MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST | (Biloxi, Gulfport, and other MS Coastal Cities)

[BLX 101]

http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNnewsAFRHrebuildProgress060908.htm

[BLX 101]

Posted on Fri, Jun. 13, 2008
South Beach delayed
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com


BILOXI -- The answer to whether a casino will be allowed north of U.S. 90 will have to wait a little longer, since the application isn't on the Mississippi Gaming Commission's June 19 agenda as first expected.
"We certainly hope to be on the July agenda," said Reed Guice, spokesman for RW Development, which has proposed building a casino on the northeast corner of U.S. 90 and Veterans Avenue. RW also owns commercial land on the south side of 90, but a strip of sand beach remains between that property and the water.

On April 8 the City Council changed the zoning to waterfront, which is needed before the Gaming Commission will decide if it is a legal casino site. That decision typically comes the same day as the proposal is made to the Gaming Commission.

Meanwhile, the Biloxi Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing for July 3 to consider whether the beachfront property in East Biloxi from Dukate to Kuhn streets should be zoned waterfront.

"The hearing will be held," said Community Development Director Jerry Creel, although the city expected to know how South Beach fared before the meeting.

Councilman Mike Fitzpatrick said the hearing shouldn't be postponed until after the South Beach decision. "One has nothing to do with the other," he said.

Former Mayor Jerry O'Keefe and his wife, Martha, asked for the hearing to consider rezoning all the property to waterfront rather than continuing to consider individual applications. The area includes the Tivoli site, where a $1 billion casino development was proposed north of U.S. 90. The City Council approved the developers' rezoning request but Mayor A.J. Holloway vetoed that decision.

Even if the city rezones the property, it doesn't mean that area of beachfront will be approved for casinos. "We look at each individual casino on its own merit," said Gaming Commission Executive Director Larry Gregory.

Construction continues on the first condominium tower of the South Beach project, and Guice said RW Development hopes to have it finished by Labor Day.

[BLX 101]

Posted on Fri, Jun. 13, 2008
BEACHFRONT BONANZA: Great Southern, William Carey may be sold
By RYAN LaFONTAINE
rlafontaine@sunherald.com


GULFPORT -- An Arkansas development firm is eyeing dozens of acres here for what could be one of the richest beachfront land deals in recent memory.
The sweeping purchase likely would include the Great Southern Golf Course, the oldest in the state, the beachfront campus of William Carey College and parts of the upscale Southern Circle neighborhood, according to sources close to the negotiations.

Great Southern's 197 shareholders met Thursday night and voted to sell the historic golf course, which opened in 1908. The vote means a deal on the college campus is nearly a sure thing.

Lenny Sawyer, whose real estate agency is brokering the deal, said his client has already agreed to terms with officials at William Carey, and the deal on the 20-acre campus depended on the shareholders of the Great Southern.

"That golf course is really the centerpiece of this development, and really the whole project sort of hinged on the golf course," Sawyer said.

There are no plans to plop homes, apartments or condos on the 127-acre Great Southern Golf Course. In fact, Sawyer said the developer wants to renovate and upgrade the links, capitalizing on the course's "historic value."

After a deal for the golf course is finalized, the developer will complete the purchase of William Carey. But then, Sawyer's client will need a way to connect the two properties, which are separated by the Southern Circle neighborhood.

"They would like the entire subdivision, I'm sure, but they don't need all of it," Sawyer said. "Certainly they would want to buy from anyone who is willing to sell."

Representatives from the Arkansas development firm, which is calling itself Great Southern Golf Course and Resort LLC, met with the 40 or so homeowners of Southern Circle on Wednesday night to discuss the plans. No drawings or blueprints were revealed.

According to residents who attended the meeting, the firm is planning condos, hotels and other mixed-use projects for the William Carey property and a possible redesign of the golf course.

Not including the properties in Southern Circle, Sawyer said the project so far would include at least 150 acres of beachfront land. So what's such prime real estate going for these days?

"I'm really not in a position to comment on that," Sawyer said.

The scuttlebutt in Southern Circle, where many golf course shareholders live, is that the 18 holes alone could cost the developer as much as $27 million. But because of fear his client's land deal could go sour if too many details got out too soon, Sawyer said, "I can't respond to those numbers."

The William Carey campus is part of a proposed development that includes the Great Southern Golf Course and Southern Circle.


http://www.sunherald.com/pageone/story/621517.html

[BLX 101]

Posted on Fri, Jun. 13, 2008
Their vision: 'Authentic Biloxi experience'
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com


BILOXI -- A group of planning experts from South Carolina who looked at Biloxi "through the lens of economic development" were applauded Thursday for their vision for a new downtown.
Besides unveiling their designs during a meeting at the Bond-Grant House, the group promised to help the city find funding and attract development. "We want to stay with you the next couple of years and help you through this," said Stacy Pair, southern district director for Mississippi Main Street Association.

Their plans showed what the downtown could become with a combination of new construction and cosmetic work on existing buildings. At the library site on Lameuse Street, they propose a multistory building with retail on Lameuse, a public space across from City Hall, a parking garage in the rear and possibly residential above.

The Lameuse Street site on U.S. 90 would be fronted by an elevated major tourist attraction. Howard Avenue through Vieux Marche two-way and a parking deck built on the Washington Loop north of the Saenger Theatre would be wrapped with retail and other development.

"We really believe the Beau Rivage and Hard Rock are part of your downtown" and can be a catalyst for development, said Stephen Turner, director of Economic Development for Rock Hill, S.C. They envision a pedestrian bridge across U.S. 90 to the upper level of the Hard Rock expansion on the former Windjammer site. "We know that the Hard Rock is expanding into this parcel," said urban designer Thomas McGilloway of Mahan Rykiel Associates, and he suggested making the bridge whimsical like a piece of art.

" We don't want downtown Biloxi to look like the casinos," Turner said. "People are drawn to authentic places," which is why he thinks the city should preserve and embrace "the authentic Biloxi experience."

Add the IP Casino to the Hard Rock and Beau Rivage and Tripp Muldrow of Arnett Muldrow Associates of Greenville, S.C., said, "We're looking at over 3,000 hotel rooms in your downtown." That's more than downtown Jackson, Baton Rouge, Birmingham and Nashville. "You really are a powerhouse," he said. "You're eclipsing them in the amount of traffic you're generating."

More than 7,500 people work in downtown Biloxi, and if just one percent chose to live downtown, it would mean 77 to 80 new residential units.

"You can only do projects that the market will support," noted Randy Wilson, president of Community Design Solutions in Columbia, S.C., and there is currently no support for downtown housing. Young professionals and empty nesters who prefer this lifestyle want restaurants, coffee shops and entertainment. "The rooftops always have to come first," said Muldrow, and grocery stores and other businesses will eventually follow.

Mississippi Main Street is funding the study with Community Development Block Grand funds. The planners will return in July to continue their work.



http://www.sunherald.com/pageone/story/621512.html

[Red UM Rebel]

:previous:

Thanks for posting article. I read it this morning and it looks awesome! especailly the building across from Hardk Rock

[pleasebiloxi]

Anyone have any idea why the RW project was delayed? Does this have any implications?

[BLX 101]

Posted on Sun, Jun. 22, 2008
Gaming goes to public
By MARY PEREZ
SUN HERALD


BILOXI -- The Mississippi Gaming Commission is bringing its July 17 meeting to Biloxi to hear what the community has to say about the legality of the South Beach Casino.
Executive Director Larry Gregory said the application of RW Development to build a casino on Veterans Avenue north of U.S. 90 will be on the agenda.

Given the interest of the community and the importance of the project, "we thought we would bring the meeting to the Coast," said Gaming Commission President Jerry St. Pé.

The meeting will be at the Biloxi Community Center, a location that will make it more convenient for residents to attend.

"It's a very sensitive issue," said Gregory. The commission has talked to developers and city officials, "we've just not heard from the community. We're going to open it up for discussion," although comments will be limited to whether the site is legal.

The commission already knows the economic benefits of the project.

"We've seen the color slides of what it's going to look like," Gregory said. "We're looking at the public beach issues and the high mean water line."

This is the first real test of the 800-foot legislation that allowed onshore casinos after Hurricane Katrina. The commission will determine where the high mean water line is that starts the 800-foot measurement. The commission will also look at the requirement that a legal casino site must have control of the water. There is a strip of public sand beach between the RW property south of U.S. 90 and the water.

"The commission will make its decision based on what we hear," said St. Pé.

He isn't sure the commission will be able to grant or deny the application at the meeting, or if the members will need more time to study the issue.

St. Pe



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If you go
What: Mississippi Gaming Commission meeting to consider South Beach Casino application.

When: Thursday, July 17, 9 a.m.

Where: Biloxi Community Center

[BLX 101]

http://www.wlox.com/global/story.asp?s=8520685

http://www.wlox.com/global/story.asp?s=8534039

http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?s=8499503

[pleasebiloxi]

"It's a very sensitive issue," said Gregory. The commission has talked to developers and city officials, "we've just not heard from the community. We're going to open it up for discussion," although comments will be limited to whether the site is legal.

The quote above is from the article written about the public forum for the RW gaming site. How can you have an open forum and tell the general public they can comment, but only on legal issues. The legal issues faced in this development are far beyond the comprehension of your average person. I don't see how the gaming commission is going to limit the comments just to whether or not the site is legal. I could understand the need for a public for if the question at hand was about site suitability. This just does not make sense to me. The site is either legal or not legal. We should have legislators determining that, not the general public's opinion.

[Velastor2]

Back into the building fray
Isle expansion on again; set for 2010 completion
BILOXI --
Isle expansion on its way

Plans are back on for the expansion of the Isle of Capri Casino Biloxi.

"We expect that approximately $160 million will go toward the rebuilding and refurbishment of the Biloxi property," CEO James B. Perry announced Wednesday. Last year the expansion was put on hold while the Isle's new management reassessed the casino resort's master plans.Now Perry said timing is key. The company hopes to have its insurance claim, which will pay for much of the construction, settled within the next 90 days and the project completed about the same time as the neighboring Margaritaville Casino.

Isle management believes Margaritaville will entice lots of visitors to the Point Cadet area and Perry wants construction of the Isle done by the time Margaritaville Casino opens in spring 2010.

"The Biloxi project is expected to include a new single-level casino, restoration of our convention space, new food venues and renovation of the hotel rooms in the south hotel tower," said Perry. Although the Isle isn't ready to release specifics, Perry did say work would be done in phases.

After Hurricane Katrina demolished the Isle casino barge in 2005, the resort's convention area became the new onshore casino. Once the new casino is built, the space it currently occupies can be remodeled for new restaurants and meeting space.

"Biloxi was severely hurt by Hurricane Katrina," Perry said, and because it was one of the first casinos to reopen on the Coast, the Isle "does not have a lot of the amenities you need to compete in that market."

The resort does have room to grow. Perry said the company owns 25 acres north of U.S. 90 in addition to land it leases from the city of Biloxi on Point Cadet. He said the Isle of Capri and Harrah's collectively control all the land in that area of East Biloxi. How the Isle will develop that property on Point Cadet depends on how the Biloxi market responds over the next two years to the gasoline and economic issues, he said.

"We believe our plans for Biloxi will create a product that is much more competitive in one of the nation's largest gaming markets," said Isle President Virginia McDowell.

"We understand this is not the perfect time to be in the development business," said Perry. Isle of Capri is also remodeling about 40 percent of the guest rooms at its properties and Perry said the company is receiving many bids to do the work but fuel and material are adding to the cost.

Isle of Capri reported Wednesday net revenue increased by 17.7 percent compared with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. The company saw a loss from continuing operations of $51.3 millionfor the first quarter ended April 27 and a net loss for the fiscal year of $96.9 million.

For the quarter ended April 27, net revenues at Isle of Capri Biloxi fell from $28.9 million in 2007 to $22.7 million this year, and for the fiscal year dropped from $147.8 million to $90.6 million.

[BLX 101]

In a previous post, I mentioned that the Treasure Bay Casino Hotel was initially a Sheraton Resort. Two months ago, Vincent Creel (Biloxi's Director of Community Development) informed me that there was a proposal to develop the former Gulf Tower building as a Sheraton. I was really hoping that the Avalon would prevail. Also, in this past sunday's issue of the SunHerald, a permit was issued for a seven-story Hilton Garden Inn near South Beach which is nearly complete.


Posted on Fri, Jul. 11, 2008
Sheraton Four Points coming to Biloxi
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com


BILOXI -- The former Gulf Towers at the base of Interstate 110 on the beach in Biloxi is being transformed into a Four Points by Sheraton Hotel.
"We are pleased to announce that we have signed definitive agreements with Starwood Hotels Corporation for the license to develop and operate a Four Points by Sheraton Hotel," said H. Granville Smith Jr., managing partner of Lodging & Leisure Development Group, who estimates the project will cost $25 million to $30 million. It is the first Starwood Hotel in Mississippi, although the company owns a casino in Tunica.

"The building is currently under renovation and the opening is planned for early in 2009," said Smith. The Gulf Towers apartment building was damaged by Hurricane Katrina and was gutted to the concrete shell by the former owner. The new hotel will feature 195 guest rooms, restaurant, bar, workout facilities and meeting space. The tropical resort swimming pool will face the Mississippi Sound in front of the hotel and include a pool bar and grill.

"The project will offer many of the features of a prototypical Four Points by Sheraton along with added amenities to take advantage of the resort location of the project," Smith said.

Four Points hotels are typically tourist friendly and offer lower rates than many upscale Sheraton hotels, and extra value with free in-room bottled water, free high speed Internet access and free gyms.

Smith said the hotel "will benefit from its proximity to the casino strip in east Biloxi, which is being expanded by the construction of the Margaritaville resort." It will also be close to the city's dining and museums and be geared to families and business and leisure travelers who want another option besides staying in a casino hotel.

This hotel, owned and developed by Lodging & Leisure Development of Ocean Springs, "is the first is a series of upscale, branded properties that will be coming to the Coast to replace the hotel stock that was damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina," said Smith. "Our hope is that the development of high-quality non-casino hotel rooms will expand the tourism infrastructure that is necessary to keep Biloxi on a continuous upward trend in visitors and gaming revenues."

The company is also developing Guyton Place, a mixed-use development in downtown Ocean Springs.



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Sheraton
Four Points

Where: Intersection of I-110 and U.S. 90, Biloxi, in the former Gulf Towers.

When: Opening planned in early 2009.

Who: Developed by Lodging & Leisure Development of Ocean Springs, which promises more branded hotels.


http://www.sunherald.com/business/story/677817.html

[BLX 101]

Hopefully, the names of the eleven anchor stores will be officially announced at this Tuesday's ceremony. Six of the stores: Target; Kohl's; Marshalls; Dick's Sporting Goods; Best Buy and Michaels are listed on the Cbl link below. I'm betting that Macy's, Petco and Staples are three of the five remaining anchors.


Posted on Wed, Jul. 09, 2008
Retail center to break ground in D'Iberville
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com


D'IBERVILLE -- The developers plan to officially break ground Tuesday for The Promenade retail center in D'Iberville but still haven't announced who the tenants will be.
CBL & Associates Properties Inc., headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn., and Forum Development Group from Atlanta acquired 72 acres northwest of the Interstate 10 and 110 intersection.

The developers have already come before the D'Iberville Planning Commission and Council and received sign variances for Target's trademark bull's-eye signs, but the retailer hasn't made a formal announcement it will be one of the 11 anchors coming to D'Iberville. The 700,000-square-foot shopping center will also have more than 80,000 square feet of specialty shops and restaurants. The grand opening is scheduled for fall 2009.

About 1,000 jobs will be created and The Promenade is expected to generate more than $185 million in annual retail sales.

"We believe The Promenade will serve to revitalize the area and create a much needed retail hub and service district for the D'Iberville community," said Stephen Lebovitz, president of CBL & Associates Properties. "With over 365,000 square feet of anchor space already committed and firm interest for much of the remaining space, The Promenade has a very strong foundation going into the construction phase and we look forward to making anchor and specialty store announcements in the very near future."

D'Iberville City Manager Richard Rose said he doesn't know if any announcements will be made at the groundbreaking. The developers and city of D'Iberville are building the infrastructure to support the center, including a five-lane road that will connect to the current Sangani Boulevard.

CBL is one of the largest owners and developers of malls and shopping centers in the United States, with 158 properties in 27 states including Mississippi. Forum Development Group specializes in lifestyle retail projects with an emphasis on entertainment and dining and mixed-use developments.

EMJ Corporation of Chattanooga, Tenn., is the general contractor and Phillips Partnership of Atlanta is the architect for The Promenade.



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If you go
What: Groundbreaking for The Promenade retail development.

When: July 15, 5 p.m.

Where: Bobby Eleuterius Road, D'Iberville.


http://www.sunherald.com/business/story/672488.html

http://www.cblproperties.com/cbl.nsf/CBLPortfolio.pdf

[futuresooner]

Damn, so Avalon isn't going to happen. That was an absolutely stunning development, boo Four Points.

[BLX 101]

I plan to be present at both meetings.


Posted on Sun, Jul. 13, 2008
Full day's worth of historic meetings
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com


BILOXI -- Thursday could be the most important day in Biloxi's economic future since Hurricane Katrina.
In the morning, the Mississippi Gaming Commission will hold its July meeting in Biloxi to hear what the community has to say about allowing RW Development to build South Beach Resort & Casino north of U.S. 90, across from the sand beach.

In the afternoon the Biloxi Planning Commission will vote on whether to recommend 81 acres in East Biloxi be collectively rezoned waterfront. The land from Dukate to Kuhn streets includes the former Tivoli site, where developers had hopedto build a billion-dollar casino. Mayor A.J. Holloway vetoed the rezoning for that project last year.

At last Thursday's meeting the Planning Commission's Maps & Text Committee agreed 8-1-1 to vote on the rezoning even if the Gaming Commission doesn't decide that day whether to approve or reject South Beach. Commissioner Gary Lechner left the meeting early and did not vote, but later said, "I think we owe it to the Gaming Commission to see what they do with RW Development." If the Gaming Commission turns down South Beach, rezoning in East Biloxi would be a moot point, he said, because a casino wouldn't be allowed on that stretch in East Biloxi.

Gaming Commission Executive Director Larry Gregory said, "We've seen the color slides of what it's going to look like," and Thursday's meeting is strictly for the Gaming Commission to look at the public beach issues of South Beach and the mean high-water line.

"The commission will make its decision based on what we hear," said Chairman Jerry St. Pé.

There are really two concerns, said Gregory. First is defining where the mean high-water line is that begins the 800-foot measurement for onshore casinos. The Gaming Commission will also look at the requirement that the casino must control the land to the water's edge and make it an integral part of the resort.

"The tension from the legal standpoint is if they can have that degree of control," said former Gaming Commission Chairman Len Blackwell. Applicant RW Development owns land south of U.S. 90 but a strip of public sand beach exists between the South Beach property line and the water.

"I think that's something the Gaming Commission can go either way on," said Blackwell, who calls South Beach "one of the most interesting issues that I've seen in gaming law. It's going to have great impact on the Coast."

The developers aren't looking for the decision to affect the entire 26 miles of Mississippi coastline. "That would really screw the market up," he said. "This is a very finite area."

Both the toe of the seawall and mean high-water line, a term used in tidelands law, will be argued at Thursday's meeting. "Every time hurricanes came we've done something to protect the area down there," Blackwell said. Take away the man-made seawall, built in the 1920s, and the sand trucked in during the 1950s and surveyors consider the toe of the seawall to be the mean high-tide mark, he said. That definition would give South Beach control of the land to the mean high-water line.

The Mississippi Legislature passed two laws after Katrina that dealt withthe Tidelands lease and the 800-foot onshore rule for casinos. "I think they had to realize what the mean high tide was," said Blackwell. "I think they purposely left some loopholes."

RW would spend about $700 million for the casino as part of more than $1 billion it's investing in the Veterans Avenue area. The casino project would include hotel rooms and condotels, an entertainment venue, shopping, restaurants and meeting space.

In East Biloxi, former Mayor Jerry O'Keefe is one of dozens of applicants asking that their land be collectively rezoned waterfront. It now goes to the full Planning Commission on Thursday for a vote and then to the City Council to make the decision.

"It's the same thing they've done for groups of other property owners" near IP Casino, and on Oak and Pine streets, said attorney David Wheeler, who is representing the applicants. He said waterfront zoning allows many more things than just casinos and he doesn't think the Tivoli site within the boundaries makes this request any more unusual.

"I don't know what the rush is to come to this decision," said Lechner. The Tivoli and South Beach are similar sites, and believes it will send the wrong message if the Planning Commission were to vote on the Tivoli rezoning before the Gaming Commission decides on South Beach.

Holloway said there is a major difference between South Beach, which owns land south of U.S. 90, and Tivoli, whose property is only north of the highway. "Since there is already development on the south side of the Biloxi Strip," where South Beach would be located, "I do not believe this project would create pressure to open the entire beachfront to casino gaming."

At the Southern Gaming Summit in May, Holloway said, "Biloxi is the engine, and the fuel is the 800-foot onshore gaming legislation passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the governor. I say let's take it out for a test drive."

That test comes Thursday.



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If you go
The Mississippi Gaming Commission meeting is at 9 a.m. at the Biloxi Community Center, 500 Howard Avenue.

The Biloxi Planning Commission meets at 2 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Municipal Building, 676 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.


http://www.sunherald.com/pageone/story/680809.html

[BLX 101]

Both major items on the agenda of two separate commission meetings today that affects the future look of Biloxi, were voted down. The gaming commission ruled that the site of the proposed Gold Coast Casino was not legal. Their interpretation is that the water's edge, not the sea wall, is the mean high tide. The planning commission also ruled against rezoning a large area of Biloxi's East beach to waterfront which includes the site of the proposed Tivoli Casino. I was pleased with that decision because I feel that it may ultimately have a negative effect on the surrounding community. It does not give any assurances that every footprint of the East beachfront will not ultimately become casino resorts. I believe that when it comes to the beachfront, rezoning should be granted on a case by case basis. However, it can still get the approval from the city councilmen when the item is put on its agenda. On a more positive note, I had the opportunity to speak with Roy Anderson III at today's gaming commission meeting. He told me that the Broadwater Beach site was under contract and an announcement should be coming soon. I interject that I hoped that it was with Steve Wynn, he smiled and said, "We'll see". Will keep our fingers cross. Expect more forthcoming news regarding new hotel resorts.


P.S. You will find it interesting that a third architectural rendering of the Gold Coast Casino development was unveiled or presented at today's gaming commission meeting. I feel that it is the
better of the three.




Posted on Thu, Jul. 17, 2008
'No' vote given to both South Beach Casino and East Biloxi rezoning
By MARY PEREZ and RYAN LaFONTAINE
meperez@sunherald.com and rlafontaine@sunherald.com


BILOXI -- The Biloxi Planning Commission waited until the Mississippi Gaming Commission turned down South Beach Casino this afternoon before voting 7-6 against collectively rezoning land in East Biloxi to waterfront.
After learning of the Gaming Commission's denial of the South Beach Casino just minutes earlier, Planning Commissioner Gary Lechner suggested the panel table the decision to give each commissioner additional time to consider the rezoning of land between Dukate and Kuhn streets. However the commission eventually voted and the recommendation was to deny the rezoning. It now goes to the Biloxi City Council for a vote.

After the Gaming Commission meeting, Commissioners Jerry St. Pé and John Hairston said the denial of South Beach came down to applicant RW Development not having control of the land all the way to the water as required by the state stature.

Mayor A.J. Holloway said he realized the Gaming Commission had concerns that approving South Beach would open up the whole beachfront to casinos. "It's a major economic blow to Biloxi," Holloway said. "We can recover. It's not a spear in the heart."

Read more in tomorrow's Sun Herald.

http://www.sunherald.com/newsupdates/story/689637.html

http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNnewsRWdevGamingSiteRejected071708.htm

http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=8694237

[Velastor2]

Blx did you agree with the gaming commision's decision or would you have liked to have seen South Beach Developed?


From an economic standing point this seems like a blow to the area for me. I think all those developments in the west biloxi area were waiting for this to decide on whether or not to develop and with it falling through the strip might have a hard time getting off the ground.

[BLX 101]

Blx did you agree with the gaming commision's decision or would you have liked to have seen South Beach Developed?


I AGREED!

With that being said, I am in support of both the South Beach and Tivoli Casino developments. Both of the meetings held by the separate commissions in Biloxi this past Thursday, were specific to these two developments. The request for the rezoning of 81 acres of on Biloxi's east beach, was initiated as an attempt to keep the Tivoli Casino development alive. I understand and concur with the rationale that these two resorts would stimulate an increase in other developments in their perspective locations. As a property owner and tax paying citizen of east Biloxi, I stood and spoke in opposition of the rezoning request. I am and always have been pro development, but I am opposed to rezoning such an enormous section of Biloxi's beachfront. I am aware that other businesses and property owners have exercised their legal right banning together and successfully requested a rezoning of their properties, but non have been on such a large scale as this. Most have been in east Biloxi along the bay. As I see it, the difference is Beach Boulevard is our front porch. Here, rezoning should be done on a case by case basis. A particular development on a specific site which was the case with RW's request. Initially, councilmen Mike Fitzpatrick had proposed water front rezoning from Treasure Bay east to Rodenberg Avenue. I'm glad that cooler (wiser) heads prevailed. Such rezoning could have drastically and forever change the landscape not only in that particular area but potentially, Biloxi's entire beachfront. It does not provide any assurances that the condo developers will not develop every available beachfront property. Both areas consists of eight to ten beachfront city blocks.

In the ruling from the gaming commission, based on the fact that in House Bill 44 (land base gaming), one of the defined qualifications of a legal site is the developer must have full control of land, as a key component of the development, up to the water's edge. The public sand beach separates RW's property from the water's edge. Therefore, the ruling that was given on Thursday, was the only possible ruling that could have been granted. Each commissioner continued on expressing their concerns that a yes ruling, utilizing the sea wall as the starting point of the eight hundred feet rule, could have led to dire consequences in that it could have opened up the entire pristine beachfront for new casino development, forever changing the landscape and character of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, which was not the original intent of House Bill 44. However, they did leave a window of opportunity for the RW casino development. The language in the bill would have to be amended allowing additional beachfront casino development (north of the sand beach) in limited and confined areas. This, I am in support of. It would take the coast legislatures, some of whom were in support of RW's request and present at the ruling, to petition their fellow northern (devout Southern Baptist) legislatures; the very ones that they faught tooth and nail in the narrow passing of House Bill 44.

Mr. Jake Leddy, the Texas developer and owner of the Ocean Club Biloxi resort, has publicly through WLOX TV, stated that he was putting his two remaining condos on hold indefinitly, in hopes of adding a casino to the development. We all know that the developers of the Vieux Crescente have made the same decision, but we do not know how many more are waiting in silence, for the same opportunity.

[Velastor2]

I agree with that as well. What I don't understand about the Tivoli and South Beach is there location choice. With the amount of money they planned to spend on these resorts why don't they spend just a little extra and buy a legal location along back bay. Property isn't extremely cheap, but if they truely wanted to develop these massive resorts they wouldn't let that location stop them from making the potential money that is avaliable from the Biloxi Market. With casino revenues continuing to rise every month even with a very stop economy I'm suprised more people aren't jumping at the opportunity to develop the land that is already zoned and approved for casino development. Use the IP as an example, they do not have a beach front view, but they are doing very well along backbay. Thats just my understanding and belief.

[BLX 101]

Velastor2 you are correct, IP is doing well. These multi-billion dollar developers could very well build a profitable resort on Biloxi's back bay which they will, but only after the sand beach issue is settled. They want to ensure that they can get the best return on their dollar. IP has a better location than Boomtown or any other site along the bay but their profit is not nearly what it could be if they were on Beach Boulevard. As I've stated earlier, it is our front porch and the developers want the high visible site. Traffic on Beach Boulevard is far greater than Back Bay Boulevard. It would help somewhat, if the city would expedite the completion of the so called Casino Loop. To my Knowledge, they have only budgeted for the engineering study. No land has been acquired as of yet. As mayor Holloway stated on WLOX this week, there were more than a dozen developers inquiring about back bay sites. He was talking to them in is office on a weekly basis. Then came the WLOX announcement by councilmen Mike Fitzpatrick that he was proposing rezoning of two Beachfront sites for casinos, the Tivoli on east beach and Casablanca on west Beach Boulevard near the Gulfport city limits (both across from the public sand beach). Rumors began circulating about the RW proposal and condo developers who were either set to begin their initial phase or start construction on their second tower, were putting their developments on hold indefinitly in hopes of incorporating casinos to their properties. Those more than one dozen potential back bay developers, are now waiting to scoop up beachfront properties once the first developer gets approved for a site north of the public sand beach. If you had a billion dollars to build a casino resort, would you prefer a site in Biloxi or D'Iberville. The developers have already answered that question. D'Iberville became eligible for casino gaming at the same time as Biloxi.

[Muskavon]

I don't readily see this already beigng posted, so here goes:

Margaritaville Casino Hits Sour Note

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Harrah's Entertainment says it's going to slow
construction plans for its Margaritaville Casino & Resort in
Biloxi, Mississippi.

Harrah's spokeswoman Marybel Batjer in Las Vegas didn't provide
a new completion date for the $700 million project. It had been
scheduled to open in 2010.

But Batjer issued a statement Tuesday saying there'll be less
activity and fewer workers at the beachfront site between Harrah's
closed Casino Magic property and its Grand Biloxi resort.

The statement blames the national economy and market conditions
on the Gulf Coast.

Construction started last August on the 420-room hotel with an
outdoor shopping village, casino, meeting and convention space,
ballroom and restaurants.

It's designed with a theme based on stories by songwriter Jimmy
Buffett.

[BLX 101]

The local media covered this today also. Rest assured that this project will get built. The Biloxi gaming market is still as strong as ever inspite of the national economy. That is in part due to the fact that more people (who would have normally traveled to Vegas) are discovery what Biloxi casinos have to offer. Biloxi is closer in proximity to the American people (gamblers) than Vegas. From Chicago, you can drive to Biloxi within one day for the price of a Vegas airline ticket. Although the company did not get specific with the following statement, I'm pretty certain of the reason. To be honest, it is something that has been a concern of mine for sometime. ("We simply need to adjust the plan for the development to better align with the economic environment, market conditions on the Gulf Coast and the current financing environment.") They are having to reconfigure the retail component of the development which Simon Properties were to develop 250,000sf. There is currently more than 4,000,000sf of retail space underdevelopment in the immediate area, most of which will be completed before the opening of Margaritaville. Simon Properties at Margaritaville would have found the retail market very competetive, thus difficult to finance. Had they had a scheduled completion for '08 or early '09, they would have been in good position to secure store contracts and financing. Besides the retail developments listed below, is the redevelopment of Edgewater Village, Singing River Mall, Lakeview Towne Square, Nord du Lieu, a much larger relocated Sam's Club that is nearing completion and Gulfport's Promenade at the northwest corner of the I-10 and highway 605 (Cowan-Lorraine) that will feature the coast's second Target store. The development will be on both the South and North side of Dedeaux Road. According to the architects website (link below) it is planned to be as large as the Promenade in D'Iberville. Let's not forget the continuous additions of retail stores at the Gulfport Prime Outlet Factory Shops. The retail sells and outlook for the coast is so strong that Macy's has decided to test the market, thay are preparing to open a small store in Edgewater Village that will offer both Macy's and Bloomingdale's merchandise. Most likely, they will build a fifth department store at Edgewater Mall's west entrance along the corridor between American Eagle and Limited Too.


http://www.cblproperties.com/cbl.nsf/index

http://www.createworldwide.com/projects_boards.php?prop=9

http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=DAUS,DAUS:2006-08,DAUS:en&q=11166+lorraine+rd+gulfport,+ms+39503&um=1&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title

http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNnewsSingingRiverHospPinehavenSite070908.htm

http://www.woodmont.com/default.asp?contentid=36&rid=31

http://www.encoreretail.bz/Lakeview/2008Lakeview%20Full%20Brochure.pdf

http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?s=8403647

[Velastor2]

I didn't even think of that as being the reason, but it does make perfect sense.

I wonder what they will use all the extra space for then...


In other news, it seems that RW and the Tivoli might now have what they need to drag this battle on into court and stall the redevelopment more. Not sure how much clout the Secretary of State has when it comes to laws and gambling, but it might give them some fuel for their fire.

(From Wlox.com)
Secretary Of State Sides With Developer; Says Seawall Is Gaming Site's Boundary

BILOXI, MS (WLOX) - There's a new twist in RW Development's quest to build a casino on the Biloxi strip. Mississippi's Secretary of State sent a letter to the gaming commission right before last Thursday's meeting that supported the developer's argument.

In a letter dated July 17, 2008, Delbert Hosemann wrote, "The Public Trust Tidelands Boundary in the area of the proposed RW Gaming site is the seawall."

That opinion contradicted the decision made by gaming commissioners last week when they rejected the Veterans Avenue location as a legal gaming site because it didn't touch the water.

Ray Woolridge heads up RW Development.

"Our position is consistent with what the intention of the law was," Woolridge said moments after reading the letter. "The Secretary of State makes it clear that the mean high water line is the seawall."

Woolridge said he was still reviewing his options. So he wouldn't elaborate on whether he would appeal the gaming commission ruling.

As for the gaming commission, chairman Jerry St. Pe' said, "We're bound to follow our regulations."

Based on what he heard, and what he read prior to last week's meeting, St. Pe' said RW Development failed to demonstrate that the seawall was the proper boundary. Despite the Secretary of State stating otherwise, St. Pe' doesn't believe the two agencies are at odds.

"The commission needs to make sure it isn't at odds with its own regulations."

[BLX 101]

Posted on Wed, Aug. 06, 2008
Bacaran Bay goes forth with new name
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com


BILOXI -- Bacaran Bay Casino is going forward but with another name.
The project will be referred to as the Phoenix Caillavet Street Project, said Phoenix Gaming Group Managing Director John Ed Ainsworth, while they test market a new name.

"The first thing we needed to do was to stop the confusion," he said. "This is no longer a Torguson project. That ended on March 18." Phoenix Gaming Group was formed between Caillavet Street Development Group, the owner of the land where the casino will be built, and Firegame LLC, a finance company that holds an interest in the project.

Ainsworth said the casino resort will be reconfigured without condominiums. It will be built right off Interstate 110 on Caillavet Street at the west edge of the casino loop between the Back Bay and Biloxi beach. The resort was to have both a hotel and condos, several restaurants, plus shopping, nightclub and convention space.

"The record gaming revenues in Biloxi indicate the market is expanding despite a national slowdown," said Ainsworth. "Biloxi is the most attractive gaming investment opportunity in the United States today."

http://www.sunherald.com/201/story/729211.html


MGM Grand reports that Beau Rivage revenues are good while Vegas revenues have dropped. Mississippi Gulf Coast is currently among the world's best gaming destinations at a time when the nation is experiencing economic troubles. Look for more beachfront hotels to start coming out of the ground over the next several months and casino announcements (particularly along Back Bay). Biloxi expects to be in the positive soon with regards to pre-Katrina rental units. If the nation as a whole, continues to be in an economic slump, you can look for a surge of new residents seeking for jobs and a lower cost of living....similar to what has taken place in Vegas over the last two decades.

My previous post has been updated to include a link to the Gulfport Promenades.

[BLX 101]

RW Development Asks Gaming Commission To Reconsider Ruling

Posted: Aug 6, 2008 05:44 PM CDT

Updated: Aug 6, 2008 05:44 PM CDT



BILOXI, MS (WLOX) - RW Development still believes its Veterans Avenue property is a legal gaming site. So late Wednesday, it filed two separate petitions.

The first petition asks the Gaming Commission to reconsider its July ruling. In that ruling, the Gaming Commission unanimously rejected RW's claim that because it controlled land up to the seawall, the company had a legal gaming location.

The second petition was filed in Circuit Court. It asks a judge to reverse the Gaming Commission's decision and rule that the Veterans Avenue site is legal.

http://www.wlox.com/global/story.asp?s=8801206

[Red UM Rebel]

Posted on Wed, Aug. 06, 2008
Bacaran Bay goes forth with new name
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com



MGM Grand reports that Beau Rivage revenues are good while Vegas revenues have dropped. Mississippi Gulf Coast is currently among the world's best gaming destinations at a time when the nation is experiencing economic troubles. Look for more beachfront hotels to start coming out of the ground over the next several months and casino announcements (particularly along Back Bay). Biloxi expects to be in the positive soon with regards to pre-Katrina rental units. If the nation as a whole, continues to be in an economic slump, you can look for a surge of new residents seeking for jobs and a lower cost of living....similar to what has taken place in Vegas over the last two decades.

My previous post has been updated to include a link to the Gulfport Promenades.

Well, I am back from my two month trip, and I appreciate you keeping up with the post BLX. I agree with you, if the Gulf Coast remains strong, you will see many more projects announced. That the coast has kept its revenue strong through the slump is very impressive.

[BLX 101]

As I've stated in a recent post, look for a surge of new construction projects along the coast. A major incentive, is the recent extension of the Go Zone Act for the three coastal counties. December 31, 2007 was the original dead line for all projects to begin construction which is to be completed by December 31, 2010. Due to delays in new flood guide lines, increased insurance rates and the economy, some projects were delayed in getting out of the ground. Now projects slated for the three coastal counties, have been given the opportunity to still be able to take advantage of the Go Zone tax benefits. Several beachfront projects are underway: Hooter's restaurant, just east of Treasure Bay, Motel 6 and Four-Points Sheraton. Permits were recently issued for the seven story Hilton Garden-Inn and the eleven story Crowne Plaza Hotel near the South Beach construction site. A new sign has been erected on the lawn of the White House property, indicating that it will indeed be rebuilt (hopefully as a Renaissance). I've recently learned from the architect firm that the Gulfport Promenade will soon hold a ground breaking ceremony. It is being developed by the same company that built the Crossroads Mall in Gulfport and is suspected to be anchored by the coast's second Target. The fact that there are no nearby grocery chains, a Super Target is only logical. It should open around the same time as the D'Iberville Target which will not be a Super store. I briefly spoke with Mr. Roy Anderson III at the gaming commission's meeting who informed me that they have the Broadwater Beach property under contract with a casino developer and an announcement is forthcoming. I could only get a smile when I mentioned Steve Wynn's name. Hopefully, Mr. Torguson will build the Bacaran Bay on one of the many back bay sites. Also, in a recent conversation with Mr. Mike Boudreaux of GCID, I learned that there are plans for two to three major casinos (to include the Tivoli) on East Beach Boulevard.

http://www.wlox.com/global/story.asp?s=8818250


Mississippi casinos feel they have the right formula to survive tough times
Sunday, August 10, 2008
By Kaija Wilkinson
Staff Reporter

Faced with uncertainty about the future of the economy, Harrah's announced last month that it has slowed construction on the $700 Margaritaville Casino and Resort on the beach in east Biloxi. MGM Mirage, parent company of the nearby Beau Rivage, said earlier this spring it had laid off 100 people between the Biloxi and Tunica County properties.

As consumers' expendable income shrinks with the rising cost of food and gas, casino companies' earnings have plummeted almost across the board, and grand expansion plans have fallen along with them. In Las Vegas, for example, Boyd Gaming Group announced in early August that it is delaying construction of its multibillion-dollar Echelon resort.

Along the Mississippi coast, however, a muted optimism prevails, fueled by drive-in traffic that could propel the coast to meet the record-breaking revenue of last year, industry watchers said.

Projects like a $160 million expansion of the Isle of Capri Resort Casino, put on hold in 2007, are now back on the table.

That's good news for neighboring areas like Jackson County and south Alabama, where many of the industry's 12,400-plus employees live, and where millions of visitors likely spend some of their money, said Jerry St. Pé, chairman of the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

St. Pé said although the market has no doubt contracted, the long-term outlook is good. St. Pé praised Harrah's for dealing openly with the community about its plans, and said he is confident that Margaritaville -- which takes its theme from the music of Pascagoula native and former Mobile resident Jimmy Buffett -- will come to fruition.

"Projects like Margaritaville are long-term, taking two to three years to develop," he said. "They (Harrah's) are striving to adapt to market conditions."

Harrah's is not alone. Casino operators and developers readily admit the summer has been no fun. They are not going full force as they might have when the area was in the throes of reinventing itself in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, which slammed the coast three years ago this month and devastated the industry.

Then, with Gov. Haley Barbour allowing casinos to build inland rather than have floating barges, developers dreamt big. They envisioned a bigger, glitzier coast market that would rival Atlantic City.

That could still happen. It just might take a little longer, market watchers said.

Encouraging signs are there: Besides the Isle project getting the go, the IP Casino Resort just wrapped up a $55 million expansion, and has a $5 million showroom addition under way, said spokeswoman Elaine Stevens.

Last week, workers were onsite at Margaritaville, operating cranes and carrying truckloads of material back and forth across U.S. 90.

Still, summer has been a mixed bag, casino operators said.

Jon Lucas, president and general manager of the IP, said tourism is suffering across the board. "We've certainly seen better Julys," Lucas said.

Hotel occupancy is 100 percent at the IP, but revenue is down, Lucas said.

Most casinos are luring customers with free room nights, free food and gaming tokens, which -- if the customers don't gamble enough -- can eat into their bottom lines, observers said.

"We're definitely feeling the economic downturn and the gas prices, but the impact of those two factors has not been devastating," Lucas said. "In fact, our local traffic is stronger than ever."

Indeed, local and regional traffic -- visitors from the Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi -- accounts for more than 75 percent of business, according to commission data. Mississippi accounts for nearly 24 percent, according to the data.

Although the effect of high fuel prices has reverberated throughout the economy, Mississippi's gambling industry has withstood it better than other markets, said Allen Godfrey, deputy director of the commission.

"We're one of the few jurisdictions that did not realize a decline," he said. "We didn't grow that much, but we did not decline."

St. Pé said the coast market, which includes 11 casinos between Biloxi and Bay St. Louis, realized between 1 percent and 2 percent growth over the last year. "That doesn't seem very dramatic, but when you look at other jurisdictions, including Las Vegas where there have been double-digit declines, it says a lot.

The coast had 12 casinos before Katrina.

"The coast is doing well by comparison," he continued. "There is good reason to be encouraged."

In 2007, coastal casinos generated $1.3 billion of a $2.9 billion total in gross gaming revenues -- their best year ever. Through June of 2008 they had brought in $658.2 million of a $1.4 billion total.

Gary Pedigo and John Ed Ainsworth of Phoenix Gaming Group LLC are among developers who are cautiously optimistic about the future of gaming here.

Phoenix Gaming controls more than 16 acres on Back Bay in the shadow of Interstate 110 and the IP -- property that was originally being developed by Torguson Gaming Group Inc. as Bacaran Bay. That project was set to include almost 400 condominium units, a pair of wedding chapels, a bowling alley, nightclub, movie theater and retail stores, in addition to a hotel and casino resort.

Now it has been scaled back, and developers last week announced they plan to rename the project in an attempt to distance themselves from the Bacaran plan. Phoenix said the relationship was severed by mutual agreement.

Phoenix, which consists of members of the Gollott and Weems families among others, now hopes to convince investors to buy into a project that will be done in phases, Ainsworth said. The first, $300 million, phase would consist of 300 to 450 hotel rooms, a casino and restaurants, he said.

Condos have been scratched from the project. "Trying to market condominiums in this current market would be like trying to sell snowballs at the North Pole," he said, pointing to the proliferation of high-rise condos along the beachfront.

Ainsworth said since Phoenix owns the land, it does not feel rushed in getting a project going. "We can wait out a few things like sanity prevailing in the oil market and the interest rates coming around," he said. "Just like everybody else, we're going to have to back up, take a breath, get on the top of the water and then swim forward.

"We just intend to be here at the end of the day."

http://www.gulflive.com/news/mississippipress/index.ssf?/base/news/1218363329282710.xml

[BLX 101]

Although the final jury is still out on the legality of the South Beach site, Biloxi waste no time in considering rezoning area that could be home to several beachfront casino resorts.


Posted on Mon, Aug. 11, 2008
Biloxi quickly will consider rezoning
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com


BILOXI -- A special meeting of the Biloxi City Council on Tuesday will look at the Planning Commission's decision to approve rezoning land in East Biloxi to waterfront and to deny rezoning for Seashore Oaks Condominiums.
Normally the council waits at least two weeks while the paperwork from the planning commission meeting is complete before a zoning request is added to the agenda. The resolution is then read at two meetings before the council votes.

However, the minutes from Thursday's planning commission meeting will be available today at 8:45 a.m. in time for the council meeting. Because it is a special meeting, the council isn't required to have its customary second reading before voting on a zoning change. If the vote were unanimous with all councilmen present, the change would take effect immediately under Biloxi regulations. Without a 7-0 vote, the rezoning takes 30 days.

The developer of Seashore Oaks requested the special meeting and Councilman Mike Fitzpatrick asked that the waterfront rezoning be added to the agenda.

When the planning commission voted last Thursday to rezone the land from Dukate to Kuhn streets in East Biloxi, two commissioners recused themselves. Before Curtis Harrison and Gary Lechner left the room, Harrison announced that someone questioned whether he should vote because he owns property in that area, although he isn't among those who requested the rezoning.

Lechner doesn't own land there, but there was an objection to his voting because members of his family own land that is zoned waterfront elsewhere in East Biloxi.

At least two council member also have relatives who own property in that area.

The group of neighbors who asked for waterfront zoning believe it will give them a better chance to find a developer for their 81 acres. The land is within the East Biloxi Overlay District and and includes the Tivoli site, where a $1 billion casino project was vetoed by Mayor A.J. Holloway last year.

"When you think of waterfront, what do you think of?" asked Commissioner Larry Williams. Waterfront zoning is a requirement before the Mississippi Gaming Commission will consider whether a property is a legal casino site. "It smells a little fishy," he said of the rezoning proposal and urged the planning commission to approve waterfront zoning in that area on a case-by-case basis.

The Gaming Commission's denial of South Beach Casino in July presumably eliminates Tivoli as a legal casino site, but the developer of South Beach has asked the Gaming Commission for a petition for rehearing.

On Tuesday, the council also will look at the planning commission's unanimous denial of a request for B-3 zoning for Seashore Oaks Condominiums at 1440 and 1450 Beach Blvd., requested by the developer.

Attorney Michael Cavanaugh said the developers don't intend to put businesses on the property but B-3 is the only zoning classification in the planning code that allows the owners to rent their properties by the day or long-term. Seashore Oaks bylaws were written to prevent any retail or commercial use of the property, he said.

Several neighbors objected to the zoning change and planning commission attorney Steven Dick said the bylaws could be changed in the future. Changing the zoning to B-3 would mean Seashore Oaks would have to become a hotel or motel to comply, Community Development Director Jerry Creel said. He suggested a text change of the regulations if the commission wanted to accommodate the request for rentals.



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

If you go
Two special meetings of the Biloxi City Council will be held Tuesday at City Hall:

8:45 a.m.: Waterfront zoning for Kuhn Street and zoning request for Seashore Oaks.

9 a.m.: 2008-09 proposed budget.

http://www.sunherald.com/201/story/738592.html

[Velastor2]

So Mr. Torguson plans to build a different Bacaran Bay on back bay, separate from the casino being build by I-110 that was at one time being developed by him?

[brukewilliams]

Welcome to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the "Playground of the South!", where you will find exceptionally priced Championship golf courses, historic districts, art galleries, museums, famous potteries, charter boat fishing, unique shopping districts, exceptional cuisine, world class entertainment, outlet malls, and so much more! There's something for everyone here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast! So "Come on down!" as we say here in the deep south, and enjoy our southern hospitality!

-----------------
Brukewilliams
Mississippi Drug Addiction (http://www.drugaddiction.net/mississippi)

[Muskavon]

I might as well throw in some non-casino developent news from Pascagoula...

http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1219396585160450.xml&coll=3

PASCAGOULA — Chevron Corp. plans to build a facility at its local refinery capable of producing 25,000 barrels a day of base oil used in manufacturing premium lubricants such as motor oil, officials said.

The announcement came Thursday, as company representatives were to deliver a permit application to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. The DEQ approval is needed to move forward on the project.

If granted, Chevron would become the world's largest base oil producer, Dale Walsh, president of Chevron Global Lubricants, said in a statement.

...story continues in link.

[Red UM Rebel]

By MARY PEREZ

LINK (http://www.sunherald.com/casinos/story/796276.html)
BILOXI -- The slowdown in construction at Margaritaville Casino next door gives the Isle of Capri Biloxi more time to complete it expansion plans, Isle officials said this week.

"We still intend to move forward in Biloxi but feel that we now have some additional time to continue to refine the project and to get the best pricing possible," said Isle President Virginia McDowell. "We do, though, intend to be complete before or in concert with the opening of Margaritaville."

Over the Labor Day weekend the Isle properties in Biloxi and Natchez and in Lake Charles, La., were closed due to Hurricane Gustav. The casinos quickly reopened after the storm.

Kim Noland, director of High Yield Research, at Gimme Credit, said during the first fiscal quarter that ended July 27 "results were better than forecast because of the company's cost-containment efforts, even though operations were still affected by the combined 34 days that Davenport and Natchez were closed due to flooding" earlier in the year. Isle of Capri estimates incoming insurance proceeds of up to $75 million and a tax refund of $25 million, which Noland said should help liquidity.

"While the Mississippi market continues to be hurt by increased competition on the Gulf Coast, EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) was only down 5 percent from the prior year period," Noland said.

For the first quarter of 2008, Isle of Capri's net revenues increased by $3.8 million, compared with the first quarter of 2008 and the quarter's net loss improved from $7.1 million last year to $3.6 million for 2008.

[Red UM Rebel]

Commission meets Thursday
By MARY PEREZ - meperez@sunherald.com

HARRISON COUNTY -- A new casino could open in western Harrison County if Blue Water Bay Resort and Casino gets the blessing of the Mississippi Gaming Commission on Thursday.

The site on the east side of Bay St. Louis between Pass Christian and DeLisle was previously approved by the Gaming Commission.
Now that onshore casinos are permitted within 800 feet of the mean high water line, the developers, Southern Gaming Thrills LLC, will go before the commission.

"It's going to be more of a resort property that will feature gaming," said John C. Ellis III, a real estate developer and native of Pass Christian. The plans call for a walkable, full planned community on 438 acres, four miles off Interstate 10 and two miles from U.S. 90. It will include 100,000 square feet of casino space with 50 table games and 2,000 slot machines.

The other principals of Southern Gaming Thrills are Patrick Minchey of Las Vegas and George Burkhardt of Gulfport, both former top executives with Grand Casinos.

"It's going to be a green development," Ellis said, that will preserve wetlands and use green building techniques.

The site is in an unincorporated area, seven-tenths of a mile from First Baptist Church DeLisle and 1.6 miles from DeLisle Elementary School. If the site is approved, the developers plan to immediately hold workshops with the county.

"It will really help all of western Harrison County come back after Hurricane Katrina," Ellis said.

Also on the Gaming Commission's agenda for Thursday is a request from developers of South Beach Casino to re-examine its denial of the casino site in Biloxi. The commission also will be asked to reconsider the executive director's decision to pay a player $527,139.25, the amount the slot machine indicated he won at the Beau Rivage Casino, or the $50,000 the machine's payoff schedule said he was entitled to win.

LINK (http://www.sunherald.com/casinos/story/817645.html)

[Red UM Rebel]

West Harrison County casino approved

By MARY PEREZ - meperez@sunherald.com

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2880722857_fd35cfb43e_o.jpg

JACKSON -- The Mississippi Gaming Commission approved Blue Water Bay Casino on Thursday and today the developers are meeting with the Harrison County Planning and Zoning Department to get started.

George Burkhardt of Gulfport told the Gaming Commission that "it's a sprawling resort" built around a town center with a hotel, Caribbean-style bungalows, a spa, shops, entertainment and restaurants. Phase I will cost about $400 million and create 1,400 jobs. When it's completed, the resort investment could top $1.5 billion.

The casino site is four miles off Interstate 10 and two miles north of U.S. 90 up Henderson Avenue and has two miles of frontage on the Bay of St. Louis outside the city limits of Pass Christian.

The resort will be built on a portion of the 438 acres owned by Pass Christian Realtor John Ellis. He, along with Burkhardt and Pat Minchey of Las Vegas, both former executives with Grand Casinos Inc., formed Southern Gaming Thrills LLC to build the casino.

Burkhardt said highlights will be a deep water marina and a white sand beach against clear blue saltwater swimming pools.

"Blue Bay will be the first green casino project on the Coast," he said, using eco-friendly construction materials and preserving the site's natural elements while giving the public access to walkways and bicycle and equestrian trails.

During Thursday's meeting the Gaming Commission passed on any action on a request by RW Development to reconsider its denial of the casino site on U.S. 90 in Biloxi. Commissioner Nolen Canon later said the commission is waiting for the developer to get clarification from Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann on the sand beach and mean high water issues that the commission ruled prevent it from being a legal casino site.

The Gaming Commission also upheld a decision of the hearing examiner in a slot machine dispute.

Attorney Walter Boons said his client, James Taylor, put two $100 coins into the progressive IGT Red, White and Blue slot machine at the Beau Rivage on Nov. 9, 2007. The payment schedule said he was entitled to $50,000 but the machine indicated Taylor hit the progressive jackpot of $527,139.25.

The report of the hearing examiner said Taylor's winning spin was three red "7" symbols. According to the machine's payoff schedule, the top prize is awarded only for a symbol combination of "red 7, white 7, blue 7," the report said.

Boone said the circumstances were the same as the Florida Eash case with IP Casino. Her case is pending in the Mississippi Supreme Court after the Gaming Commission overturned the hearing examiner's decision and said the player was entitled to the jackpot.

Chairman Jerry St. Pe said the commission has an obligation to look at each case individually, and based on the facts, the examiner's decision was upheld.

LINK (http://www.sunherald.com/casinos/story/826871.html)

[MasonsInquiries]

glad to hear that mississippi is slowly but surely rebuilding!!

[StevenGPT]

Any news on the Gulfport Promenade?

The signage along the roads says "Fall 2009" and the oil distributor next to McD's has a sign up about moving over to Hwy 67.

But that is the only visible stuff that I can see.


So is there news anywhere?

And do anybody know the stores that might or will definitely be coming to Gulfport Promenade?

[StevenGPT]

The Sun Herald is reporting:


Target site plans are in; 6 other stores also coming to D'Iberville

http://www.sunherald.com/pageone/story/909036.html

[BLX 101]

Any news on the Gulfport Promenade?

The signage along the roads says "Fall 2009" and the oil distributor next to McD's has a sign up about moving over to Hwy 67.

But that is the only visible stuff that I can see.


So is there news anywhere?

And do anybody know the stores that might or will definitely be coming to Gulfport Promenade?


Last week, I spoke by phone with one of the leasing representative (out of Atlanta) for the new development that confirmed that a second coast Target will indeed be anchoring the development and the opening will most likely be Spring 2010. At this time it is not scheduled to be a Super Store; they are currently seeking a nationally known grocery chain for the center. Other possible chains mentioned were Macy's and Burlington Coat Factory. Along with Target, Kohl's, Marshalls, PetsMart, Red Lobster and Olive Garden, the local television viewers have been bombarded with Macy's and Burlington Coat factory commercials. A new Olive Garden is being planned for the northwest corner of I-10 and hwy 49 across from the giant Sam's Club and fuel pumps that will be opening soon. More changes are coming to Gulfport Prime Outlets as well. Also, the property of the former oil distributor has been cleared.

http://www.primeoutlets.com/locations/gulfport.aspx

[Red UM Rebel]

:previous:

It is great to hear from you BLX, I thought you might have given up on the site. I know with the economic slowdown, everything has moved to a near standstill on the coast. Thanks for the update!

BLX, are they still working on the Marg. I was wondering why the construction cams are not being updated anymore.

[Red UM Rebel]

Company seeks approval, but building waits

By MARY PEREZ - meperez@sunherald.com (http://www.sunherald.com/casinos/story/1011092.html)

BILOXI — The expansion of the Isle of Capri Casino is still on hold but a first look at the plans came at Thursday’s Architectural and Historical Review Committee meeting.

The new look is more California and less tropical and the familiar parrot logo that was perched on the side of the building is gone. The Biloxi casino is now an Isle property, said Jill Haynes, senior director of corporate communications, and the plans show the name in green lights on sign towers.

Although the company announced last week it isn’t undertaking any capital projects in the current economy, Haynes said they are working on the aspects of the design than require local approval.

“We are continuing to work closely with the city but we are watching for indications that the market can sustain a major investment before proceeding with construction,” she said.

Jack Holt with Brown and Mitchell engineering in Biloxi and Gulfport showed the AHRC Committee the façade improvements, the more extensive landscaping design and expansion plans for the expanded casino that was moved onshore after Hurricane Katrina.

He said the new look of the Isle will contrast with the neighboring Margaritaville Casino to the west.

One of the most noticeable changes will be to the entrance, where the ramp will go from the front door east into the second floor of the existing parking garage.

The Isle of Capri was the first casino company to open in Mississippi 16 years ago.

The AHRC also voted Thursday to approve the demolition of the Methodist church on Hopkins Boulevard behind the Sheraton Four Points hotel. “It’s a very awkwardly designed building,” and Granville Smith with Lodging and Leisure Inc., said there was no reasonable use other than a church.
Committee chairman Lucy Denton voted against the demolition and said Charleston, S.C., refuses to let old buildings be torn down and an old church is used as a restaurant. “We’re not there yet.”

The old windows were already removed and the steeple will be preserved.
The committee also approved demolition of the home of Eric Hanson at 112 Edgewater Drive that was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

[StevenGPT]

[
The committee also approved demolition of the home of Eric Hanson at 112 Edgewater Drive that was severely damaged during Hurricane Katrina.


Was there any historical/architectural significance to this house? If not, why did the committee have to give permission for the demolition?

To the best of my knowledge all the homes in the Edgewater Manor Subdivision were post WWII vintage and the vast majority were build after Camille destroyed the old Edgewater Hotel.

[pleasebiloxi]

There was an article in the Sun Herald today, I did not copy it because of the length, that discusses a bill proposed by Michael Janus to clarify the mean high water line. I am paraphrasing here, but St. Pe said that the bill was generic and “It does not and will not alter the authority of the Gaming Commission to make a determination about the legality of a gaming site.” How is this possible if they deem the water line the seawall and not the water's edge? Obviously the gaming industry is political, but he obviously has an agenda.

[Red UM Rebel]

By MARY PEREZ - meperez@sunherald.com

D’Iberville — In 17 years, Mark Seymour Sr. has fought the government, the environmentalists and even Hurricane Katrina for his dream to build Royal D’Iberville Casino. Now it’s the economy that is changing his plans.

A new master plan is ready to go before the D’Iberville Planning Commission for approval. Seymour said he and his partners, Terry Moran and Leland Mitchell, are talking to three groups of developers about building the resort directly west of Interstate 110 on Back Bay.

He’ll also have to go back to the Mississippi Gaming Commission with his new plans and he said all the permits will be in place so all the developers have to do is bring the funding.

His new design still has a 60,000-square-foot casino, but now it’s atop a parking garage with a roof that will glow at night.

A French Market fronting the water also made the redesign with a multi-story glass entry, and Seymour sees it bustling with vendors peddling fresh flowers and vegetables.

Above that will be stores and restaurants, including a buffet and a steak house.

A harbor and marina would allow guests to arrive by water and a new interstate ramp and wider access road would move the estimated 2,500 visitors per day into the casino.

A hotel is planned north of the casino, but Seymour said he eliminated condos since that market has faded since he drew the original plans.

He estimates the casino resort will need 500 to 800 employees.

“Every night I go home I think of it,” he said of his casino.

It was 1992 when he started the approval process for 7.82 acres.

Partners came and went but D’Iberville officials continue to support his vision.
“They’ve been with me for 14 years,” he said.

Mayor Rusty Quave and Seymour recently met with officials from the Mississippi Department of Transportation to look at the road redesign.

From the new I-110 exit, three lanes will go into the resort and Seymour said the traffic flow will be much improved.

Larger water lines will be installed to serve the resort, drainage will be improved and the sewage plant is being upgraded to handle the additional demand.

Seymour said his latest snag is the economy and he wondered, “How can I still make it work?”

By downsizing and removing the condos, his new design cut costs from $300 million to $200 million.

Besides being the first casino drivers will see heading toward Biloxi on I-110, “We’re the best protected site,” he said.

That area of Back Bay saw a 14-foot rise in the tide during Katrina instead of the storm surge that hit the beach.

Seymour said he’s elevated all the occupied structures 20 feet.

Once a developer signs on to the project, there is an ambitious time line envisioned.

If site clearing and infrastructure work can begin this spring and pilings for the parking garage be driven this summer, then Seymour hopes his casino can open by the end of 2010.

“I’ve dreamed of it and put it together piece by piece.”

http://media.sunherald.com/smedia/2009/05/09/15/308-20090509-160727-pic-471545775.standalone.prod_affiliate.77.jpg

[SnugBuffalo]

What's the latest on the Four-Points Sheraton development? Flag's website now showing a December opening.

[Red UM Rebel]

What's the latest on the Four-Points Sheraton development? Flag's website now showing a December opening.

It is actually open. I had a friend stay there and supposedly it is pretty nice

[Red UM Rebel]

Michigan firm leases old site of Marine Life


GULFPORT — A former Coast casino executive hopes to return with a new gambling ship docked in Gulfport’s harbor, with eventual plans for a land-based casino resort at the former location of Marine Life and Misco Marine.
Others, including Donald Trump, have proposed casino projects for the site, which have failed to materialize.

However, Dual Cooper said his company has secured a ship designed as a casino and signed a contract to lease the six acres. Rotate Black Inc., a Michigan company, must still secure a gaming license and site approval from the state Gaming Commission and win Gulfport’s approval for its plans.

Cooper, Rotate Black’s president and chief operating officer, said the company hopes to open in October or November.

Mayor George Schloegel said he believes the project will be good for the city, as long as Rotate Black follows through on plans for the land-based casino and hotel.

“This is really in the Gaming Commission’s hands,” Schloegel said.

“If it does get authorized, we have asked that, whatever they do, they do it based on expanding the market so we don’t just split the existing market. To do that requires the construction of a major hotel of about 500 or 550 rooms. If they’re able to do that, we think that’s a great addition to our community.”

Schloegel said buildings on the site will have to be elevated to 25 feet above sea level to meet FEMA requirements for storm-surge protection.

“We’re excited to know that Gulfport is going to be in a position to have additional gaming,” he said. “There is some synergy when multiple gaming facilities come to an area. That would be a good thing if we could expand that market.”

Cooper headed Grand Casino Gulfport and Biloxi when they opened, then became CEO of Casino Magic Corp. before moving on to other ventures. “I’m really thrilled to be back on the Coast,” he said.

Cooper said he most recently turned around a casino operation in California, increasing profitability by 40 percent.

“I feel the economy is coming back, slowly, but it’s coming back,” Cooper said. “We’re going to have to get confidence back in the market. I think the opportunity is really there to do something.”

He and his partner, John Paulsen of Michigan, have not settled on a name for their proposed Gulfport casino. Paulsen has worked in the telecom industry, Cooper said.

The 240-foot ship their company is buying was once owned by Harrah’s Casino. Cooper said Rotate Black bought the ship out of bankruptcy after another company spent about $40 million on renovations.

“It’s a beautiful ship,” Cooper said. The ship will be brought to Biloxi’s Back Bay to be repainted, he said. It has two restaurants aboard.

Councilwoman Libby Milner Roland, whose ward includes the harbor and adjacent downtown, said the casino will build momentum already generated by renovation of downtown buildings, sidewalks and streets.

www.sunherald.com

[Red UM Rebel]

CanCan Casino Resort to be Built in D'Iberville

From: News Release Filed 2/26/10 GCN (http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/GCNnewsCanCanCasinoDiberville022610.htm)

A nationally recognized group of gaming operators wants to make D’Iberville the home of the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s next world-class casino.

CanCan Casino Resort and Spa, LLC, received site approval from the Mississippi Gaming Commission Thursday on a 5-acre waterfront site on the east side of I-110 in D’Iberville overlooking scenic Biloxi Back Bay.

The CanCan Casino project mirrors efforts underway by the City of D’Iberville to transform their downtown into a premier shopping and entertainment destination.

D’Iberville officials noted the CanCan project could be the anchor the city needs to realize its downtown redevelopment ambitions.

"We’ve been looking for a catalyst such as this to jumpstart our downtown development," Mayor Rusty Quave said.

"The City of D’Iberville has been working hard for many years to transform our downtown and waterfront into areas where retail shops, restaurants and unique attractions can flourish," City Manager Michael Janus said. "The CanCan project will help us realize these plans."

When completed, CanCan will boast a 60,000-square-foot casino with 1,800 slots and 40 gaming tables, four sumptuous restaurants, a first-class French spa, 250 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites, and two exclusive retail outlets. CanCan will employ around 1,100 people.

CanCan’s principals worked with the leadership at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in D’Iberville to secure the 4.9-acre waterfront site.

Joseph Py and Joseph Manno, President/CEO, are the principals of CanCan Development, LLC.

Included among CanCan’s management advisors are gaming industry veterans H. Steven Norton and David Cacci.

"I’m thrilled to be back on the Mississippi Gulf Coast," said Manno.


"City and State officials have been very cooperative, and we appreciate that very much," he said.

Manno, a 29-year veteran of the casino business, was the President/CEO of the Havana Casino Resort project on Biloxi’s Point Cadet. The Havana project had received approval, but was derailed by Hurricane Katrina. Manno had relocated his family to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but lost his home to the storm. Manno’s experience includes running the operations at Paris Casino and Bally’s Casino in Las Vegas. Norton has headed four national casino companies as President/CEO. Cacci comes to the CanCan project after serving as President/CEO of NewYork, NewYork in Las Vegas. Joesph Py is a retired businessman.

Francis Xavier Dumont has been tapped to design CanCan. He has served as architect for scores of casino projects, including the Sandia Resort & Casino in Albuquerque, NM, Casa Del Sol in Tucson, AZ, and the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ. Other notable projects by Dumont’s firm, Leo A Daly, include the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

One sign that CanCan is committed to providing a high level of culinary excellence is the hiring of premier Food & Beverage executive Robert Zitto. Zitto has headed F&B operations for Steve Wynn and Caesar’s Entertainment.

Local team members include attorneys Danny McDaniel and Michael Cavanaugh; Thompson Engineering, and The Guice Agency.

http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/2010-Images/CanCanEntranceArt.jpg

D’Iberville adds casino, hotel to economic plans

By MARY PEREZ - meperez@sunherald.com (http://www.sunherald.com/2010/04/29/2142042/diberville-adds-casino-hotel-to.html)


D’IBERVILLE — Thursday was a banner day for economic development in D’Iberville, with site approval given for Oyster Bay Casino on the Back Bay and the announcement of a Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel coming to The Promenade shopping complex.

Mayor Rusty Quave said the developers of Oyster Bay intend to build a smaller, 65,000-square-foot casino.

“They’re putting more of the emphasis on tourism and the French Quarter,” which is planned for the city’s adjacent downtown, he said.


Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2010/04/29/2142042/diberville-adds-casino-hotel-to.html#ixzz0naoXYnQr

With a variety of old ships planned to be docked at Oyster Bay, “It will be like a museum on the water,” he said.

The resort will recall the seafood heritage of the Coast.

“We are going to get a replica here of a great tall ship,” said Thomas Brosig, president of The Brosig Group, who presented the $150 million project to the Mississippi Gaming Commission. He said they also plan to bring schooners and oyster boats for guests to tour.

The idea is to create a must-see resort and entertainment venue for visitors to the Coast, he said. The retail also will be an attraction, focusing on selling goods that are made, baked, sculpted and painted there by young people who he envisions coming from across the country for internships to learn a trade.

Visitors would drive into what looks like a waterfront warehouse, he said. Four restaurants are planned, including a buffet, café and diner, with most overlooking the water and the tall ship.

Oyster Bay is being developed by Malcolm Duane Lewis, a commercial real estate developer, and Tom Moore, a D’Iberville native and director of The New Hope Program that assists children with disabilities. The project is expected to create 2,000 jobs and generate $8 million in annual tax revenue.

Brosig said these are tough times to get financing for casinos.

“However, I’m confident,” he said. People are already talking about Oyster Bay, he said. “What we really want is Wall Street to start talking.”

The Home2 Suites will be at the entrance of The Promenade near the new Shoe Station. The five-story hotel with 100 suites and an outdoor saltwater pool. It is among the first of this new design of extended-stay hotels built in the country.

Gabe Thomas with Thomas Properties of Athens, Tenn., said it will accommodate both long-term military and families and those who want to stay overnight and shop.


Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2010/04/29/2142042/diberville-adds-casino-hotel-to.html#ixzz0naoHVHKJ

http://media.sunherald.com/smedia/2010/04/29/19/20100429-201951-pic-478893335.standalone.prod_affiliate.77.jpg

[Red UM Rebel]

By MARY PEREZ - meperez@sunherald.com

http://www.sunherald.com/2010/06/01/2225128/bay-cove-condos-given-ok.html

BILOXI — The Biloxi City Council gave its approval Tuesday to Bay Cove, a mixed-use development on the Back Bay.

The community of single-family homes and multi-family condominiums will be built in phases at 1753 Brasher Road, next to Savannah Estates.

The project was divided into four lots, with single-family homes on two lots; a 67-unit condominium complex called Residence at Bay Cove; and a 56-unit, five-story condo known as the Pointe at Bay Cove that juts out into the Bay.

Mike Boudreaux, president of Gulf Coast Investment Developers, said several of the waterfront units already have been sold. The subdivision will have 4 acres of common area that includes a swimming pool, a 36-slip boat pier and green space.

The council also:

Had a first reading on the city’s new land-development ordinance

Continued the state of emergency due to the Deep Horizon Oil Spill

Discussed helping charter-boat and shrimp-boat owners get compensation from BP to cover their boat-slip rentals.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4675208552_2bceaee48e_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4675208590_f3bf5c84fd_b.jpg

[Uptowner]

Project Rundown - Continuously Updated!

Wow, some nice looking developments there. It's sad to see so many of them cancelled or on hold. My two favorite would have to be CanCan and Havana:(. I think South Beach will be nice too if it's completed as planned. Beau View, Sienna, and Legacy Towers remind me of Coastal Alabama and Panhandle Florida. IMO the Mississippi Gulf Coast needs architecture that will set it apart from the rest of the eastern Gulf coast. I don't know how willing MS is to take chances in general, but the coastal region seems to be less conservative than the rest of the state and some of these designs are a start. I've also been hearing good things about the Port.
:tup:

[SEXIBOI228]

http://www.ci.gulfport.ms.us/edpage/projects.htm

[SEXIBOI228]

:cheers: :cheers:

[MolsonExport]

^keep posting.you are slipping in the all-time post count.

[SEXIBOI228]

It's over due for a come up .. 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/1282/578096004_7a183d7d7b.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1349/578096010_427b5881c2.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1046/578131278_05018f5e32.jpg?v=0
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2024/2052075664_16996f3383_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2280/2411520947_783f50343d_o.jpg


beau view condos - first tower completed (other three pre-construction) - biloxi

2668 beach blvd
448 units
273'
$22,123,044
beau view condos of biloxi, llc
http://www.beauviewcondos.com

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/217/525588096_0bcec8750d.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1057/743905041_ba103492d6.jpg



ocean club biloxi - first tower completed (other two pre-construction) - biloxi

2060 beach blvd
375 units
175'
$95,000,000 (for all 3 towers)
ocean club of biloxi, llc
roy anderson construction
http://www.oceanclubatbiloxi.com

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1105/525594280_e98b3a6d67.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/4032/4617378525_acf4e5a7bb_o.gif
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4617992312_2f22950f00_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/3394/4617378545_b0580f91c8_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/4018/4617458699_13020f8b46_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/4617458725_15711d1393_o.jpg
other



william carey college campus at traditions - under construction - harrison county

50 acres
3000 students
2009 completion

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2412347278_34666b0591_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/1036/525686841_fe643ae922.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/224/525686819_dda0319f18.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1425/744858794_7cd0a5ad71.jpg


beau view condos - first tower completed - biloxi

http://www.beauviewcondos.com

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2411519699_d69365818a_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2029/2412344992_c6082bfd0e_o.jpg


ocean club biloxi - first tower completed - biloxi

http://www.oceanclubatbiloxi.com

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1105/525594280_e98b3a6d67.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/2412346238_31d86ff7a7_o.jpg


hard rock casino - completed and open - biloxi

777 beach blvd
318 rooms
50,000 sqaure feet of casino space
premier entertainment, llc
roy anderson construction
http://www.hardrockbiloxi.com

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1016/525738921_816c7c1a4c.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1193/754919957_ba99e5415c.jpg?v=0

sienna - completed - gulfport

http://www.siennaonthecoast.com/index.htm

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1184/525714737_5306df04cc.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1350/690109599_5b624eb362.jpg


legacy towers (2 towers) - completed - gulfport

http://www.legacycondo.com/index.htm

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1109/525326869_1fcb7315eb.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1142/525719835_119f169f06.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1211/690311119_25f2ba20fc.jpg


biloxi/ocean springs bridge - completed

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/2412344948_7831faa0ed_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3118/2411519531_012203b620_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2411519477_7091b3b426_o.jpg


mississippi gulf coast coliseum - biloxi - completed

yates construction
386,000 feet of convention space
opening spring 2009
http://www.mscoastcoliseum.com

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1321/638476143_3b872382c8.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1417/638476153_d0a748625a.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1025/638476161_2d81a7f696.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1312/638476233_3e2ef7e532.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1410/638476237_3618561225.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1160/638476245_82c0536e6c.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1335/639348120_f48d7f1c9d.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1299/639348124_645b1ffcb6.jpg?v=0



postponed or canceled


beau soliel - pre-construction - biloxi (permit lapsed)

1877 beach blvd
14 units
95'
$12,000,000
gulf coast investment developers
http://www.gcid.biz

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1137/530045583_657e19fb07.jpg?v=0



venezia resort - pre-construction - biloxi (permit lapsed)

1762 beach blvd
339 units
90'
venezia resort group, llc
http://www.veneziabiloxi.com/home-biloxi-resort.asp

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/205/525664577_c439f7d7aa.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1035/525664579_95fded63f6.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/2039/2051259971_32b92065f1_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/1020/525566964_e7f22b968c.jpg?v=0



bienville condos - postponed - biloxi

1865 beach blvd
117 units
110'
$28,000,000
gulf coast investment developers
carother's construction
http://www.bienvillecondos.com

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1217/525294136_b1208960db.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/1021/525229000_dad5ae1720.jpg?v=0


habor point condos - canceled - biloxi - now wyndham hotel project

695 beach blvd
242 units
278'

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1221/525326873_272858daac.jpg?v=0



shores of paradise - canceled - biloxi

2010 beach blvd
476 units
179'
gulf coast investment developers
http://www.shoresofparadise.com

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1003/525581388_721306566a.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1047/525581400_f0fc670460.jpg?v=0



savannah estates - cancelled - biloxi

brasher road
145 units
110'
$30,000,000
gulf coast investment developers
http://www.savannahsbiloxi.com

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1124/525294130_cda0f545eb.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/1068/530045569_27c4f92cd1.jpg?v=0



aqua - cancelled - biloxi
http://www.gcid.biz
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2350137594_15e1751944_o.jpg


gold coast - on-hold - biloxi

veterans avenue
part of $800,000,000 development
rw development

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1255/773178661_ed70602397_o.jpg



avalon condo development (conversion from gulf towers) (cancelled - converted into four points by sheraton opening july 15, 2010)

beach blvd across i-110 from beau rivage
11 stories
about 200 units
wilton partners
http://avalonbiloxi.com/home.asp

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1287/533125426_06f855f781_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/4617393043_5b068c267e_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/2309/2411500743_a3db0ba9b9_o.jpg



old va being redeveloped into resort - on-hold - gulfport

hri properties of new orleans

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1264/1172107712_3313a46c25_o.jpg



caribbean dream - on-hold - gulfport
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1124/525294110_e4ace46c59.jpg?v=0



emerald breeze - cancelled - long beach

64 units
$14,000,000
emerald breeze developer, llc
http://www.emeraldbreezeoflongbeach.com/index.html

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1234/539479798_94f5f9f6d9.jpg?v=0


gulf view - cancelled - long beach
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1214/525633984_3f12a53cee.jpg?v=0



havana casino - project dead (regrettably) - biloxi
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1216/525295108_d3fbb62510.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/1385/696564265_4019de365a_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/525295094_4e6ceecc08.jpg?v=0



gold coast casino - project not approved by gaming commission

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

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

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


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/2349/2412416596_b601f521e7_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/1020/525295112_dab436f477.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1136/525295120_d1bfc4c201.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1038/525295122_873508bcd3.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1001/525296522_e373a426f2.jpg?v=0

very rough sketch (perspective: Driving west on highway 90)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1179/698699262_e42664a2dd_o.jpg

construction cam link
http://oxblue.com/pro/open/?webpath=harrahs/biloxi

[SEXIBOI228]

It's time for highrises and futuristic upadate... it's over due for a come up ..

[sirexcaliber]

things need to be update on this page s no one going around taking pic of anything has all the construction just stopped

[Sharkey]

Biloxi is one step closer to getting a minor league baseball team.

http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/05/30/gov-bryant-announces-minor-league-ball-park-for-biloxi/

http://i1.wp.com/msbusiness.com/files/2013/05/Biloxi-stadium_rgb.jpg?zoom=2&resize=600%2C374

[IMBY]

I really wonder about these casino projects, living here in Las Vegas, where the number of people who come here now to gamble as fallen to 27%.

At least, in Las Vegas, the casino moguls saw it coming, diversifying with multi-million dollar nightclubs (for the younger generation), lots of shopping venues, 5-star restaurants, and shows.

[Yorkie]

Vegas doesn't have the beach and gulf for recreation which are true family draws or seafood..:cool:

[Wayward Memphian]

Would love for Landry's Corp to copy Kemah Boardwalk somewhere along the Gulf Coast in Bama or MS.
http://www.kemahboardwalk.com/images/content/visitor-info/photo-of-kemah-boardwalk.png

http://www.kemahboardwalkinn.com/media/images/header_images/attractions/01.jpg

[The ATX]

I miss sexiboi and his billions of billions (Carl Sagan accent not included) posts. :(

[fla_tiger]

Biloxi is one step closer to getting a minor league baseball team.

http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/05/30/gov-bryant-announces-minor-league-ball-park-for-biloxi/

http://i1.wp.com/msbusiness.com/files/2013/05/Biloxi-stadium_rgb.jpg?zoom=2&resize=600%2C374

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e173/fla_tiger/BiloxiShuckersLogo.png (http://s39.photobucket.com/user/fla_tiger/media/BiloxiShuckersLogo.png.html)


The Minor League Team is named the Biloxi Shuckers

The park has been named MGM Park @ Beau Rivage.

Game tonight!

[Ronald120]

Anybody know what happened to the Foxwoods Biloxi development? It was supposed to be completed this year, but I've been searching on the Sun Herald site (and Google) and all I see are the same old articles from back in 2016 about it being announced...


..their website (http://www.biloxipointecasino.com/) is active however

[futuresooner]

I just left being station at Keesler AFB in December and the site had nothing done to it then and apparently nothing yet still.

I have no idea why it still hasn't broken ground, but something is obviously up.

[vetteking]

New details released on Biloxi’s new $1.2 billion hotel, entertainment destination
https://gray-wlox-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/1uh4V1MTv4SpOVeSzurQsnIycEU=/980x0/smart/filters:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/PITWWW6ULRCFJC2POXWIWWK2TQ.png
https://gray-wlox-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/e6moufrBvqWVr7kINTF8LCFSyiw=/980x0/smart/filters:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/UV46HCZTLBC4JBRS3A75226BVU.png
https://gray-wlox-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/En_m-iCPnh1ZngpmbN_PeAWmZfQ=/980x0/smart/filters:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/STRI76XCBBDT7HKKXCK44N7TII.png
https://www.wlox.com/2020/10/15/watch-live-pm-new-details-released-biloxis-new-billion-hotel-entertainment-destination/

[Dariusb]

New details released on Biloxi’s new $1.2 billion hotel, entertainment destination
https://gray-wlox-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/1uh4V1MTv4SpOVeSzurQsnIycEU=/980x0/smart/filters:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/PITWWW6ULRCFJC2POXWIWWK2TQ.png
https://gray-wlox-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/e6moufrBvqWVr7kINTF8LCFSyiw=/980x0/smart/filters:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/UV46HCZTLBC4JBRS3A75226BVU.png
https://gray-wlox-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/En_m-iCPnh1ZngpmbN_PeAWmZfQ=/980x0/smart/filters:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/STRI76XCBBDT7HKKXCK44N7TII.png
https://www.wlox.com/2020/10/15/watch-live-pm-new-details-released-biloxis-new-billion-hotel-entertainment-destination/

Wow!

[vetteking]

Wow!

yea man its gonna be nice