Billion-dollar casino proposed
By MARY PEREZ
meperez@sunherald.com
BILOXI --Sometime in August the Biloxi Planning Commission will hear whether residents think the Tivoli Hotel site north of U.S. 90 should be rezoned as "waterfront" so a billion-dollar casino and hotel can be built there.
The City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to direct the Planning Commission to schedule the hearing. Community Development Director Jerry Creel said it will take at least 30 days to complete the case fact sheet and advertise the hearing.
Councilman George Lawrence, the lone vote against asking for the hearing, wants to keep the beach for public use. He said, "I don't think this city should be all about money."
If the seawall is going to become the line for determining where casinos can be built, Lawrence said, "everything on Biloxi Beach could turn into casinos." He also pointed out that the Mississippi Gaming Commission has been fairly stern about allowing no new casino development across the sand beach.
Councilman Mike Fitzpatrick said that when opportunity knocks, the council should find creative solutions. The developer is reportedly Biloxi Capital LLC and Fitzpatrick stressed this is a billion-dollar project. It will have a casino, hotel rooms, marina, restaurants and shops and will bring millions of dollars to the city, county and state each year, he said.
Fitzpatrick said rezoning the site will give the Veterans of Foreign Wars the financial means to rebuild and the Biloxi Yacht Club the opportunity to get a new marina. The casino developers have the option to relocate their marina in front of the new yacht club location adjacent to the Tivoli site.
Council President Ed Gemmill agreed with Lawrence on some points. "I don't want to see that beach taken away from us," he said, but he favors the hearing, "to look at the possibilities."
Wanting to be clear on the intent of the resolution, Councilman Bill Stallworth said, "This is not a declaration saying we will approve it," but a chance to get information from residents.
"I probably won't vote for the project," said Councilman David Fayard, "but I do want the public input."
When Lawrence argued that the council can get public opinion without tying it to this property, Councilman Tom Wall replied, "This hearing is all about the Tivoli property." It has nothing to do with building on the beach, Wall said. The city wants to develop the property he said has been deteriorating for 40 years, "and looking worse and worse all the time," into something that is going to provide tax revenue.
The meeting room was packed and more citizens spoke for authorizing the hearing than against it. One resident who lives behind Tivoli asked that the boundaries be extended all the way to the railroad tracks. Homeowners in the area have the potential to be bought out. The current proposal sets the boundaries on the south by the mean high-water line (the toe of the seawall), north to Howard Avenue, east to Kuhn Street and west to Holley Street.
After the board voted to approve the public hearing, Gemmill said it will take approval beyond the council's authority before a casino could be built across from the sand beach.
Revenue generated
State $35.6 million
Biloxi $13.8 million
Biloxi schools $7.9 million
County $9.4 million
Repay Coliseum debt Nearly $3 million
Tourism advertising $2.4 million
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Supporters claim
Casino proposal would have:
• $1 billion investment
• 175,000 square feet of gaming space
• 2,500 hotel rooms
• 6,500 parking spaces
• 300-boat marina
• 6,500 parking spaces
• restaurants and retail
YAY
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