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-   -   MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST | (Biloxi, Gulfport, and other MS Coastal Cities) (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132354)

Red UM Rebel Jun 1, 2007 4:59 PM

MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST | (Biloxi, Gulfport, and other MS Coastal Cities)
 
Project Rundown - Continuously Updated!

Condos

Condos - Biloxi


South Beach - Completed (First Tower) - Biloxi
  • Veterans and Beach Blvd
  • 326 Units (Over 1000 once entire complex is finished)
  • $800,000,000 (for the entire complex)
  • RW Development
  • Roy Anderson Construction
  • http://www.southbeachbiloxi.com
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1282/...3d7d7b.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1349/...5881c2.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1046/...8f5e32.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2024/...996f3383_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2280/...3f50343d_o.jpg


Beau View Condos - First Tower Completed (Other Three Pre-Construction) - Biloxihttp://farm1.static.flickr.com/217/5...c8750d.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1057/...ba103492d6.jpg



Ocean Club Biloxi - First Tower Completed (Other Two Pre-Construction) - Biloxihttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1105/...3a6d67.jpg?v=0



Casinos

Can Can Casino - Pre-Construction - D'Iberville
  • 250 hotel room
  • 60,000 sq. feet of casino space
  • CanCan Development, LLC
  • Yates Construction chosen
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/...f4e5a7bb_o.gif
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/...22950f00_o.jpg



Oyster Bay Casino - Pre-Construction - D'Iberville
  • French Quarter Theme
  • 65,000 sq. feet of casino space
  • Seafood Heritage Museum
  • $150,000,000
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/...580f91c8_o.jpg



Palace Casino Resort Expansion - Construction - Biloxi
  • Trying to regain space lost by Hurricane Katrina
  • 38,000 sq. feet of casino space
  • 110,000 sq. feet of total space
  • New restaurants
  • $45,000,000
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/...020f8b46_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/...711d1393_o.jpg
Other



William Carey College Campus at Traditions - Under Construction - Harrison County
  • 50 acres
  • 3000 students
  • 2009 completion
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/...666b0591_b.jpg



Completed Since 2004


Sea Breeze Biloxi - Tower 1 Completed - Biloxi
  • 1899 Beach Blvd
  • 101 Units
  • 222'
  • Roy Anderson Construction
  • $21,865,000
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1036/...3ae922.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/224/5...319f18.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1425/...7cd0a5ad71.jpg


Beau View Condos - First Tower Completed - Biloxihttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/...9365818a_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2029/...082bfd0e_o.jpg


Ocean Club Biloxi - First Tower Completed - Biloxihttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1105/...3a6d67.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/...d86ff7a7_o.jpg


Hard Rock Casino - Completed and Open - Biloxihttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1016/...7c1a4c.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1193/...e5415c.jpg?v=0

Sienna - Completed - Gulfporthttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1184/...df04cc.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1350/...5b624eb362.jpg


Legacy Towers (2 Towers) - Completed - Gulfporthttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1109/...7315eb.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1142/...169f06.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1211/...25f2ba20fc.jpg


Biloxi/Ocean Springs Bridge - Completed
Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum - Biloxi - Completedhttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1321/...2382c8.jpg?v=0
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Postponed or Canceled


Beau Soliel - Pre-Construction - Biloxi (Permit Lapsed)http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1137/...19fb07.jpg?v=0



Venezia Resort - Pre-Construction - Biloxi (Permit Lapsed)http://farm1.static.flickr.com/205/5...f7d7aa.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1035/...ed63f6.jpg?v=0



The Revelay - Pre-Constuction - Biloxi (Permit Lapsed)
  • 2400 Beach Blvd
  • 380 Units
  • 185'
  • Gulf Coast Investment Developers & Sterling Resorts
  • Yates Construction
  • http://www.revelay.com
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2039/...b92065f1_o.jpg
(Scaled down picture with groundbreaking soon)


Viuex Crescente - Pre-Construction - Biloxi (Back Bay) (Permit Lapse)
  • Back Bay Blvd & Oak Street
  • 286 Units (Phase I - Right Tower)
  • 365'
  • Casino being designed into project
  • Sandmark Bay, LLC
  • Dale and Associates Architects
  • http://www.vuecrescente.com
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1020/...2b968c.jpg?v=0



Bienville Condos - Postponed - Biloxihttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1217/...8960db.jpg?v=0


Towers at Edgewater - Canceled - Biloxi (Design change underway due to Height Restriction by City)
  • 2660 Beach Blvd
  • 500 Units
  • 374'
  • $87,000,000
  • Gulf Coast Investment Developers
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1021/...ae1720.jpg?v=0


Habor Point Condos - Canceled - Biloxi - NOW WYNDHAM HOTEL PROJECT
  • 695 Beach Blvd
  • 242 Units
  • 278'
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1221/...58daac.jpg?v=0



Shores of Paradise - Canceled - Biloxihttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1003/...06566a.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1047/...670460.jpg?v=0



Savannah Estates - Cancelled - Biloxihttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1124/...f545eb.jpg?v=0


Sterling Beach - Cancelled - Biloxi
  • 1775 Beach Blvd
  • 87 Units
  • 100'
  • $20,000,000
  • Gulf Coast Investment Developers & Sterling Resorts
  • http://www.gcid.biz
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1068/...f92cd1.jpg?v=0



Aqua - Cancelled - Biloxi
http://www.gcid.biz
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/...e1751944_o.jpg


Gold Coast - On-Hold - Biloxi
  • Veterans Avenue
  • Part of $800,000,000 Development
  • RW Development
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1255/...70602397_o.jpg



Avalon Condo Development (Conversion from Gulf Towers) (Cancelled - Converted into Four Points by Sheraton Opening July 15, 2010)http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1287/...f855f781_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/...068c267e_o.jpg



Wyndham Harbour Pointe Resort - On-Hold - Biloxi
  • Biloxi Small Craft Harbor
  • 24 Stories
  • 400 Rooms
  • $90,000,000
  • Wyndham Resort Group
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2309/...db0ba9b9_o.jpg



Old VA being redeveloped into Resort - On-Hold - Gulfport
  • HRI Properties of New Orleans
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1264/...13a46c25_o.jpg



Caribbean Dream - On-Hold - Gulfport
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1124/...e46c59.jpg?v=0



Emerald Breeze - Cancelled - Long Beachhttp://farm2.static.flickr.com/1234/...f9f6d9.jpg?v=0


Gulf View - Cancelled - Long Beach
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1214/...a53cee.jpg?v=0



Havana Casino - Project Dead (Regrettably) - Biloxi
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1216/...b62510.jpg?v=0



Bacarn Bay - Project being reconfigured - Biloxi
  • 377 Caillavet Street
  • 1122 Units (663 Condos, 459 Suites)
  • 247'
  • 67,000 square feet of casino space
  • 80,000 square feet of convention space
  • $600,000,000
  • Torguson Gaming
  • Roy Anderson Construction
  • Dale Morris Architects PLLC
  • http://www.bacaranbay.com
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1385/...19de365a_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/...eecc08.jpg?v=0



Gold Coast Casino - Project not approved by Gaming Commission

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2090/...193bff1c_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2387/...e82035c3_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/...c614f712_o.jpg


Bayview Casino Resort - Looking for Financing/On-Hold - Biloxi
  • Back Bay Blvd.
  • 519 hotel rooms
  • 70,000 square feet of casino space
  • 25,000 square feet of convention space
  • $325,000,000
  • Dale/Morris Architecture
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2349/...01f521e7_o.jpg


Margaritaville Casino - Harrah's Financial Problems/On-Hold - Biloxi
  • 279 Beach Blvd
  • 798 Rooms
  • 100,000 square feet of casino space
  • 66,000 square feet of convention space
  • 250,000 square feet of shopping space
  • $700,000,000
  • Harrah's
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1020/...36f477.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1136/...c4c201.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1038/...08bcd3.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1001/...a426f2.jpg?v=0

Very rough sketch (Perspective: driving west on Highway 90)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1179/...2664a2dd_o.jpg

Construction Cam Link
http://oxblue.com/pro/open/?webPath=harrahs/biloxi

thebestdillweed Jun 2, 2007 3:26 AM

im happy to see that the Mississippi coast has its own thread now, its amazing how much new constructions going on their.

James Bond Agent 007 Jun 2, 2007 4:41 AM

Wow, good idea for a thread. Nice to see all this construction going on there!

ontheroad Jun 2, 2007 6:39 PM

Very colonial architecture, gotta love the Havanna Casino! Not seras tower or the burj but really clever!

Red UM Rebel Jun 4, 2007 2:08 PM

New Public Transit Plan to Help With Growth
 
Plan aims to stymie gridlock growth
By RYAN LaFONTAINE
rlafontaine@sunherald.com


GULFPORT --Anyone who's ever been behind someone making a left turn on Pass Road knows the value of a good set of brakes. If your afternoon commute runs along U.S. 49 near Interstate 10, you might as well walk.

Throw in a few fellow drivers with a death wish, plus escalating gas prices and a swelling population, and suddenly the future of daily commutes in South Mississippi seems horrifying.

Profound traffic congestion, once a problem limited to major cities such as New York and Los Angeles, is rapidly becoming a serious issue in much smaller communities across the country.

On Thursday, the Metropolitan Planning Organization approved the Coast Transit Authority's long-range development plan designed to relieve future gridlock with public transit, including an electric streetcar line along the beach and a bus-rapid transit system from Pascagoula to Bay St. Louis by 2030.

In a 2005 pre-storm study, the Gulf Regional Planning Commission reckoned an average of 70,000 drivers a day used U.S. 49 and about 27,000 traveled Pass Road. Recent population estimates show those numbers growing significantly in the future.

That same year, some of the nation's most celebrated urban planners met at a summit in Biloxi to dream up ideas for rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina. During the brainstorming sessions, a transportation committee suggested a light-rail system or other forms of mass transit to help ease future traffic flow and connect the three Coast counties.

The dream of a Coast connected by an impeccable public transit system appeared to meet its demise when Congress sliced a chunk of federal funding from an emergency-spending bill in June 2006.

In an effort to keep the transportation plans from being shelved next to several other charrette-born ideas, the Gulf Regional Planning Commission expanded its research of population and traffic trends and CTA studied several types of mass transit, including a light-rail line.

Dozens of U.S. cities have turned to light-rail and bus-rapid transit systems to help relieve traffic strains, but will such systems work here and can South Mississippi support them?

MasonsInquiries Jun 6, 2007 1:09 AM

i'm glad to see that you guys are recovering from katrina so well down there. i think that mississippi's gulf coast where teh casinos are is going to eventually overtake atlantic city, in due time of course.:D

Red UM Rebel Jun 6, 2007 1:29 PM

Avalon Condo Tower Units for Sale
 
By PRISCILLA FRULLA
pfrulla@sunherald.com

Units at Avalon are for sale. Developers are launching a marketing campaign for the 10-story tower on U.S. 90 near I-110 today.

The building at 940 Beach Blvd. in Biloxi, formerly known as Gulf Towers, has been completely gutted since receiving severe damage from Hurricane Katrina. Strategic Capital Partners of Chicago and Wilton Partners of Los Angeles purchased the property in 2006 and are beginning a complete renovation. The total project cost is estimated at $37 million.

The tower will have 198 condotel units, a rooftop restaurant, an infinity-edge pool and lobby and rooftop lounges. Plasma televisions, granite workstations and mahogany furnishings are among the unit amenities.
Laurie Smith of SCP said Avalon's location, diagonally across from Beau Rivage and Hard Rock casinos, is one of its most important features.

The units will range in square footage from 430 to 800 and sell for $199,000 to $500,000, said Smith. The project is scheduled to be completed by fall 2008.

Crescent Management Co., Washington, D.C., will have an on-site office to rent out units. Construction will be done by Rawlins Co. of Houston.

Biloxi-based GCID helped broker the deal and the company's real estate division is listing the units.
________________________________________
Avalon file
Address: 940 Beach Blvd., Biloxi.
Units: 198.
Unit square footage: 430 to 800.
Unit prices: $199,000 to $500,000.
Details: TheAvalonBiloxi.com or 888-806-9604.

Red UM Rebel Jun 12, 2007 1:06 PM

Emeril's Fish House opens June 22
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

GULFPORT --Chef Emeril Lagasse will put some bam! in the Coast recovery on June 22 with the public opening of Emeril's Gulf Coast Fish House at Island View Casino and Resort.

This is one of the first restaurants to open on the beach in Gulfport since Hurricane Katrina. Initially the Gulf Coast Fish House will serve dinner Sunday through Thursday from 5:30 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m. Lunch will be served in the near future.

Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 314-1515.

Island View owner Rick Carter said Emeril's will have outside dining "with the best views on the entire Gulf Coast," and chef de cuisine Steve D'Angelo describes the restaurant as casual and trendy.

Emeril said he at first didn't want to open a restaurant on the Mississippi Coast. "I want to relax here," he said. His wife, Alden, is a native of Gulfport and Emeril said among his staff, "We all have a lot of roots here in Mississippi." He said he plans to take advantage of the location and feature fresh regional seafood.

A VIP grand opening reception for the restaurant on June 20 will benefit The Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Gulfport. Emeril and Alden Lagasse are co-chairs of a national campaign to raise $2 million to create a performing arts center at the museum.

Red UM Rebel Jun 15, 2007 2:41 PM

Destin company signs on with Sienna on the Coast
 
Destin company signs on with Sienna on the Coast

Sterling Resorts has signed a multi-year contract to handle rental property and manage the homeowners' association for Sienna on the Coast. The 82-unit building is scheduled to open next month on U.S. 90 in Gulfport.

Sterling Resorts is a Destin-based vacation-rental management firm.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1184/...b2ff6b46_o.jpg

~The Sun Herald

thebestdillweed Jun 15, 2007 3:10 PM

does anybody know if they started rebuilding that museum for Ohr again?

Red UM Rebel Jun 15, 2007 3:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebestdillweed (Post 2898931)
does anybody know if they started rebuilding that museum for Ohr again?

Right now the group is trying to raise more money to rebuild the museum. Other than the loss of life due to the Hurricane, this is one of the largest tragedies.

For those who read this and are not sure what you are talking about. Five years ago the Ohr Museum started and ambitiously rose however many million to build a five or six building complex all designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. Most of the frames for all of the buildings were complete before the hurricane. During the hurricane, the Grand Casino barge was ripped from its moorings and actually was washed on top of and destroyed most buildings in the complex. Although the museum had construction insurance (Federal Emergency Mismanagement Association Issurance though :( ), cost for construction has gone up 72% on the Coast, so they are having to redouble the efforts to raise money. They city recently renovated and gave the Museum a historical home owned by the city as a temporary location. (Glenn L. Swetman House)

They hope to start construction on the property next fall. Another complication is that the city is deciding where to rebuild the Seafood Industry Museum, either on the Ohr property, next to the Ohr property, or at its original home on the Point (PRIME casino location)


For more info http://www.georgeohr.org/

Design
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1324/...6f69239a_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1015/...70e288.jpg?v=0

Current
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1225/...67edba.jpg?v=0

Red UM Rebel Jun 18, 2007 10:50 PM

Battle of the Condos
 
Competitors racing toward finish line
By PRISCILLA FRULLA
SUN HERALD

BILOXI --Bienville’s developers billed their project as the first new condominiums to break ground in Biloxi after Hurricane Katrina, but South Beach’s builders, RW Development, beat them to the punch.

The two development sites are about half a mile apart on the sand beach on the south side of U.S. 90. Between the Bienville site just west of Veterans Avenue and the South Beach site near Travia Avenue are other RW properties slated for development and the proposed site for Seaside condominiums.

Work on South Beach began almost 60 days ago with little notice, perhaps because the developers did not start unit pre-sales prior to construction like dozens of condo builders.

“We have not released any units for sale,” said RW vice president Granville Smith. “We took an alternative strategy. We are building it, and we will sell it when we can show the buyer the project is fully under way.”

Many developers have to get hard contracts on 50 to 75 percent of their units to get the financing to build condos.

“If we waited to make a sales milestone then it could potentially delay the start of the project, and we didn’t want to do that,” said Smith. “We are able to do this because of our willingness to make a speculative commitment. We are willing to take that risk because of our confidence in the vision of Biloxi as a resort gaming destination.”

RW has bought more than 50 acres along Veterans Avenue and U.S. 90 and plans more than $800 million in total construction. The construction in progress on the south side of U.S. 90 is the first phase of South Beach. Additional phases will be built on the north side.

Construction crews have finished driving piles into the bedrock which will support the foundation of South Beach and are beginning the vertical construction phase, which is much more visible to passers-by. South Beach will be move-in ready by late summer of 2008, said Smith.

Public relations officials representing Atlanta-based developers Curt Patton and Cortland Partners announced last month that Bienville would be the first new condominium development to start construction since Hurricane Katrina, with a ground breaking in July and completion by December 2008. But representatives were not aware of the lower-profile building going on at neighboring South Beach.

Colin Edelstein of Cortland Partners said being first was not the most important thing about his $63 million project at the site formerly occupied by Emerald Quality Inn.

“Bienville’s most distinguishing feature is it’s on the beach. Every single one of our units will have a panoramic Gulf view,” said Edelstein.

Several more condo-related announcements are expected this summer.

Ocean Club, which began construction prior to the storm, is only days away from completion, said Biloxi’s director of community development Jerry Creel.

The next condo project to reach completion is expected to be Beau View in the next two to three months, he said.

The next ground breaking after Bienville and South Beach is expected to be Bacaran Bay in the late summer or early fall, said Creel, after all the permits are issued.

Red UM Rebel Jun 21, 2007 1:15 AM

Council approves Boomtown rezoning
 
~Sun Herald

By JOSHUA NORMAN
jdnorman@sunherald.com

BILOXI --The Biloxi City Council voted 4-2 Tuesday afternoon in favor of rezoning 23 acres of Boomtown Casino's property on the southwestern corner of Main Street and Bayview Avenue to allow for gambling, among other things.


The second presentation in two weeks to the City Council by Boomtown attorney Michael Cavanaugh highlighted an added 150-by-400-foot park with a playground for kids that will be leased back to the city for a nominal fee.

Councilman George Lawrence, who voted against this rezoning along with Councilman David Fayard, said that when the council asked the Boomtown representatives to come back to present plans for the site, he expected more than what they presented.

Their presentation did not make sense, Lawrence said, because the zoning there already allowed for what they showed plans.

"They came back with another parking lot," said Lawrence, adding that he was skeptical that their long-term plans involved leaving the property a parking lot. Lawrence said that if Boomtown plans on eventually building a casino or hotel on the site, which the zoning change now allows, he wants to see plans.

Another large development was approved by the council earlier 6-0 to rezone property along Veterans Avenue to allow RW Development to begin the first phase of a massive redevelopment.

The council approved zoning changes to allow a large mixed-use complex on 18.94 acres on the northwest intersection of Veterans and the CSX tracks with 110,000 square feet of retail space and nearly 1,200 multi-family housing units

<<RW Development is South Beach ^ Above >>

Red UM Rebel Jun 21, 2007 1:40 AM

Emeril Isle
 
Coastal gem in an Island View setting
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

Chef Emeril Lagasse gives a tour of his new restaurant Gulf Coast Fish House inside the Island View Casino Tuesday afternoon.
Emeril's preview (June 20)

Emeril's empire

GULFPORT --Emeril Lagasse is as kicked up about his tenth restaurant as he was about his first, and as he gave the Sun Herald a sneak peek of the new Emeril's Gulf Coast Fish House on Tuesday he revealed he'd just bought the space he's leased for 17 years for his first restaurant, Emeril's in New Orleans.

"This is pretty exciting," he said as dozens of chefs and waitstaff cooked and set tables. Emeril cookbooks and T-shirts were shelved and casino guests poked their heads around the black curtains for a look at Emeril's Gulfport creation.

They couldn't see much beyond the walls that curve around the bar and dining rooms, except the thousands of hand-cut crystal bubbles that float from the ceiling. "I can't wait for you to see it at night," Lagassesaid.

The curtain that separates the restaurant from the casino floor will open on cue this evening. About 400 invited guests were expected to attend the celebration but more than twice that number returned their RSVPs and sent a contribution to the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center. The restaurant opens to the public Friday.

"For me it's more than just opening another restaurant," said Lagasse. His wife, Alden, grew up in Gulfport and many of the staff members are from the Coast. Chef de cuisine Steve D'Angelo, general manager Jason Lonigro and their staff of 90 "are here for the long haul," which includes buying fresh fish and produce from local fish boats and farmers.

Although it's his tenth opening, Lagasse is concerned about meeting expectations. He's brought chefs and managers from New Orleans and his other restaurants to train the staff and make a good first impression.

Guests will be impressed with both the décor and cuisine. Earthtones are mixed with sea colors and art Alden chose to reflect the beach location. A 4,000-bottle wine tower separates dining rooms from the entrance and curved banquettes look out on the open kitchen, the beach or the landscaping that will one day be the hotel's pool and spa. Those who choose can relax on the wraparound porch with a breeze, a drink, a selection from the bar menu and "probably the best view on the Coast."

The views inside are remarkable, too. A food bar is open to the kitchen with four rows of tables behind it. The tables with inlaid colored glass were considered too beautiful to cover, said Lagasse, a self-described white tablecloth kind of guy.

Like the décor, the menu is a mix of earth and sea. He calls his cuisine coastal Creole and his kitchen a state-of-the-art laboratory. "Everything is from scratch," right down to the Worcestershire sauce, he said.

Even a day before the grand opening the menu was still being tweaked. "We made some changes, all good," said Lagasse, who put Portuguese shrimp and pasta on the menu for his mom, Hilda, and Southern dishes like shrimp and grits and andouille sausage-crusted Texas redfish. Side dishes also have Southern flair. Trademark appetizers and desserts such as Emeril's New Orleans-style barbecued shrimp and famous banana cream pie join new selections such as baked Gulf oysters and jumbo lump crabcakes with corn maque choux.

He brings more than a new restaurant to the Coast's recovery; Lagasse has created excitement in the community and enthusiasm among his young staff. "They're so happy and proud to be a part of this whole thing."

Red UM Rebel Jun 27, 2007 2:00 PM

Convention Center going for Tier One
 
Closing 7 months for makeover
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com
~Sun Herald

BILOXI --The doors will temporarily close at the Coast Coliseum Convention Center after this weekend, bringing the area one step closer to becoming a Tier One tourism destination.

Executive Director Bill Holmes said the board plans to have the Convention Center completely renovated and back open for business by mid-January. A 200,000-square-foot expansion should be complete in late spring 2009.

"Only the Convention Center will close," Holmes said. Concerts, sports and shows will continue, with remodeling of the arena taking place between events.

One of the components necessary to raise the Coast to a Tier One destination is 600,000 square feet of convention space. Holmes said the expansion should bring the area close to that mark, with a total of 385,000 at the Coliseum Convention Center alone. The present exhibit area at the Convention Center will become a ballroom. The expansion will be larger than the current building and will be primarily exhibit space.

Bids were opened last week and Yates Construction was low bidder for the $65 million project. Crews will simultaneously work on remodeling and construction.

After 5 feet of water flooded the Convention Center during Hurricane Katrina, the building was renovated quickly to house FEMA offices. Now it will be completely remodeled with new wallpaper, flooring and lighting in a nautical theme.

Holmes said the Convention Center has to be transformed and back open in time for Carnival season and meetings and other events that mean big business to the Coast. Reservations are already being taken, he said.

The Convention Center has held more than 60 events since January, the largest a convention of 6,000 hairdressers. "This is the last one," Holmes said of the Mississippi Municipal League, which has held its conference at the Coliseum for more than 30 years.

Because there is such demand to come to the Coast, Holmes said, "We're planning and budgeting for another expansion in five to six years."

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Red UM Rebel Jun 29, 2007 6:31 PM

Ready To Rock
 
Hard Rock lights guitar, will open Saturday
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com



BILOXI --The huge Hard Rock Casino guitar that survived Hurricane Katrina was officially lighted Thursday morning and Joe Billhimer, president of the Hard Rock Biloxi, told employees and the media, "Get ready."

"You can feel the energy in here," said Sue Reynolds of Ocean Springs, who was enjoying a sneak peek of Hard Rock Cafe where her daughter, Elaine Murphree, is a bartender. "I had to be the first," Reynolds said as she and Ann Mead of Ocean Springs and Jean Rouse of Gulfport ordered lunch and shopped, helping employees become familiar with their new jobs.

"We've always wanted to open as soon as we possibly could," said Billhimer, who helped restore the $235 million hotel and casino that was heavily damaged by Katrina days before it was set to open. Finishing touches and training will continue right up to opening Saturday at 10 a.m.

Hard Rock Casino looks and sounds distinctive on the outside, with purple windows against white walls and that huge guitar spewing music. Inside, everything from the decor to the enthusiasm of the staff shouts entertainment. A two-story memorabilia tower greets guests just inside the front door and the collection extends to every corner of the resort.

Elvis' uniform, fished out of the Gulf after the storm; a wedding gown worn by Madonna; Elton John's flowing feathered coat; John Lennon's purple jacket; and signed guitars, photographs, art and gold records hang everywhere. A special display shows items returned after the hurricane, including Eddie Van Halen's sneakers, guitars from Ozzy Osbourne and Gene Simmons of Kiss, an Eagles' golden record and a 3 Doors Down tribute.

"Hard Rock is about the music, for sure," said Karl Bulot, senior vice president of non-gaming operations. Almost $3 million in color-changing lights and $5 million in audio and visual equipment surround guests with sight and sound, from the casino floor to the Hard Rock Live venue.

In the Hard Rock Cafe, the menu is the same as in the more than 120 other locations, featuring hamburgers, a rack of smokehouse ribs and crabcakes until 2 a.m. General Manager Tony Poole said, "What makes us different is what we have on the wall," so visitors are encouraged to wander and admire the memorabilia.

For the first opening, Hard Rock began to partner with quality companies that would add to the resort. "We're gaming and entertainment experts," he said of Hard Rock. "Ruth's Chris, a big staple in New Orleans, was a natural for us." Starbucks Coffee and Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream are part of the resort.

Another partner, Rise Lounge on the top floor of Hard Rock, will open Thursday and owner Rande Gerber and his wife, model Cindy Crawford, plan to be there to welcome some of the first guests. "They're the best in the world," Billhimer said of the Gerber Group, which has some of the swankiest restaurants and bars worldwide.

Dorothy Viera, front office manager, said Hard Rock has 26 suites with incredible water and city views and 292 rooms, all with Aveda products, plasma televisions and "sleep-like-a-rock beds."

The resort also has Rock Spa, Satisfaction Buffet and Rock Shops where guests can get their Hard Rock Biloxi T-shirts.

:cheers: :tup: :cheers:

Red UM Rebel Jun 30, 2007 8:16 PM

From hard knocks to HARD ROCK
 
Casinos bounce back after Katrina
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

AMANDA McCOY/SUN HERALD

BILOXI --With the Fourth of July, the opening of Hard Rock Casino and the unveiling of an expanded casino at Treasure Bay, there will be plenty of fireworks in Biloxi this week.

City officials are warning traffic will be jammed today, when Hard Rock Casino opens at 10 a.m. The official grand opening runs Thursday through lucky July 7.

Treasure Bay opens the doors to its new casino floor and Infinity Buffet at 5 p.m. Monday. When the remainder of the expansion is complete in September, a grand opening also will celebrate the new infinity pool area, CQ fine dining restaurant, a conference room and 249 hotel rooms and suites.

This week of good news for Biloxi illustrates how the city and casino industry are building back after Hurricane Katrina. Hard Rock was just a couple of days from opening when Katrina destroyed the casino barge, badly damaged the new resort and tossed irreplaceable rock 'n' roll memorabilia into the Mississippi Sound.

The storm surge roared through Treasure Bay's pirate ship and into the hotel across U.S. 90. Legislation permitting onshore gambling allowed the casino to reopen on the first floor of the hotel, but it's only now that many of the employees are returning to their jobs at the casino.

"We're really proud of what we created," said Susan Varnes, chief operating officer of Treasure Bay. "Our whole goal was to create something different than any other casino." They accomplished this by capitalizing on the views. Even the casino floor has a view of the Gulf through floor to ceiling windows in the new front entrance, where colorful chandeliers glow with a thousand pieces of hand-blown glass.

"We had this opportunity to update everything," said Erik Johnson, advertising manager. The more contemporary look complements the stacked stone that was used in the original remodel and extends from the wave walls at the entrance to the casino floor through the entire main level.

Treasure Bay has had only slot machines since the storm. "Now we have table games," said Johnson and an additional 400 slots for more than 800 total.

Across the new stone front entrance to Treasure Bay are five caldrons spurting water. Although they may not be quite ready for Monday's opening, two of them also will shoot flames. Fire, water and stone, the elements of nature, are also a symbol of rebirth under way on the Coast.

Image from Sun Herald ~ Bar at the Hard Rock Cafe
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:upload_71700:

I have already gone today, ate in the cafe, and bought my t-shirt!!!!!

It is absolutely amazing and I hope everyone on SSP gets to visit. THE nicest casino/cafe/hotel in the entire chain. GOOD JOB!!!

thebestdillweed Jun 30, 2007 8:28 PM

i read Cindy Crawford and her husband will be at the grand opening of his new club on the top floor of the hard rock, that will be really cool having the views of the gulf, i won't get to go until august :( i also read about some info that sounded like construction might start on the Ohr museum this fall after bids went out

Red UM Rebel Jul 2, 2007 1:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebestdillweed (Post 2927757)
i also read about some info that sounded like construction might start on the Ohr museum this fall after bids went out



I hope, I haven't heard. I took lots of pictures that I will post on a couple of threads.

Gerber Group (Cindy's Husband) was unhappy with the club this past Thursday and is working to totally redo it by this Saturday (The offical Grand opening). The pools at Hard Rock play music under water too!

Red UM Rebel Jul 6, 2007 1:28 PM

Margaritaville takes two steps forward
 
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

BILOXI --Margaritaville Casino moved closer to reality Thursday when plans cleared both the Biloxi Architectural Review Commission and Planning Commission.

"This is a good step," said Hal Lamoreaux, Harrah's Central Division project director, after the Planning Commission unanimously accepted the changes.

The amendments to the already approved master plan now go to the City Council before developers can apply for permits and begin construction of the $700 million casino resort on 47 acres. Gary Lechner, who sits on both commissions, said it normally takes about two weeks before the City Council hears the application.

Architectural Review commissioner Mike Hutter asked developers if the streetscape and signs will follow the Margaritaville theme.

"Every one of the Margaritaville restaurants around the world is designed for that location," said senior project manager Mark Waggoner of Marnell Corrao Associates. In Biloxi, "The hotel takes flavor from Key West," with octagonal towers and dormer windows that reflect Jimmy Buffett's memories and his songs. Buffett was born in Pascagoula and grew up on the Coast.

"He wants it to be very carefully designed and detailed," said Waggoner.

Instead of tall buildings, the resort will spread out along the beachfront from the Casino Magic property to the Grand Biloxi. Two pedestrian overpasses will cross U.S. 90 and connect Margaritaville to Harrah's Grand Biloxi.

A variance was required for three marquees that will be placed at both ends and the center porte-cochere. Waggoner said they will be designed similar to properties in Las Vegas, where the signs take on the design flair of the property.

Detailing plans for the resort, Waggoner said Casino Magic will be renovated with 378 guest rooms and a new spa and salon. Grand Biloxi has an additional 494 rooms and Margaritaville will include a 420-room hotel with an outdoor shopping village, casino, meeting and convention space, ballroom and restaurants.

Lamoreaux said the test-pile program is complete at the site and Waggoner said the target opening of Margaritaville is in 2010.

Red UM Rebel Jul 6, 2007 9:19 PM

Public to have say on Tivoli rezoning
 
Billion-dollar casino proposed
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com


BILOXI --Sometime in August the Biloxi Planning Commission will hear whether residents think the Tivoli Hotel site north of U.S. 90 should be rezoned as "waterfront" so a billion-dollar casino and hotel can be built there.

The City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to direct the Planning Commission to schedule the hearing. Community Development Director Jerry Creel said it will take at least 30 days to complete the case fact sheet and advertise the hearing.

Councilman George Lawrence, the lone vote against asking for the hearing, wants to keep the beach for public use. He said, "I don't think this city should be all about money."

If the seawall is going to become the line for determining where casinos can be built, Lawrence said, "everything on Biloxi Beach could turn into casinos." He also pointed out that the Mississippi Gaming Commission has been fairly stern about allowing no new casino development across the sand beach.

Councilman Mike Fitzpatrick said that when opportunity knocks, the council should find creative solutions. The developer is reportedly Biloxi Capital LLC and Fitzpatrick stressed this is a billion-dollar project. It will have a casino, hotel rooms, marina, restaurants and shops and will bring millions of dollars to the city, county and state each year, he said.

Fitzpatrick said rezoning the site will give the Veterans of Foreign Wars the financial means to rebuild and the Biloxi Yacht Club the opportunity to get a new marina. The casino developers have the option to relocate their marina in front of the new yacht club location adjacent to the Tivoli site.

Council President Ed Gemmill agreed with Lawrence on some points. "I don't want to see that beach taken away from us," he said, but he favors the hearing, "to look at the possibilities."

Wanting to be clear on the intent of the resolution, Councilman Bill Stallworth said, "This is not a declaration saying we will approve it," but a chance to get information from residents.

"I probably won't vote for the project," said Councilman David Fayard, "but I do want the public input."

When Lawrence argued that the council can get public opinion without tying it to this property, Councilman Tom Wall replied, "This hearing is all about the Tivoli property." It has nothing to do with building on the beach, Wall said. The city wants to develop the property he said has been deteriorating for 40 years, "and looking worse and worse all the time," into something that is going to provide tax revenue.

The meeting room was packed and more citizens spoke for authorizing the hearing than against it. One resident who lives behind Tivoli asked that the boundaries be extended all the way to the railroad tracks. Homeowners in the area have the potential to be bought out. The current proposal sets the boundaries on the south by the mean high-water line (the toe of the seawall), north to Howard Avenue, east to Kuhn Street and west to Holley Street.

After the board voted to approve the public hearing, Gemmill said it will take approval beyond the council's authority before a casino could be built across from the sand beach.

Revenue generated

State $35.6 million
Biloxi $13.8 million
Biloxi schools $7.9 million
County $9.4 million

Repay Coliseum debt Nearly $3 million

Tourism advertising $2.4 million



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Supporters claim

Casino proposal would have:

• $1 billion investment

• 175,000 square feet of gaming space

• 2,500 hotel rooms

• 6,500 parking spaces

• 300-boat marina

• 6,500 parking spaces

• restaurants and retail




YAY:cheers:

Red UM Rebel Jul 6, 2007 9:22 PM

Public to have say on Tivoli rezoning
 
sorry dp

Red UM Rebel Jul 10, 2007 3:43 PM

Biloxi's Gold Rush
 
350 apartments coming on Veterans Avenue
By PRISCILLA FRULLA
pfrulla@sunherald.com

The north end of Veterans Avenue is getting a $75 million makeover, and that's just the beginning.

RW Development recently began construction on its South Beach Resort on U.S. 90 near Rodenberg and now has City Council approval to begin the next step in its Gold Coast district, a 19-acre mixed-use planned unit development on Veterans Avenue.

About 350 market-rate apartments and 70,000 square feet of retail and office space will be built first on a 6-acre section of the site, said RW Vice President Granville Smith.

"We hope to have the first phase under way before the end of the calendar year," said Smith. "The entire project could be built out within five years."

When complete, the Veterans Avenue development between Pass Road and the railroad tracks may have as many as 1,175 units of market-rate apartment housing along with 110,500 square feet of retail, office and restaurant space and 150 hotel rooms.

Smith said the property south of the tracks on Veterans will be primarily resort oriented. The areas north of the tracks will be primarily residential with supporting businesses such as dry cleaners, banks, coffee shops and cafes.

"We want to have a cohesive flavor," said Smith, who sees a smooth transition between the two areas.

The city plans to widen and improve Veterans Avenue, he said, and the development is designed to encourage pedestrians to use the new sidewalks.

Smith said the retail space will be located on the ground floor facing the street, "creating a continuous promenade." Residential rental units will be above and behind the storefronts.

Smith said the company is developing the residential area on Veterans before the resort area because "there is a tremendous demand for work-force housing."

Construction cost on the 19-acre site is estimated at $75 million. RW plans to invest a total of $800 million in its Biloxi properties in the area the developers have designated the Gold Coast.

Smith expects the Gold Coast developments to have a major impact on Biloxi. He said a positive aspect of the locations is "we are not tearing down homes. We are replacing vacant, blighted lots with quality developments."

RW owns about 50 acres near the beach including 63 percent of the property on Veterans Avenue and property on both sides of U.S. 90 at Veterans and Travia avenues. The first phase of South Beach is being built on the south side of U.S. 90 with an expected completion next summer.

Granville Smith, RW Development vice president

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Red UM Rebel Jul 16, 2007 1:09 PM

Developers' vote set for Tuesday
 
Gulfport council left firms hanging
By RYAN LaFONTAINE
rlafontaine@sunherald.com

GULFPORT --Three of the nation's largest developers want to help transform Gulfport from a struggling, storm-pummeled harbor town to a Southeastern jewel.

Their work, an extreme makeover, would be funded mostly through federal grants and hiring them would arguably be the boldest leap forward of any South Mississippi town since Hurricane Katrina.

Maybe it was bad blood between local politicians or simply cautious consideration from city leaders, but whatever the reason, the development firms were left hanging last week without a confirmation vote from the City Council and their futures will remain uncertain at least until Tuesday, when the council is expected to revisit the issue.

A special committee, established to find a reputable developer for the role of citywide design consultant, began sorting through potential development firms in February.

The committee recommended last week the City Council begin negotiations with three megadevelopers, but the council voted to delay a confirmation until Tuesday, giving council members time to review the professional backgrounds of each firm.

Throughout the selection process, committee members were bound by a confidentiality agreement because of fear that leaked information about selections could make for grumpy developers and kill any potential deal.

For weeks, council members tried unsuccessfully to pry bits of information from those on the committee about what was happening during the selection meetings and the process being used to make the determination.

Not even Councilwoman Libby Milner-Roland, who served on the selection committee, was allowed to speak freely to her fellow council members. State Rep. Frances Fredricks, D-Gulfport, who was appointed to serve on the committee by Councilwoman Ella Holmes-Hines, could not report back on what was happening behind closed doors.

It didn't take long for the tight-lipped tactic to frustrate the council and they voiced their chagrin last week when they voted against the recommendation.

"How can the committee be put under a confidentiality agreement and not be allowed to speak freely to the City Council? Why does the administration have so little trust in us?" Councilwoman Barbara Nalley asked.

Nalley said the committee handed three pages to each council member before last week's meeting. Each page contained a brief description of the three developers and their proposals, which she said was hardly enough material to convince her to accept a recommendation.

"That's part of the problem in Gulfport right now. We're the ones making the decision, not the committee. And if we are going to be asked to make a final determination on something, then we have to know what we are voting on and we have to be involved in the process," she said.

The committee urged the council to begin negotiating with New Orleans developer Pres Kabacoff, whose fingerprints are on the Riverwalk and the Warehouse District, to redesign the 92-acre Veterans Affairs property on U.S. 90 as a mixed-use public property, using part of it for a convention and resort complex.

The committee recommended the council negotiate a deal with Memphis developer Henry Turley, whose Harbor Town community closely resembles designs from the 2005 Coast charrettes, to become the city's design consultant and help revamp neighborhoods and develop walkable communities.

In addition, the committee suggested Kentucky developer Bill Butler, whose firm, Corporex, has dozens of Hyatt, Marriott and Hilton hotels on its resumé, be brought in to create a massive development downtown.

"The administration and the committee were asking us to accept these developers when we had no idea what was being talked about in those meetings and how they arrived at their recommendation," Councilman Brian Carriere said. "I've since had time to read through each of the proposals from the developers and I think we're going to see some real action (on Tuesday)."

Carriere said hopes to accept the recommendation and begin negotiating deals with each firm, but during the council's negotiation process, he wants to grill each company about its detailed plans for Gulfport.

"The only thing that's being recommended is that we negotiate contracts with these developers, that's it," he said. "We would need to sit down with them and discuss their plans in detail, especially about the VA property and which buildings would be saved and which ones are too far gone."

Councilman Neil Resh agreed with Nalley and others who said there was hardly enough information available last week to warrant a "yes" vote.

"I still don't have (an information) packet or anything on these builders," he said on Thursday. "And another thing, why are we using out-of-state builders and not local guys?"

Other council members, however, say there are hardly any available local developers with the type of illustrious resumes touted by Kabacoff, Turley and Butler.

The council was invited to a reception in May at the Island View Casino on the night the selections were announced. Resh was one of the few council members to attend and quiz the developers on their plans for the city.

Councilwoman Holmes-Hines said she did not attend the reception for fear of violating the state's open meetings laws.

"We looked at that and considered it as an open, public meeting," she said. "I'm not going to show up and violate the open meetings law."

But the laws on open meetings are murky and weak. One part of the law says any assembly of members of a public body, including an "informal meeting," in which public business is discussed even though no action or votes are taken is consider a public meeting and the public should be legally alerted.

However, luncheons, ribbon cuttings, "chance" meetings or "social gatherings" of members of a public body are not covered.

The committee's recommendation failed last week by a 4-3 vote, with those voting no saying they just needed more time to review the proposals and history of each developer.

Mayor Brent Warr's administration, the committee and the development firms are hoping Tuesday yields a different result. They need one more vote to pass the recommendation.

Meet the big three

A look at the committee's recommended developers:

Historic Restoration Inc.

Pres Kabacoff, a prominent New Orleans developer known for converting old warehouses and factories into hipster domiciles, is the chief executive officer and co-chairman of the board of HRI Properties, a full-service real estate company and national leader in the adaptive reuse of historic structures. He co-founded the company in 1982, with a mission of reviving cities by creating diverse, vibrant communities.

The firm has completed 38 large-scale projects through public-private partnerships that includes 3,235 apartments and condominiums, 2,738 hotel rooms, 172,794 square feet of retail space and 500,000 square feet of office space, totaling more than $1 billion in development.

In its proposal the firm said: "HRI Properties and its team members believe that many of the historic buildings located on the VA site could and should be retained and adaptively reused."

Some notable projects: HRI overhauled a collection of six empty warehouses in New Orleans' Mid City neighborhood. The property had been abandoned for 14 years. Today, it has a 20,000 square foot landscaped courtyard with a swimming pool. There is 19,000 square feet of neighborhood retail with a coffee shop, wine shop, salon, personal fitness facility, restaurant and a farmers market.

Would-be role in Gulfport: To restore the 92-acre VA property on U.S. 90.

Corporex Companies, LLC

When it was founded in 1965, the company's primary focus was on commercial construction, but it quickly expanded its operations to include full-scale development. The firm has developed nearly 10 million square feet of office and industrial space and more than 2,900 hotel rooms.

By 2004, the company's portfolio included more than $1 billion in owned assets and it employs nearly 4,000 people.

Some notable projects: The Kentucky-based company has partnered with a local firm to develop $60 million in projects at the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, including construction of a 135-room Hilton Garden Inn and a 108-room Residence Inn by Marriott.

Ovation is Coporex's master plan for the redevelopment of the Newport Kentucky Riverfront. The $1 billion project will feature nearly 1,000 residential units, 200,000 square feet of retail space, more than 1 million square feet of office space and a 3,500-square-foot showroom.

Would-be role in Gulfport: To begin construction of a major development at an undetermined location downtown.

Coastal Renaissance Company

The company is a partnership between New Urbanist Henry Turley and Locally Global Investments.

When scores of urban designers gathered in Biloxi in October 2005 for a weeklong brainstorming session to devise plans for rebuilding the Coast, they may have torn pages from Turley's book of building.

The designs for Coast rebuilding revolved around walkable communities and picturesque neighborhoods, down-home storefronts and sandy beaches. There were ideas for sidewalks, plenty of parks and town gathering places, roundabouts to slow traffic on major roads, and lofts built above neighborhood shops. Turley's resume is full of developments that feature those ideas.

Some notable projects: Turley's Harbor Town community near downtown Memphis is hardly the typical suburban subdivisions of cookie-cutter houses, fenced yards and attached two-car garages.

Harbor Town is full of Southern-style apartments and houses clustered around town squares. The homes have small yards and large front porches, with garages hidden from the streetscape. Walking is encouraged along sidewalks or gravel nature trails. There is a neighborhood grocery store and a school.

Would-be role in Gulfport: The company would become the city's design consultant, advising and working on many projects throughout the city with an emphasis on residential neighborhoods.

Red UM Rebel Jul 17, 2007 4:46 PM

Diamondhead Casino turns down $100M offer
 
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com
The Diamondhead Casino Corp. walked away from a $100 million offer it considers too low for 404 acres of land bordering the Bay of St. Louis and Interstate 10 and is considering other proposals from major investors.

"We are for sale," company Vice President Gregory Harrison confirmed, and with direct highway access and two miles of waterfront, "We know what the land is worth. We've got a whole buffet of options."

According to a press release issued Monday, "The company intends, in conjunction with one or more partners, to develop a land-based casino resort, condominiums and other amenities on the property." A deal with Donald Trump fell apart earlier this year when he pulled out of the casino business.

The $100 million offer would have brought just under $250,000 per acre. Diamondhead Casino already has a non-binding letter of intent to sell five acres for $750,000 per acre on the less valuable west side of the property. It would be limited to residential use and wouldn't interfere with the sale of the entire property, but would give the company $3.7 million cash.

Harrison believes people in the area will be shocked when an eventual sale or partnership is announced. "We're in joint venture discussions," he said, with entities who are not yet in Mississippi but are flying in on corporate jets to take a look. "Unlike all other properties in Biloxi and Gulfport, the property has no height or density restrictions," he said. Harrison said the interstate casino won't be a truck stop, but a first-class property.

The Diamondhead Property Owners Association is watching developments closely. The 4,500 residents are considering incorporation, and President Donald Kraemer said, "If we were to incorporate and become a city, that 400 acres would be in the city of Diamondhead." A casino resort would bring in considerable revenue and lower property taxes, he said.

Diamondhead Casino bought the 404 acres for $4.2 million in the early 1990s

Red UM Rebel Jul 20, 2007 1:30 PM

Jumping June sets record
 
$107.8M take at Coast casinos hits new Mississippi mark
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

Coast casinos were back to setting records in June after revenues slid the previous two months.

"Another record not only for the Coast but also statewide," said Larry Gregory, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

Jumping $3.5 million to nearly $107.8 million, June's gross gambling revenues at Coast casinos surpassed the previous June record of about $107.5 million in 2005, just prior to Hurricane Katrina.

"The numbers clearly indicate a solid and vibrant gaming market," he said, and that is translating into a number of developers showing up at his office.

On the Coast, they are looking at insurance, land and labor costs, and once these start settling down, Gregory predicts another big increase in development.

With the opening of the Hard Rock Casino, he expects even stronger numbers for July and believes the state is still on track for a record-setting $3 billion in gross gaming revenues for 2007.

"That's just extraordinary," Gregory said, "especially post-Katrina." The number of hotel rooms is about 70 percent of what the Coast had before the storm and the casinos at 67 percent the square footage.

State revenues dropped $2 million between May and June after casinos in the Mississippi River counties posted $5 million less. Gregory said the numbers are actually staying steady in those counties because revenues fluctuate each month depending on the number of weekends, the weather and other variables.

Tunica benefitted from the Coast casinos being closed after Katrina, and Gregory believes it will take a major property offering many amenities for that market to begin growing again.

The Gaming Commission has approved the Myriad casino for that area and three of five additional casinos on the site that are part of a $1.6 billion investment.

Red UM Rebel Jul 26, 2007 1:54 PM

Boutique shopping 'north of the waters'
 
North Biloxi area bustles with activity
By PRISCILLA FRULLA
pfrulla@sunherald.com

BILOXI --Boutique shoppers in North Biloxi will have more choices this fall with the opening of Shoppes Nord du Lieu.

Tenants in the $8 million office and retail development, named for its location "north of the waters," will include WOW Cafe, Smoothie King, Subway, a day spa, a clothing boutique and a "white tablecloth" restaurant called the Red Eye Grill, which will serve steak and seafood.

The Popp's Ferry and Cedar Lake roads area, where the complex is being built, is bustling with activity. Regions Bank bought an outparcel of the property and LaQuinta is building an 80-room hotel nearby before the end of the year, said Biloxi real estate broker Scott Delano of Gulf States Properties.

Delano said the developers hope to bring shops and services "closer to the rooftops" in adjacent neighborhoods.

In the last 10 or 15 years many retail developments have sprung up in the shadows of "power centers" around big-box stores, said Delano.

"We are marketing toward a boutique shopper," he said describing shoppers who want to get in and out of a small shop in less than 10 minutes and get home quickly.

Gulf States Real Estate Services of Mandeville, which is affiliated with Delano's Gulf States Properties, is the developer and construction management company for the project. The company will begin construction on a second phase around the beginning of September, pending permits, said Delano.

At the same time, tenant build-outs should begin in the first phase with openings several weeks before Thanksgiving to take advantage of the holiday shopping season, he said.

Space in the 75,000-square-foot retail center will be leased for $19 to $25 per square foot. The property includes one outparcel in addition to the Regions Bank site.

___________________________________


About time, this project has had a sign up for about six years. It is nice to see that it is finally getting off the ground and going to offer new shopping to North Biloxi, D'Iberville, and Woolmarket consumers. To often is shopping in the area solely focused on the tourism market, so it is nice to see some locals getting a new place!

fla_tiger Jul 27, 2007 2:37 AM

Image from Sun Herald ~ Bar at the Hard Rock Cafe
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1112/...db3eb0.jpg?v=0

Quote:

I have already gone today, ate in the cafe, and bought my t-shirt!!!!!

It is absolutely amazing and I hope everyone on SSP gets to visit. THE nicest casino/cafe/hotel in the entire chain. GOOD JOB!!!
The Hard Rock is just AWESOME!!! Could easily replace the Beau as my favorite weekend trip.

BTW, kudos on your Gulf Coast thread RedUM, very informative.

Red UM Rebel Jul 31, 2007 3:27 AM

Margaritaville On The Way
 
~Sun Herald

$700M resort plans August groundbreaking
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

BILOXI --A tropical breeze blew into Biloxi this week when the City Council approved plans for Margaritaville Casino.

"Pending permit approvals, groundbreaking on Margaritaville in Biloxi will be in August," said Jacqueline Peterson, senior corporate manager of communications for Harrah's Entertainment.

Harrah's, which owns the Grand Biloxi and Casino Magic, is building the $700 million resort on the beach in partnership with Pascagoula-born, world-renowned singer Jimmy Buffett. The resort is targeted to open in 2010.

Councilman George Lawrence still has questions about traffic but made the vote unanimous to approve an amended master plan and conditional use for the resort. Margaritaville Casino cleared both the Biloxi Architectural Review Commission and Planning Commission on July 5.

Lawrence is sure the resort will be popular and he is concerned traffic will back up on U.S. 90. Harrah's is negotiating with the city to close Oak Street in exchange for building a boat ramp on Kuhn Street, and Lawrence thinks the boat trailers will cause even more traffic problems. He also went on record against the company building any parking garage directly on U.S. 90.

When Margaritaville is built, there will be less casino space in the area than before Hurricane Katrina, said Jonathan Kiser of Neel-Schaffer in Gulfport, which did traffic projections. There will be four signals on three westbound lanes and four eastbound lanes, he said, and multiple entry points into the resort. The parking garage at Grand Biloxi will be connected to Margaritaville Casino by two pedestrian walkways over U.S. 90.

Buffett is designing Margaritaville Casino around his memories of growing up on the Coast and said, "I plan to be pretty active in this." It's the first time the Margaritaville theme that Buffett has used to create casual restaurants around the world will be translated into a casino.

The investment is the largest in South Mississippi since Katrina, and Harrah's is also expanding worldwide.

Peterson said the company just announced a $1 billion expansion of their flagship resort, Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Harrah's also recently announced new hotels at Harrah's Atlantic City and Harrah's New Orleans and an expansion of Horseshoe Casino in Indiana. Already the largest casino company in the world, Harrah's continues to develop its brand abroad. The purchase of London Clubs International included nine casinos in the U.K. plus three in Egypt and one in South Africa. The company is also building a casino in Spain and is looking to build in Slovenia.

"We're always looking for opportunities," said Peterson.



:tup:

Red UM Rebel Aug 1, 2007 2:19 PM

Biloxi Yacht Club Sets Sail To New Site
 
~Sun Herald

Club hopes to break ground in mid-October
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com


BILOXI --The only thing found after a casino barge squashed the Biloxi Yacht Club during Hurricane Katrina was a trophy that is displayed in the temporary headquarters on the beach - a double-wide trailer - until a new home is built for the memento and membership.

The club has plans in hand for a new facility and last week received a conditional use permit from the Biloxi City Council. In the next three weeks they hope to get title to land they are trading for their old site at 430 Beach Blvd., said Commodore Jim Graham. Then they can break ground by mid-October and open the doors to a new 12,500-square-foot facility in spring 2009.

The new building has three levels and the Yacht Club needed a variance to build to an overall height of 68.5 feet instead of the 50 feet allowed by the land ordinance. "It's definitely elevated," Graham said of the new building.

Inside will be a dining room and lounge, a 4,000-square-foot banquet facility and a room where junior sailors can socialize and attend sailing classes, Graham said. Placing the swimming pool at the front of the property will give members sweeping beach views.

This will be the fourth Biloxi Yacht Club facility for the group that is the sixth oldest in the United States. Hurricanes claimed the others. The original built in 1901 was wiped out by a 1915 hurricane, Camille washed away the second in 1969 and Katrina destroyed the third in 2005.

Developers of the Tivoli Hotel site approached the Yacht Club before Hurricane Katrina about buying their property. "They said they needed the Yacht Club for the view," said Jude McDonnell, the Yacht Club commodore in 2004. Mike Boudreaux and New Orleans developer Jim McPhail had plans to restore the historic hotel before Hurricane Katrina destroyed it.

After the storm, Boudreaux and Biloxi Capital LLC, owners of the Tivoli site, agreed to trade a parcel of land east of Tivoli to the Biloxi Yacht Club for the club's original property on the west side.

Attorney David Wheeler told the City Council the Yacht Club will retain a five-foot strip of land on the north side of U.S. 90 from the current marina to remain upland owners and keep riparian rights. Biloxi Capital has an option to relocate the marina within five years, Wheeler said. The five-foot strip and the current marina property would then transfer to Biloxi Capital.

Councilman Mike Fitzpatrick made a point of asking if the Yacht Club is benefiting from the owners of the Tivoli property, "just like the VFW." He was told the Yacht Club is receiving both the land and money and if the deal falls apart, the Yacht Club will stay where it is and get an SBA loan to rebuild.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2434 also recently traded land for its former site adjacent to the Tivoli property. Biloxi Capital and applicant, New Orleans developer Kenny Lobell, received a variance from the City Council to rebuild on Howard Avenue and Kuhn Street.

Graham said the Yacht Club is in the process of revitalizing the marina that currently has 22 slips. "We had 50 before the storm, and we're going to go back to 50," he said, whether at the current location or the new site if Biloxi Capital chooses to relocate the marina.

http://media.sunherald.com/smedia/20...filiate.77.jpg

Red UM Rebel Aug 9, 2007 1:38 AM

Biloxi Planning Commission approves new VFW
 
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com


BILOXI --Nearly a dozen members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2434 wore their hats and brought their design for a new center to the Biloxi Planning Commission on Thursday. And they got their first approval.

By unanimous vote, but with several stipulations, the Planning Commission agreed to a VFW neighborhood center at the corner of Howard Avenue and Kuhn Street. The VFW application for conditional use now goes to the Biloxi City Council.

The hearing for the VFW was continued from the July 19 Planning Commission meeting when several residents were concerned about noise, late hours, alcohol and a big metal building in their neighborhood.

VFW Commander Joseph Canale said the 383-member VFW has operated out of a donated trailer in the parking lot since Hurricane Katrina destroyed their previous center.

"Originally, it was going to be a metal building," said Kenny Lobell of Biloxi Capital, who showed the commission drawings for a nearly $600,000 VFW center. The 5,100-square-foot building will be elevated 10 feet with space underneath that can be used for picnics.

Biloxi Capital wants to build a billion-dollar casino resort on the Tivoli Hotel property adjacent to the current VFW site and is relocating the VFW to a nearby 1.6-acre site the company owns. The VFW "asked us to come in and help them," Lobell said, and Biloxi Capital will help them pay for the building and find a contractor.

"This is an application for a neighborhood center, and we don't believe this is a neighborhood center," Attorney Stanton Fountain Jr. argued on behalf of four Kuhn Street residents. He said the building was a lodge or club as defined by the city ordinance, and neither is allowed in an R-5 zone, nor is alcohol.

"Are they known for wild parties?" asked Commissioner Jamey Hunt.

"As far back as any of us can remember, we have never been cited for a violation resulting from noise or an alcohol-related problem," Canale said.

The Planning Commission recommended the project with several conditions, including limiting the public entrance to Howard Avenue and restricting the hours of operation from noon to 10 p.m. on weekends and 2 to 10 p.m. on weekdays.

Red UM Rebel Aug 10, 2007 1:43 AM

Harrah's profits jump on Coast, in Las Vegas
 
Margaritaville groundbreaking coming soon
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

BILOXI --Margaritaville Casino sails into Biloxi on a wave of good news, with this month's groundbreaking coming soon after Harrah's Entertainment announced Tuesday its second-quarter profits jumped 85 percent.

Singer Jimmy Buffett came to Biloxi in May to announce his partnership with Harrah's, the largest casino company in the world. Together they will build the $704 million Margaritaville Casino on the beach. Construction is expected to begin this month and the resort will open in 2010.

Harrah's reported second-quarter net profits of $237.5 million compared to $128.7 million for the same time last year.

In the Mississippi and Louisiana region, total revenue was up 15.3 percent for the first quarter. During the first six months of 2007, this market earned $779.5 million, a 21 percent increase from the $643.2 million for the first half of 2006, when Harrah's Grand Casino Biloxi was closed for the period after Hurricane Katrina. Insurance proceeds of $37 million above net book value were included in the second-quarter income.

Results were also strong in Las Vegas, where Harrah's recently announced a $1 billion expansion and renovation of Caesars Palace.

Earnings were $922.5 million, up 14.8 percent over the second quarter of 2006.

In Atlantic City, revenue was up 13.7 percent to $592 million but income from operations sank almost 38 percent. Harrah's reported that "competition from new slot operations in New York and Pennsylvania, the implementation of new smoking regulations in New Jersey beginning April 15, and increased costs associated with marketing and promotional programs continued to hurt results in the Atlantic City region."

Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack, which opened in Pennsylvania in the first quarter, helped boost the area's results.

The sale of Harrah's Entertainment to a private investment group for $17.1 billion is expected to be complete at the end of this year or early 2008.

Link

Red UM Rebel Aug 12, 2007 9:08 PM

Public hearing set for Tivoli site
 
Supporters, opponents get 3 minutes to speak
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

BILOXI --Developers of a proposed $1 billion casino project will reveal their plans for the old Tivoli Hotel site at a public hearing Monday night that will also see a revival of the Reviving the Renaissance Committee.

The Biloxi City Council directed the Planning Commission to hold the hearing to determine public sentiment for rezoning 30 acres of land from multi-family residential and commercial to waterfront. Public comments will be limited to three minutes to allow as many people as possible to speak.

The beachfront land north of U.S. 90 is the former site of the Tivoli Hotel. Councilman Mike Fitzpatrick said the Tivoli property owners will make a full-scale Powerpoint presentation.

A representative of Reviving the Renaissance is expected to present a letter from Ret. Gen. Clark Griffith, chairman of the committee that drafted a plan to restore and rebuild Biloxi after Hurricane Katrina.

It's a high-stakes proposition for Biloxi Capital LLC, the owners of the old Tivoli Hotel site. With soaring construction costs and insurance rates, they may not be able - without casino revenue - to finance the project they hope to build.

The developers declined to share their plans with the Sun Herald before unveiling them at the hearing.

In a presentation to the Mississippi Coast Coliseum Commission in July, Fitzpatrick asked for the commissions support for rezoning the property and detailed the plans and the revenues that would be generated.

He said the proposal is for 2,500 hotel/condos, 6,500 parking spaces, 100,000 square feet of casino space with 3,000 slots and 100 table games. The developers plan five indoor and three outdoor restaurants, 100,000 feet of retail shops, two swimming pools, a clubhouse and 175,000 square feet of meeting space.

With projected gross gaming revenues of $315 million, Fitzpatrick said the city of Biloxi would receive $13.8 million per year and the Biloxi schools $7.9 million. The $2.9 million that would go toward the Coliseum debt each year would cover almost the entire yearly interest the commission now pays. More than $2 million in tax revenue would go to the tourism commission, $9.4 million to Harrison County and $35.6 million to the state, Fitzpatrick said.

The hearing is intended to discuss whether the property should be rezoned waterfront, which would be necessary before the Mississippi Gaming Commission would even consider whether the property is a legal casino site.

In a letter to the Biloxi City Council, MGC Chairman Jerry St. Pé and Executive Director Larry Gregory cautioned that even if Council rezones the property, that doesn't qualify the site for a casino.

The current proposal sets the boundaries on the south as the mean high-water line (the toe of the seawall), north to Howard Avenue, east to Kuhn Street and west to Holley Street.

Gregory said the intent of the onshore casino legislation approved after Hurricane Katrina is for casinos to be located within 800 feet of the water's edge, or where the water and land meet. Gregory said he used the water's edge, not the toe of the seawall, to determine the 800-foot distance for Treasure Bay. The 800-foot law also requires the casino be adjacent to the state waters.

The Judge Cox Supreme Court ruling set the beachfront in that area as public property and although residents who own property upland of the beach pay a yearly tax on the riparian rights, they can't build on the beach.

Griffith will be out of town Monday but his letter will be read during the hearing.

"Tivoli is absolutely the wrong thing to do for a lot of reasons," he said last week and the Reviving the Renaissance Committee will speak out on important issues as they arise.

They fought the "375-foot monstrosity" when the condotel was proposed and now are speaking out against the proposed casino.

"The biggest reason is the city of Biloxi has told us all along they don't want to do that," he said of the rezoning.

At town meetings held after Hurricane Katrina, "The central theme that came out in every ward across the city was don't let us become wall to wall condos and casinos," he said, particularly along Beach Boulevard.

To get the state Legislature to agree to onshore casinos, "We had to convince them that we were not going to expand gaming." Local leaders had to promise they weren't going to rezone a bunch of other property.

"Rebuild the Tivoli Hotel," he suggests, as Biloxi Capital originally proposed. Or put a park on the site as the Living Cities plan proposed. The legislators have told the City Council no, the Gaming Commission said no and the residents of Biloxi said no to expanding casinos, "and they are ignoring all three," Griffith said.

Biloxi Capital hasn't applied for the rezoning. In July 2006 the City Council considered asking the Planning Commission to hold a hearing to rezone part of the Tivoli site and another area across from the sand beaches. They backed away from the idea when Mayor A.J. Holloway said he would use his veto power to prevent the city's waterfront from going "wholesale casino." Holloway said he will listen to Monday's public comment, but hasn't said if he would veto a zoning change on the Tivoli property.

Gregory told the Sun Herald in 2006 any developer must still prove the land next to water is an integral part of the development.

"It can't be land over there for people to just walk up and down," Gregory said. "It has to be connected. Integral is the appropriate word. That means significant. That's what we're going to look at."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you go

Who: Biloxi Planning Commission.

What: Public hearing for proposed rezoning of old Tivoli Hotel site.

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Donal

Snyder

Community Center, 2530 Pass Road.


Link

Red UM Rebel Aug 13, 2007 7:44 PM

Margaritaville construction under way; 'The Today Show' here Tuesday
 
Video Link


By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

Link

BILOXI --Without fanfare, construction began on Margaritaville Casino on the beach in Biloxi, three months after Jimmy Buffett sang "Margaritaville" as he and Harrah's Entertainment announced they were joining to build the $700 million resort.

Construction is expected to take 2-1/2 years, with the resort opening in early 2010.


Jacqueline Peterson, senior corporate manager communications for Harrah's Entertainment, said "The Today Show" will be at Harrah's Grand Casino Biloxi and the Margaritaville site Tuesday filming a segment for its "America the Beautiful" feature on how the casinos are helping to rebuild the Coast.



:banana: :cheers: :banana:

Red UM Rebel Aug 15, 2007 3:10 PM

Tivoli casino approval facing challenge
 
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

BILOXI --Developers are aware it will be a challenge to get the Mississippi Gaming Commision to rule their property is a legal casino site, especially since they don't plan development on the sand beach south of where they propose building the Tivoli Resort and Casino.

Daniel Conwill IV, managing partner of the property owner Biloxi Capital LLC, showed picture postcards of the old Tivoli Hotel to the crowd at Monday night's public hearing. One old photograph was of the seawall, which Thompson Engineers used to determine the location of the toe. They measured 800 feet inland and planned the casino to be entirely within the 800 feet, as required by the onshore gaming law.

According to state law, private property north of Beach Boulevard cannot be zoned for gambing unless it is connected to private property that touches the waters of the Mississippi Sound.

The company's lawyers and consultants outlined their strategy to have the site deemed legal for a casino.

They hired attorney Britt Singletary, who was successful in getting the IP property declared a legal site. He told the crowd he will educate the Gaming Commission on the legalities of the property and he hopes they will be "fair-minded."

Gaming Commission Chairman Jerry St. Pé said Tuesday, "This isn't about educating the Gaming Commission but meeting the requirements of the law."

Singletary said U.S. 90 isn't owned by the state but is an easement, which excludes that area from the 800-foot rule. The determination of a legal site has nothing to do with the casino property touching water, he said, or the legislators would have written that into the law.

Rep. Roger Ishee, one of about a half-dozen state legislators who attended the hearing, said the onshore gaming legislation narrowly passed. "They wanted to abolish it," he said of legalized gambling, and he believes talk of rezoning the Tivoli property is hitting them over the head with the issue.

Attorney Michael Cavanaugh showed a photograph of the Island View Casino in Gulfport as an example of a casino that was approved north of U.S. 90. The developers also pointed to the Broadwater Casino that was also approved as a gaming site on the north side of the highway.

"We have not approved anything that is similar to this site," said Larry Gregory, Gaming Commission executive director. With the provisions of the law and the 800-foot regulation, "We're looking at a whole different scenario. Nothing has been presented to this commission by anyone," he said. St. Pé said that while zoning is critical to determining a legal gaming site, it's not appropriate for the Gaming Commission to get involved or comment on the zoning process.

One audience member said it's unreasonable to think the site can't be developed without a casino when there are condos under construction up and down the beach.

The public hearing will be continued during the Planning Commission hearing Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Community Development office.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tavistock Group
The majority partner in Biloxi Capital LLC, Tavistock is a global company with interests in 170 companies in 15 countries, according to its Web site. Their holdings include name brands like Puma and Vans sportswear and Bristol Cars Ltd., along with insurance services, boutique restaurants and golf communities. Their Web site is tavistock.com.


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Tivoli Group Makes Pitch For Casino Zoning Change

Developers say their billion dollar casino plans for the old Tivoli hotel site are absolutely the right thing to do. Now, they must convince the Biloxi Planning Commission to rezone the Tivoli property.

The proposed casino has 2,500 condo rooms, a variety of shops, several restaurants, and a casino. And it could mean $21 million a year in taxes for Biloxi and its schools. But, the new Tivoli can't be built without a zoning change.

Just hours before a Monday public hearing about the Tivoli's zoning, Biloxi Capital gave WLOX News a computer enhanced drawings of what it would like to build in east Biloxi. Dan Conwill is one of the equity partners in this endeavor.

"It's ambitious, yes, but it's also a very realistic project," he said after rehearsing for the Monday night hearing.

Developers of the new Tivoli have acquired 30 acres of land between Highway 90 and Howard Avenue. They'd like to convert an area littered with the weedy remnants of Hurricane Katrina into a massive Biloxi resort.

"I think it's what the coast needs to expand this marketplace," Conwill said.

The Tivoli site is down the street from Biloxi's casino row. However, nothing west of Kuhn Street is zoned for casinos. And Biloxi Capital needs the waterfront zoning distinction before the new Tivoli comes out of the ground.

To help make that argument, developers got a letter from former Biloxi mayor Jerry O'Keefe. It was included in the packet of information given to WLOX News prior to Monday's public hearing. O'Keefe is rebuilding his home on Beach Boulevard. It's just a block or so from the Tivoli site.

"Now is the best opportunity in 38 years to realize the great potential of this property," O'Keefe wrote in a letter he'll present to the Biloxi Planning Commission."

He points out that the land sat mostly unused since Hurricane Camille hit the coast in 1969.

"This land is like a bride waiting at the church for 38 years, now is the time to act."

If the developers can the city's okay, they must convince the state to go along with their proposal So far, the Mississippi Gaming Commission has not taken an official stance on the Tivoli project, because developers have not filled out a site application yet.

However, gaming agents recently sent a letter to the Biloxi City Council. And it noted that if there was public sand between the water's edge and the on shore spot where a casino would operate, gaming commissioners would generally turn down that application.

The Biloxi Capital team has hired attorney Dan McDaniel. He specializes in Mississippi casino site approval cases.

"I think the site is legal. It's my opinion the site is legal," McDaniel said.

Developers say they'll worry about the legality of the site after they get the waterfront zoning change from Biloxi.

"Without a casino, you could never afford to build a resort of this scale, and with the amenities we're offering," said Conwill.

by Brad Kessie


Check out this LINK! They have a film on what the Tivoli project could look like. It would be the first TRULY Las Vegas style project on the Gulf Coast.


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Personal Note:

Although I truly hope that this project does get built, I sincerely believe that it will not. There are far too many NIMBY's up and down the coast in Biloxi that feel if this project passes, the entire coast will be condos and casinos. It is stupid for them to believe that though because who in the heck goes to Biloxi for the beach. The casino commission has also made it abundantly clear that they are not in favor of this project. The state legislators (especially those from Middle and Northern MS) that are from dry, "God fearin'" counties that want to abolish gambling in the state (even though it is the second largest producer of tax revenue) will ensure this project fails. There are so many obstacles for this project to overcome that I have not put it on the proposed sites portion at the top because frankly it is probably not going to happen. Still cool to look at though :tup:

Red UM Rebel Aug 19, 2007 3:12 PM

Casinos spell recovery with a B
 
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com
It was a record-breaking year for the Coast casinos, when Hard Rock Casino opened two years later than expected, Jimmy Buffett brought Margaritaville to Biloxi, Emeril kicked it up a notch in Gulfport and new projects were measured "with a B."

Billions have been invested in Coast casinos since the storm. The goal for this year's state gross gaming revenue is $3 billion, and a billion-dollar casino is proposed in Biloxi that will test the 800-foot rule for onshore gambling.

At the Southern Gaming Summit in May, Gov. Haley Barbour said he doesn't want gambling to expand beyond the current seven counties. That statement didn't stop opponents of a proposed Choctaw casino in Jackson County from worrying when Beasley Denson was elected the new Choctaw chief in July. Denson said he would look to the will of the tribe rather than this November's non-binding referendum in Jackson County to determine if the Choctaws will pursue a Coast casino.

When the Isle of Capri celebrated the 15th anniversary of casinos in August, Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway said the state far surpassed the original projections of six casino boats and $10 million in revenue for the state.

"We don't have paddlewheelers. Nor do we have casinos. We have casino resorts. We have a multibillion-dollar industry."

Casinos contributed more than $800 million in tax revenue to the state and cities in 15 years and Holloway said, "I hate to think where we would be today in this post-Katrina world were it not for the revenue and jobs created by this industry."

Larry Gregory, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission for the past 12 years, thinks of the casinos as children he has watched grow. The state has evolved to one of the top 10 gambling markets in the country, and he's expecting more casinos to come.

Biloxi growth

Casinos have driven the Coast's post-Katrina economy, especially in Biloxi. Every casino in the city expanded or updated, and Hard Rock Casino, two days from opening when Katrina hit, finally got its debut.

Competition was keen for celebrity partnerships, promotions and expansions, yet cooperation among the casinos brought people back to work and moved the Coast to recovery. Players rewarded the casinos with record earnings.

Harrah's Entertainment and singer Jimmy Buffett are partnering to build Margaritaville, with construction to begin in August. Bacaran Bay plans to break ground before the end of 2007 and summer 2008 is the target for groundbreaking at Bayview Casino Resort next to Boomtown on the Back Bay. The Broadwater property has more than 200 acres to develop and spokesman Mark Calvert said they are looking for the right joint venture or sale. A $1 billion casino is proposed on the site of the old Tivoli Hotel, but that location faces rezoning by the Biloxi City Council and having the property declared a suitable site by the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

John Ed Ainsworth is managing partner of Old Bayview, one of the developers of the Bayview Casino, and he's excited about the possibilities in East Biloxi. Once Bayview and Bacaran Bay are built, the development on the Back Bay will equal that on Front Beach and he sees both locations doing well.

Boomtown Casino Biloxi, "the lone rider without any infrastructure," said Gregory, was successful in having the property the company purchased after the storm rezoned to waterfront. That opens the possibilities for an onshore casino rather than the current barge and lodging, although Gregory said it doesn't necessarily have to be a hotel.

Penn National, parent company of Boomtown Biloxi and Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis, and Harrah's Entertainment are both being sold to private investment groups. What changes that might mean to expansion projects isn't clear, although it hasn't stopped the plans for Margaritaville.

The national press took notice of the record revenue posted each month by the casinos and the celebrities coming to the Coast. Hard Rock Casino and Beau Rivage brought major stars to town and IP Casino teamed with the Mississippi Coast Coliseum to host a Roy Jones boxing match and other events.

The casinos used Katrina as an opportunity to rebuild bigger and better, with signature golf courses, fine restaurants, elegant spas and updated decor. Palace Casino opened a bakery and cafe among its many renovations and Treasure Bay expects to have their hotel tower and CQ restaurant open in September. Isle of Capri moved its corporate headquarters out of Biloxi and away from hurricanes, yet invested millions in the Biloxi casino.

D'Iberville

Site work is beginning at two casinos on the north side of the Bay and residents report that Harrah's is buying property in D'Iberville.

At Royal D'Iberville Casino, Mark Seymour Sr. said, "I've got all the approvals ready to go."

The West D'Iberville Casino being developed by former Las Vegas casino executive Peter Simon is expected to come before the planning commission shortly with site plans, according to D'Iberville City Manager Richard Rose. The casinos will be closer to Interstate 10 than the Biloxi casinos and Rose said the casinos are raising property values and residents are eagerly awaiting the change "on the northwest side of D'Iberville Bay Bridge."

Gulfport

Emeril Lagasse opened his very popular Emeril's Gulf Coast Fish House as part of the Phase II of Island View Casino's project. A third phase is coming south of U.S. 90 in Gulfport with plans for a hotel, more parking, perhaps a boardwalk and other development.

Isle of Capri intends to expand to western Harrison County with a $250 million Pine Hills Casino and development. "We continue to view that as a very attractive property," said Allan Solomon, executive vice president, especially with Go-Zone tax credits and the site's proximity to Interstate 10.

Although Long Beach voters approved casino development in the city, Mayor Billy Skellie said, "No one's been in my office making proposals" on property near the harbor. That is the only site he believes is legal, although there was a developer looking at another site the mayor doesn't believe will meet Gaming Commission approval.

Hancock County

Hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina, Hancock County bounced back with the help of its two casinos.

"It's been a fantastic 12 months," said Bob Davidge, particularly because 900 people were able to go back to work as Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis reopened.

While plans are being drawn for a hotel and meeting space at Silver Slipper Casino, the resort will have its first on-site accommodations when an RV park opens at the end of August.

The value of casino development was evident when Diamondhead Casino stockholders turned down an offer for

$100 million for its site directly off Interstate 10. Jets continue to fly into the area with major developers aboard who are interested in investing in Mississippi Coast casinos.

Virginia McDowell flew to the Coast for a quick look within days of becoming the new president of Isle of Capri Casinos. "We're working hard," she said, "and we're looking forward."



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Mississippi casinos

Here is a statistical breakdown of legalized gambling in Mississippi for the calendar year 2006:


Operating casinos: 27


Casino employees: 26,010


Gross gaming revenue: $301.62 million


Visitor volume: 35.65 million

- MISSISSIPPI CASINO OPERATORS, MISSISSIPPI GAMING COMMISSION


LINK

Red UM Rebel Aug 19, 2007 3:16 PM

VA’s past, future coming together
 
By KAT BERGERON
kbergeron@sunherald.com

This is the story of the Mississippi birthday party that never was.

The state made humongous plans to celebrate its 100th birthday with a world’s fair, although they were called “expositions” in those days. This one would be the Mississippi Centennial Exposition.

More than a dozen foreign countries, Uncle Sam, modern manufacturers and many municipalities and states planned exhibits for the sixmonth party.

Attractive Spanish mission buildings were designed and an internationally acclaimed landscape architect hired. The chosen 147-acre site in Gulfport was touted for its waterfront beauty. Dec. 10, 1917, came and went without centennial fanfare. No birthday candles. No bands. No exclamations of the modern marvels such fairs introduced to a world moving far beyond the Industrial Revolution.

Instead, Navy sailors filled the exposition grounds. In a fit of patriotism at America’s entry into World War I, Mississippi had offered its centennial site free to the government.

The eight completed centennial buildings became the Gulfport Naval Training Center, and when the war ended the site became a medical center for military veterans. As new buildings went up, most adhered to the mission architectural style.

Fast-forward to the 21st century and this becomes a story of storm survival and renewal.

Hurricane Katrina badly damaged the Gulfport center of Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System — known locally as “the old VA.” A month after Katrina struck, the Department of Veterans Affairs decided repairs were too costly and did what it had threatened to do for years, close the Gulfport center.

In what could have been a losing situation, Gulfport came out on top when the VA gave the property to the city. As might be expected, heated discussions between residents and city officials centered on what should become of this prized land. The decision: To be developed as a new resort with many of the 19 buildings saved.

The developer, HRI Properties of New Orleans, will receive historic-preservation tax credits for doing the exacting restoration work.

“The VA is quite a landmark for the Mississippi Coast, and it is significant that the city decided to work with firms that will include the historic buildings,” said Ken P’Pool of the Mississippi Department of Archives & History, a champion of saving the Coast’s Katrinadamaged architectural heritage.

“Historic buildings like these are going to provide the symbols of stability and continuity and will be a rallying point for revitalization. They are a chapter in the continuum.”

That continuum began in 1912 when the state Legislature did the unusual by favoring the Coast over historically influential Jackson and Natchez. Legislators decided the exposition would be in one of the youngest cities, Gulfport, incorporated only 14 years earlier.

Jealous cities were finally resigned when legislators passed a 1916 bill that named the location. Even before that, Gulfport, Harrison County and the state contributed $125,000 each to a start-up fund, equivalent to $2.6 million each in today’s dollars.

Plans were for 18 centennial buildings, 10 of them permanent because the grounds would later be a park, much like Balboa Park after the Panama-California Exposition in San Diego. That California fair was running full steam as Mississippians planned their fair, so organizers studied what worked well there.

Mississippians grew wideeyed at the prospects: San Diego had reported more than doubled bank transactions, populations and building permits. Other local spin-offs became obvious. With all the visitors — estimated to be at least 15,000 a day — plans were finalized for an $800,000 bridge over the Bay of St. Louis. Gov. Theodore Bilbo pushed for a Coast-to-Jackson road to be called the Mississippi Centennial Highway and the feds agreed to match a dollar for every dollar raised for the road now called U.S. 49.

Russia, Italy, Persia, India, Spain and China were among countries committed to exhibits. The Southeast Satsuma Growers planned an orangeshaped building, and that was just the tip of the exhibit iceberg.

This exposition would be both education and entertainment. The coliseum was to seat 5,000, and Chicago and New Orleans entrepreneurs were to bring a carrousel and Ferris wheel. The state approved a new, 63-member National Guard cavalry to encamp on the grounds.

Mississippi’s famous aviatrix, Katherine “Loop-de-loop Girl” Stinson, would fly across the nation, and that, too, was just the tip of the promotion iceberg.

Although many Coast longtimers remember the VA site was to be a birthday exposition, its hugeness and economic spin-offs are long forgotten. Too much has happened since the Party That Never Was.

When the U.S. entered World War I, Mississippi offered the government use of the exposition grounds as proof positive the second state to secede in the Civil War had rejoined the Union.

LINK

Echo Park Aug 19, 2007 6:06 PM

I wonder how much money from tax breaks and other funds intended to repair homes and schools for the working class struck by hurricane Katrina are being used on these luxury condos. I know there are a few in Alabama according to the AP...

Red UM Rebel Aug 19, 2007 8:27 PM

What they use is GO Zone Tax credits. Almost every luxury condo being built receives GO zone tax credits. These tax credits can be used by home owners to rebuild, but insurance has gone up so much if you live within a mile of the beach, that most people are selling to the condos and moving north of I-10.

Red UM Rebel Aug 24, 2007 1:57 PM

Hancock revs up for new space
 
~The Sun HeraldBy J.R. WELSH

STENNIS SPACE CENTER --Hancock County and NASA reaffirmed their prominence Thursday when ground was broken for a $175 million facility that will test engines powering the nation's next phase of space exploration.

On a blistering morning more than 300 people arrived on chartered buses to watch as politicians, business people and NASA officials symbolically broke ground for the A-3 test stand. Beginning in late 2010 the stand will test engines for the Ares I and Ares V spacecraft to be used in the Constellation program, taking Americans back to the moon and eventually to Mars.

The event signaled the continuation of Stennis' historic role in space exploration, which began in the 1960s with the testing of engines that would lift the Saturn V moon rocket in the Apollo Program, and has continued since the 1970s with space-shuttle testing. The space-shuttle program is scheduled to end just as the Constellation begins.

"It's a fact that if you're going to the moon or Mars, you must go through Hancock County, Mississippi," U.S. Sen. Tent Lott told a jubilant crowd in remarks before the groundbreaking.

Lott joined a list of other speakers, including U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, Gov. Haley Barbour and Stennis Space Center Director Richard Gilbrech.

"The Constellation program presented a really critical need for testing," Gilbrech said.

Upon completion, the A-3 test stand will tower 300 feet above the ground; it is designed to handle thrust levels up to a million pounds. It will use a two-stage steam-ejector system to test engines at simulated environments in which they will fly.

The stand will be used to determine flight-worthiness of engines powering two spacecraft in the Constellation program. It will test rocket propulsion for the upper stages of Ares I, a crew-launch vehicle, and Ares V, a cargo-launch vehicle. It will also test the core stage of Ares V.

Ares I is designed to carry four astronauts to the moon and back to Earth, and support as many as six crew members on trips to Mars. The core stage of Ares V will be powered by RS-68 engines, being developed by Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, which was involved in the Saturn space program back in its earliest days.

"We tested engines and sent people to the moon the first time, and we're ready to do that again," said Jim Maser, the company's president.

Since the 1960s Stennis Space Center has been a major economic force along the Coast and in southeast Louisiana. NASA alone employs more than 1,700 government workers and contractors at the center.

However, the scheduled end of the space-shuttle program had thrown shadows over the center's future. They are now being lifted by emergence of the Constellation program and construction of the new test stand.

Aside from the center's regular payroll and economic spinoff, a large number of construction jobs will be created until the enormous test stand is completed.

"This is a very important commitment and a renewal of support for Stennis Space Center," Cochran said.

Said Barbour: "Most jobs are created by existing businesses, and we don't have a better existing business than what goes on here at Stennis Space Center."

Taylor said much of the financial good fortune at Stennis, and for Mississippi in general, can be attributed to Cochran's efforts on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. He said it would be more appropriate if the new test stand had a different name.

"A-3 sounds way too commonplace," Taylor said. "I think 'The Thad Cochran Test Stand' would be better."

Red UM Rebel Aug 26, 2007 10:14 PM

2007 Casino Census: Rattle And Hum
 
It's hard to say which is making more noise - slot machines or new construction
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com

BILOXI --Two years after Hurricane Katrina shut down the casino business on the Coast, gross gaming revenue soared to a record high of $122.4 million in July, 11 casinos are open compared with 12 before the stormand it's difficult to keep count of how many more are proposed.

Developers Donald Trump and the Golden Nugget have come and gone, but others - including singer Jimmy Buffett - are investing in the Coast. Buffett partnered with Harrah's Entertainment and said he'll be very involved in the planning and design of the Margaritaville Casino, whose construction got under way this month.

Hard Rock Casino opened in June with huge numbers, continuing the Coast's record of expanding its market share with the opening of each new hotel/casino/resort. Casino executives and Mississippi Gaming Commission Chairman Jerry St. Pé said a year ago on the first anniversary of Katrina they expect this trend to continue.

St. Pé said the $500 million invested by MGM Mirage to reopen Beau Rivage a year ago is an indicator of what's to come on the Coast. "They spent that sum of money to make sure they had a world-class facility that was going to be able to compete with other world-class facilities that they're concerned are coming."

As Coast casinos built back, plush suites, spas, restaurants with celebrity chefs and signature golf courses became standard amenities and are transforming the properties into casino resorts to draw more visitors to the Coast.

Here's a rundown on each casino:

Beau Rivage

Beau Rivage's management has pledged to continue to be a top player on the Coast. The World Poker Tour begins Wednesday, the second anniversary of Katrina, and will focus national attention on the resort. Beau Rivage presents celebrity acts and brings conventions to the Coast.

Boomtown

One of only two Coast casinos without a hotel, Boomtown does have lots of land around the property purchased after the storm and rezoned waterfront. With owner Penn National Gaming being acquired by investment firms, it's uncertain when or how the property will be developed.

Grand Biloxi

With two pedestrian bridges over U.S. 90 that will eventually connect it to Margaritaville Casino, the resort is in a promising position for the future and is currently making an impression on guests with its spa and other boutique amenities.

Hard Rock Casino

In the two months since it opened, the resort has managed to attract both young and older guests with its music memorabilia from several generations. It offers both the Hard Rock Cafe and upscale restaurants in a classic-rock atmosphere that appeals to a big age range.

Hollywood Bay St. Louis

With a new name and image, Hollywood fought back from the storm to recapture its market and put 900 people back to work in Hancock County. Soaring insurance rates are making it challenging to move ahead with plans to grow the 600-acre resort. Special events and promotions are attracting new visitors.

Island View Casino

Gulfport's only casino is owned by two local businessmen who bought Harrah's Grand Casino Gulfport after the storm. They have since opened two phases of casino development and are planning a third. Emeril's Gulf Coast Fish House is proving to be popular since celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse opened the restaurant at the resort this summer.

Isle of Capri

After Labor Day the valet ramp leading to the resort will be demolished and construction will begin on a new casino, restaurant and other amenities. On Aug. 1 the company celebrated the 15th anniversary of bringing casino gambling to the Coast and has acquired additional land on the Point for as-yet-undisclosed development.

IP Casino Hotel Spa

The movie theater closed this month to make way for a $100 million project that will see the first onshore slots at IP, along with new shops and a new restaurant. The casino was the first to reopen after the storm and continues to be updated and improved.

Palace Casino

A 24-hour bakery and café opened this year and other projects are proposed. Mignon's Steaks & Seafood was the only Coast restaurant to receive Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence for both 2006 and 2007.

Silver Slipper

An RV park will be opening to provide space for guests who want to stay on the property but a start date for a hotel hasn't been determined. The Hancock County resort has a fine-dining restaurant and a buffet.

Treasure Bay

Rooms on several floors of the hotel have just opened; additional rooms, a fine-dining restaurant, lounge and conference space are expected to be completed in late September. Ninety guest rooms overlooking the new pool will be added later this year.

Approved or proposed

Biloxi

Bacaran Bay - Ground breaking is planned for before the end of the year and it is expected to be open by 2009. It will be the first all-suite hotel and the first condo hotel in a casino resort on the Coast. A big list of amenities includes eight restaurants, an entertainment venue, a blues club, upscale shopping, spa and fitness center, meeting space, business center, ballroom, on-site wedding chapel, dog hotel for guests' pets, a two-acre rooftop swimming pool and an Arnold Palmer signature golf course.

Bayview Ventures - John Ed Ainsworth, one of the developers, said they hope to break ground next year for the 60,000-square-foot casino and 509-room hotel.

Broadwater - Preliminary site plans were approved for a $1 billion project with two casinos, convention space, hotel and condo units, a golf course and retail space. One of the developers, Mark Calvert, said he and his partners are looking for the right joint venture or sale on the 260-acre site.

Margaritaville - Ground was broken this month for the first Margaritaville Casino, which will open in 2010.

Tivoli Hotel - Biloxi Capital's $1.2 billion casino resort is proposed on the north side of U.S. 90. The Biloxi City Council is expected to vote shortly on rezoning the property to waterfront, which would be necessary before the Mississippi Gaming Commission would rule on whether it is a legal casino site.

D'Iberville

Royal D'Iberville - Site work is under way and developer Mark Seymour Sr. said plans call for a hotel and casino, a marina, condos and an open-air market underneath elevated shops and restaurants.

West D'Iberville - Las Vegas casino executive Peter Simon received approval for the site and has said he plans a 52,500-square-foot casino with 1,500 slot machines and 50 table games. Site plans are expected to come before the D'Iberville Planning Commission shortly.

Western Harrison County

Pine Hill - Isle of Capri plans to build its second Coast casino north of Bay St. Louis on the site that was proposed for a Circus Circus casino. The $250 million proposed resort would be the closest Coast casino to Interstate 10.

Hancock County

Diamondhead Casino - An offer of $100 million was rejected for the 404-acre property fronting both Interstate 10 and the Bay of St. Louis for about two miles. Diamondhead Casino Corp. does have an option on five acres for $750,000 per acre.

Jackson County

The Mississippi Band of Choctaws has proposed building a casino at Exit 57 of Interstate 10. Both Gov. Haley Barbour and the U.S. Department of the Interior would have to approve the casino. Barbour said he isn't in favor of expanding casinos beyond the counties in which they are already located and the Interior Department hasn't granted any applications for locating a tribal casino 200 miles from a reservation.

Red UM Rebel Sep 2, 2007 5:12 PM

Project Progress
 
As many developments move forward, others are bogged down by obstacles
By PRISCILLA FRULLA
pfrulla@sunherald.com

The rebuilding of South Mississippi is well under way, though not as quickly as many developers would like. Since Hurricane Katrina, dozens of residential and commercial developments have been announced.

Some of those projects are moving forward and others have been bogged down in the permitting process or are still dealing with financing or bureaucracy before proceeding.

Here are updates on some of the larger and more widely discussed projects. Future updates on condominiums and other large developments will follow as they move forward.

Hancock County

In July, developers William Shanks II and Stephen Rimmer III broke ground on Shieldsboro, the first large-scale housing development to be built in Bay St. Louis since Hurricane Katrina.

Shieldsboro, the original name of the Bay, will consist of 280 cottages, duplexes, town homes and condos on 42.8 acres located at Old Spanish Trail and St. Charles Avenue. Shanks expects the units to sell for between $165,000 and $200,000.

Infrastructure is going in and "home construction will start in mid-November if everything stays on schedule," said Shanks.

Shanks and Rimmer presented their original plans in April 2006 and received approval from the city's Planning and Zoning Commission in August 2006. Original plans called for construction of 344 housing units, but in order to keep the many oak trees on the property, the number of units was cut.

Jackson County

In November, Bienville Quarters was announced. The 60-unit condominium project is to be built north of Interstate 10 on Tucker Road in Jackson County. Baton Rouge-based Ventures Development hoped to break ground on the project in February but had not done so as of press time.

Realtor Mary Ann Clisby said the developers were expecting to get permits this week.

"We are ready to start right now," said Clisby.

Harrison County

In Pass Christian, Skip Negrotto said his development is also ready to start, but he is waiting for action by the city.

"We are just waiting for the city to adopt the SmartCode maps," he said.

Negrotto and Steve Planchard are principals in the Harbor Town development announced in May. Negrotto said the project was granted conceptual approval in April contingent upon the transect maps that would go along with the city's adoption of SmartCode.

Negrotto had hoped to start construction in June but said the development has been put on hold until the city grants a permit. The development plans have 40,000 square feet of retail space under 150 condominium units and a two-story parking garage.

The project will be on the west side of Market Street, extending from U.S. 90 to Second Street. The development will overlook the harbor on property that was home to John Ellis Real Estate, Harbor View Cafe, Domino's, Tigres and other businesses before Hurricane Katrina. A lighthouse is also planned on the property.

Regarding a proposed D'Iberville retail development, "there is nothing yet to announce," said Loretta Edwards of Woodmont Development.

In January, the Sun Herald reported the D'Iberville City Council rezoned 40 acres for Woodmont's Bayou Bridges retail center intended to attract retailers such as Target and PETCO, but questions and disputes over a proposed access ramp from Interstate 110may have delayed the development.

Two massive Harrison County developments were also announced in January. An 800-acre project, River Hills, would adjoin Old U.S. 49, north of Jeremy Road and east of Mark West Road in the Lyman area.

Plans for River Hills have a 1-acre town square surrounded by retail and service businesses with above-store condominiums, 1,600 detached single-family houses and a wetlands conservation area.

NewShore Development's executive vice president Leigh Longwitz said the company is proceeding with the development.

NewShore is "working with our engineers on environmental permitting and defining the infrastructure and road specifications," said Longwitz, and "discussing long-term options for providing solutions for law enforcement, fire and schools."

The second Harrison County development, which will be known as The Village, will adjoin parts of the Wolf River. The 130-acre property at the southwest corner of Interstate 10 and County Farm Road was rezoned to waterfront district, which allows for mixed-use development.

Plans for The Village have more than 700 housing units, a hotel, retail office space and restaurants.

"We plan on putting a shovel in the ground before the end of the year," said developer Richard Bronsky. "We are negotiating with two major tenants, a hotel and medical center and plan on breaking ground some time in November."

Bronsky said the next steps in Trilogy CSI's plans for the development will be to build a retail lifestyle center and an apartment complex."

Red UM Rebel Sep 2, 2007 5:29 PM

Bacaran Bay
 
Sitework is supposedly underway at the Bacaran Bay. They said they are preping the site with a new sewage station and then the cranes will be brought in.


:tup:

www.bacaranbay.com

BLX 101 Sep 2, 2007 11:09 PM

According to Vieux Crescente's website, they have recently purchased additional property and is in the process of upgrading their master plan that will include a casino. They expect to post more news soon.

http://www.vuecrescente.com/

BLX 101 Sep 2, 2007 11:25 PM

Bacaran Bay Recently got permision from the city of Biloxi to relocate a lift station from their site to property they purchased on the corner of Percy and Caillavett at their own expense. They plan to begin construction immediately after this has been accomplished.

BLX 101 Sep 2, 2007 11:58 PM

Yes, Biloxi will soon be the Las Vegas of the south, but with a view of the gulf instead of desert hills. Another billion dollar casino (Casablanca) as equally as impressive as the Tivoli is planned for the former Biloxi Beach Resort property near DeBuys road. I hope that they reconsider and put it in East Biloxi. Perhaps on the old Lady Luck property after negotiating a deal with Harrah's (which owns the land). I'm against rezoning additional property in West Biloxi. I say with the exception of Treasure Bay and The Broadwater Beach property, keep the casinos in East Biloxi on Casino Row (the loop). If you've noticed, several of the new condos were slated to begin construction or start additional phases this summer. Many are stalled/delaying because they're waiting for the outcome of the Tivoli rezoning request to see if they can potentially add casinos or slots as added special amenities to their properties. I have also heard from a credible source that Steve Wynn and Donald Trump are indeed taking part in the Broadwater Beach redevelopment.

BLX 101 Sep 3, 2007 12:17 AM

Red UM Rebel, I commend you on your postings to this site. The Mississippi Gulf Coast does indeed deserve its own Skyscraper Page. There are several major architect and development firms (such as Friedmutter, that have offices in Vegas and Atlantic City) that now have new offices in Biloxi. This fact clearly states and solidifies the fact that Biloxi is destined to be the next top tourist destination.

Red UM Rebel Sep 3, 2007 6:13 PM

You are most welcome BLX. I totally agree with everything you have said. It is such an awesome place to be right now, and the opportunities are endless. I have not heard anything about Vieux Crescente adding a casino, but it makes total sense because of construction prices soaring they would probably need to make the extra income to build their two towers. Do you know if the design will change for the towers, or is it going to stay the same? I also have not heard about the Casablanca. Is it another Biloxi Capital Venture, and I assume that it will face the same difficulty as the Tivoli. I also agree, I have heard from Mark Calvert at the Broadwater that "big" people have began to talk to him about the property. Anything going to develop where the old seafood museum and warehouse is? It is prime realestate, but with the Isle doing so much development across the street, I doubt they will do anything there.

Red UM Rebel Sep 3, 2007 7:00 PM

Council eyes residential, condo issues, new gaming zones
 
BLX, I found this info about the Casablanca on the Biloxi Website

7/21/2006


The Biloxi City Council on Tuesday faces an agenda of two dozen issues, including five requests for residential setback requirements, a sign variance for a rebuilt Waffle House restaurant, 194 additional residential condominiums in west Biloxi, and a measure that would direct the Planning Commission to conduct public hearings about creating new gaming districts in east and west Biloxi.

The meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The majority of the setback requirements involve neighborhood rebuilding or repair efforts, while the condominium project involves approval of Phase 2 of Oak Shores Condominiums, formerly known as the Oakwoods Apartments. Phase 2, which involves a nine-story structure, seeks several variances, including height and parking exceptions. A measure on the agenda would also allow variances involving plans to reconstruct the Broadway Inn Express motel on U.S. 90 in west Biloxi.

A proposal requesting a zoning change for a 12.8-acre site off Brodie Road for a proposed condominium project is also on the agenda. Developers say the project, called Magnolia Cove Resort, could also include a marina, restaurant and retail shops.

Councilmember Mike Fitzpatrick has introduced a measure that would direct the Planning Commission to hold hearings for input on proposals to re-zone 30 acres north of U.S. 90 between Holley and Kuhn streets for a proposed Tivoli Resort project; and a proposal to rezone 20 acres north of U.S. 90 from Debuys Road to Gateway Drive for a proposed Casablanca project.


LINK

BLX 101 Sep 11, 2007 11:38 PM

Casablanca and Vieux Crescente
 
Red UM Rebel, Below are statements from Vieux Crescente's web site that I inserted. If you recall, about a year ago councilman Mike Fitzpatrick was on Wlox and in the Sunherald trying to drum up support for both the Tivoli and the Casablanca. They are now concentrating on one project at a time for obvious reasons. Although the Casablanca resort is an awesome project, I am not enthused about the location. They want to build it on the former Biloxi Beach Resort near DeBuy's road backing the Gulf Coast Medical Center. I hope that they reconsider and build both the Tivoli and Casablanca in east Biloxi to create a strip similar to Las Vegas, not spread all along the beach front. I have no objections to condo developments in west Biloxi. If you would like to get a glimpse of the Casablanca Casino Resort, you can view it by going to the office of Gulf Coast Development Investments or go to the link below and click on Clearwater Beach Resort which was slated for Clearwater Beach, FL but never built. A forty plus story rendering of this very design was spotted in GCID's Vieux Marche' office labeled as the Tivoli but has now changed to the Casablanca since the Tivoli has been redesigned. On the web site of Dale-Morris architects, you will see that they also designed the Bacaran Bay as well as the Vieux Crescente resorts and have opened a firm in Biloxi.



http://www.dale-morris.com/portfolio.html


The Mississippi Gulf Coast is poised for growth. The casino industry is estimating over $3 billion in revenue for 2007. We expect the momentum of real estate sales to continue throughout the summer and fall of 2007. Vieux Crescente will begin providing updates on construction of the development in
upcoming weeks. - Sandmark Bay




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

August 01, 2007
RE: Update

Dear Vieux Purchasers:

Vieux Crescente remains in the Hard Copy Phase, with a little under half of the tower sold. Over the past six months we have gone from 7 acres to 16 acres. We think that our project would benefit greatly from incorporating a gaming product into the Master Plan, a goal we are currently pursuing.

In the near future we will update you as we move forward throughout this process. Again, we feel that this will be a great asset to the Vieux Crescente Project.

Also, we have relocated the Sandmark Bay office (Vieux Crescente) to 978 Division Street, Biloxi, MS 39350. Please direct all mail to this new address.

Sincerely,

R. David Sanders
Sandmark Bay, LLC
Vieux Crescente


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