beau Rivage and IP, the twin towers at Vieux Crescente is expected to be the tallest resort in Biloxi.

Also expect to soon learn which international hotels will be teaming with developers of previously proposed beachfront condominium resorts in order to provide the needed rooms for the current expansion of the convention center.

http://www.vuecrescente.com/developer_updates.htm

BLX 101

May 26, 2008, 12:39 AM

RW owns the land south of the highway. My sources tell me that there is absolutely no way in hell, regardless of what happens with RW that Tivoli will be approved. If they do that, they would pretty much have to make all property near the water eligible for gaming, which is not going to happen. If they really are serious about making a billion dollar investment they need to look at the Broadwater. That project needs someone who can put up that kind of equity. Even if Tivoli were to get approved, they would never build something like the picture. Architects put these great concepts together, but they are rarely feasible from a cost and practicality standpoint. The land owners and Joe Lewis (their angel investor) are separate entities. I don't understand why Lewis doesn't partner with someone who already has a legal site and leave the Tivoli people to deal with the giant mess they have created.

You and I have visited this topic back on page 14 and the following was my quote:

I respect your opinion; however, this deal is no different from the Tivoli project. Although RW owns land south of 90, he does not own the sand beach itself which is public. All of the casinos that has opt to build north of 90 own waterfront property with direct contact with the water. Yes, Mayor Holloway has said that there is plenty of waterfront property already zoned for casinos, but he is not saying that he will open up more land after it has all been developed. His stance is that he will envoke his veto power to derail any casino wanting to develop across from (North of) the public sand beach which would set a precedence leading to casinos being developed on every available inch of the coastline which would ultimately lead to our demise. He has often stated that he wants Biloxi to be a city with casinos, not a casino city. I have to agree with him 100%. Although I personally like both the Tivoli and Gold Coast projects, as a property owner and tax paying citizen with an incredible love for my city, I could never support any project that could set a bad precedent, ruining our treasured coastline. Just look at the insane runaway development that has taken place in the Alabama and Florida panhandle.

My sources tell me that if Gold Coast is granted approval and other casino developments are denied, they will be spending major $$dough$$ on law suits over favoritism and descrimination. Mayor Holloway's stance has waivered a bit from his previous position which is somewhat understandable. Developers in the immediate area are saying that they need the approval of the Gold Coast Casino Resort in order to revive their stalled projects. Again, I belive that you have failed to realize that the public sandbeach separates the Gold Coast property from the Mississippi Sound but it will be interesting to get the commission's interpretation of where the mean high watertide begins. In previous rezoning rulings, the water's edge has been used but the lawyers are arguing that it should be the original seawall which was the water's edge before the sand was originally pumped in creating the world's longest man-made beach. If this is the case, then the lawyers may have a legitimate argument. Mind you that the lawyer for Gold Coast and the Tivoli Resorts are one in the same Michael Cavenaugh. He is also the very same lawyer that has successfully represented the many property owners that have banned together seeking to rezone their property to waterfront.

Personally, I am holding onto hope that the rumor of Steve Wynn is seeking to re-enter the Biloxi market is true. I believe that the Broadwater property would be the best site for a Wynn Casino Resort that includes an adjacent golf course. I am a huge fan of Mr. Wynn and his extroadinary vision.

During the Tivoli hearings, when the question was raised, the planning commission was assured that although the drawings were conceptual, that it was a true picture of what the actual resort would look like. In the error of Frank Gehry and Paul Steelman, the Picaso of today's casino designing, these mega casino resorts are pure phenominal.

http://www.paulsteelman.com/partners/

http://www.wynnresorts.com/

Velastor2

May 29, 2008, 6:20 AM

BLX 101

Jun 1, 2008, 10:46 PM

I personally enjoy building, be it casinos or anything else, that lures people toward the center. For me the ideal casino would be one with a large casino in the very center accessable from all sides, with shops and restaurants scattered in all directions away from the center. The hotel tower should be directly above the casino floor and if possible most of the building should be lit with sunlight during the day time hours. I prefer the building to be like a mirror during the day time, while I night I like for them to light up the sky with neo lights. Also the use of water and the sound of falling water adds to the resort as a whole. Not that I would ever see my ideal casino resort built, there is always the hope that someone will build something similar.

To me currently thought, most of Biloxi's casinos are simiply a basic square Hotel in design, with a casino located either under or beside. I have hopes that all the new casinos will break from the basic square hotel design and go with more curves and shifts. I always wanted someone to build a rounded hotel with one of the revolving restaurants at the top like in Dallas, Tx.

The towers of Vieux Crescente are slightly cresent shaped. I am eager to see the outcome of the redesigned project. Also, Biloxi Hardrock went through several interesting design changes before the current plan was selected.Although the site was constant, I believe the designs were under diferent developers. Personally, I think the current design works better but I feel that they should have gone with the originally planned 17 stories. Hopefully, with the recent aquisition of the adjacent Windjammer condo site, they can improve upon the existing property.

You can see a previous design by viewing concepts (1997-1999) on Paul Steelman Design site. You will also find a concept of a would be Caesars Manila, Philippines in which I believe would work well as a Caesars Grand biloxi Resort.

http://www.paulsteelman.com/partners/