[brickell]

Originally Posted by Dale

Saw where Genting might now consider a 100-story tower if the FAA would grant the exemption.

But in an article that also claims the project might also shrink.

Miami casino plan could start shrinking
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/0...could-get.html

The world’s largest casino has brought some imposing political problems, too.

Six months after Genting Group announced plans for a massive casino resort on the Miami waterfront, the sheer magnitude of the project has proved an ample target.

Critics of downtown casinos, including Miami Heat owner Micky Arison and developer Armando Codina, point to traffic woes from the 5,200-room resort as a central problem. Even some supporters of bringing new casinos to Miami cite Genting’s proposed Resorts World Miami as too much of a good thing.

And the lawmakers behind a bill that would allow Genting’s $4 billion project now talk of a backlash against the company’s campaign to win support through promises to transform Miami tourism with a gleaming resort of undulating towers and dozens of restaurants.

“The rendering that was released was helpful at first,” Rep Erik Fresen, R-Miami, said of Genting’s drawing of six towers designed to resemble a massive coral reef on Biscayne Bay. “Miami-Dade County was thirsty for a vision of economic development, and that hydrated them.”

“But then,’’ Fresen added, “it went from hydration to water boarding.’’

A Genting spokesman declined to make company executives available for an interview, saying they were busy in Tallahassee. Recently, Genting’s top executive in Florida, Christian Goode, suggested the company might scale back the project detailed in architectural drawings. “That’s our vision, but do we get there?” he asked. “Who knows?’’ This past week, Genting issued a statement that said in part: “We continue to collaborate and listen to stakeholders, Miami residents, and business and civic leaders at the state and local levels. The only thing set in stone is that Resorts World Miami will be a world-class destination resort.”

and

And Genting hinted the project might get even bigger. Goode, president of Resorts World Miami, last month confirmed that the company is interested in a 1,000-foot tower — surpassing Miami’s Four Seasons as the tallest building in Florida — if it can receive a waiver on height restrictions from the Federal Aviation Administration.

“If we could go to 1,000 feet, would we look at it? Absolutely,’’ Goode said.