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Casinos in Detroit: A Stone's Throw from the Riverfront, or Why Not Belle Isle
By Howard Berenbon
It looks like Mayor Dennis Archer and the Detroit City Council
are approaching a solution to the riverfront casino controversy. His recent
proposal to allow MGM Grand Detroit to built their permanent casino about a
block from the riverfront, and close to the originally proposed spot, may be the
beginning of some permanence for Detroit's first attempt at making gambling
casinos a viable tax generating business. The proposal also states that
MotorCity Casino and Greektown Casino will expand at their current locations and
will not be relocated to the riverfront.
The new proposed site for MGM Grand Detroit is between Rivard
and St. Aubin, about a block from the Detroit River and within the area agreed
to by the city council and the casinos, in 1998. However, some of the council
members now oppose casinos on the riverfront, which is causing a delay and a
dilemma. The casinos are ready and willing to build their permanent homes as
soon as possible. The residents of area on the riverfront, a 57-acre of land
once intended for the three Detroit casinos, want more money than the casinos
agreed to pay. In the 1998 the casinos agreed to pay $250 million for the
riverfront property, which is now valued at $500 million. With the current
proposal, the city, with $150 million from the three casinos, will build a
riverfront park.
Why Not Build on Belle Isle?
I recently attended a wedding in Detroit, and the reception
was at the Belle Isle Casino (it's not a casino, yet). Well, why not consider
placing one of the permanent casinos on Belle Isle? It's a beautiful island
that could host one, or even all the casinos, but one would be quite all right.
I bet MotorCity Casino would jump at the chance to make their permanent casino
home there. Just a thought that could be a reality.
Howard Berenbon
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In The News Detroit |
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November 16, Detroit, MI. Greektown Casino workers
approve a new 4-year labor agreement.
October 17, Detroit,
Michigan. MotorCity Casino and the casino union accepted
a tentative contract agreement averting a strike.
The casino agreed to a slight pay raise and to keep the
current health insurance status quo.
MotorCity was closed earlier in the day anticipating a
pending strike, but opened later that evening.
October 1 - The
new MGM Grand Detroit Hotel and Casino opens in 3
days. They're offering upscale rooms, a spa and a
few new restaurants like the
Palette Dining
Studio with the all-you-can-eat buffet.
September 6 - MGM
Grand Detroit slots failed to pay off Monday evening for
over 3 hours because of a computer problem. The
coinless machines wouldn't print the winning slips on
all 2500 slots. It was corrected, and a report was
filed with the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
August 13 - MGM Grand Detroit Casino is hoping to
attract the "high-end" business traveler to their new
hotel and casino scheduled to open on October 2.
They also plan on marketing the complex as a hotel and
entertainment destination. |
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Casinos in Space |
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The year is 2022.
Casino gambling has been banned on Earth, but not in
space.
Chapter 10 now available.
Click to begin the
Science Fiction novel, chapters 1-10 |
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