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

[Red UM Rebel]

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

[BLX 101]

Originally Posted by BLX 101

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

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


http://avalonbiloxi.com/

WOW!!!

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

[BLX 101]

Originally Posted by BLX 101

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

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

[Red UM Rebel]

Originally Posted by BLX 101

WOW!!!

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

Originally Posted by BLX 101

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

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

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

[BLX 101]

Originally Posted by Red UM Rebel

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

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

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

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


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


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

[Red UM Rebel]

Just forgot about it! Thanks



I will post it on first page later today

[Velastor2]

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

[Red UM Rebel]

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

[BLX 101]

Originally Posted by Velastor2

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

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

[pleasebiloxi]

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

[Velastor2]

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

[Red UM Rebel]

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

[BLX 101]

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

[BLX 101]

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

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

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


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

[BLX 101]

Originally Posted by pleasebiloxi

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

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

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


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

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

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


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

http://www.wynnresorts.com/

[Velastor2]

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

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

[BLX 101]

Originally Posted by Velastor2

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

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

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

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

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

[BLX 101]

I am very tempted to pay the fifty bucks for the monthly subscription to get the full description of this development to include the developers identity. I could determine the identity of several of the recent bids but most, I couldn't.

http://www.bidclerk.com/project.655155.html

[Velastor2]

Nice concept, It looks very similar to the proposed Tivoli plan with the raised hotel by using a base to support the pool and such.

I looked at that site and honestly I do not see how that could be a legal gaming location. Unless the site is just pointing at a generic location for Biloxi, MS. From the size of it, it sounds like they could be describing the Broadwater site. It is the only legal gambling location I know of that Had an existing hotel.

[BLX 101]

If you are referring to the site indication from the link, it is incorrect. I reviewed a half dozen recent bids all indicating the same exact site. It is along the redeveloped Caillavet Street. You would have to subscribe to get the exact specifics.