February 20, 2008

Source: http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=7900439

Biloxi’s next casino project could be at the old Gus Stevens location. RW Development wants to build the Gold Coast Resort at the foot of Highway 90 and Veterans Avenue. There’s one problem. That site is not in the city’s waterfront zoning district.

RW Development owns an assortment of land along the old Biloxi strip, including a nine story condominium that’s under construction next to the Sharkheads site. Reed Guice is RW Development’s spokesman.

“RW Development has put their money where their mouth is,” he said.

One of the parcels in RW’s portfolio is at Veterans Avenue and Highway 90. That’s the old Gus Stevens site. The developer’s plan is to create the Gold Coast Resort, a collection of shops, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues, all next to a casino.

“This project feels right because it’s there on the Biloxi strip,” Guice said.

And back in the 1950s, when the strip was in its heyday, Jake Mladinich said casinos and entertainers made the area come alive. So he’d like to see RW’s gamble pay off.

“I think it’s a beautiful location. I think it’s a great idea,” Mladinich said.

However, even though it’s on the waterfront, the Veterans Avenue location isn’t zoned for casino development.

“We hope that the planning commission and ultimately the city fathers will see that this is the kind of project that’s needed down there. And the kind of project that’s going to be a reality based on the RW Development track record so far,” Guice said.

That track record includes almost a billion dollars in construction, land purchases, and plans.

The planning commission will hear RW Development’s Veterans Avenue casino presentation on March 6.

While the planning commission wrestles with whether to approve a casino in a non-casino zone, the Biloxi City Council is taking another look at the entire strip and potential casino development in that area. The southside side of Highway 90 from Rodenberg Avenue all the way to Treasure Bay was once zoned waterfront. But that changed in 2003 when the city adopted its land development ordinance. Businesses could operate on the strip, but casinos were forbidden.

Now, a resolution drawn up by councilman Mike Fitzpatrick, and obtained by WLOX News, tries to return the waterfront zoning classification to this area. Fitzpatrick is proposing what he calls a WF-10. That designation would allow casino development on Biloxi’s strip, if the project uses at least 10 acres of land. The councilman hasn’t said when he’ll present his idea to his Biloxi colleagues.

By Brad Kessie

        convert this post to rtf.