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State to hear local slots proposal By RICHARD FELLINGER
Evening Sun Harrisburg Bureau
Evening Sun Article Launched:12/12/2006 09:40:44 AM EST
Gaming regulators will turn their attention to a Gettysburg-area slots plan
Wednesday as they scrutinize proposals for the state's valuable slots licenses.
Backers of the Crossroads Gaming Resort and Spa, a $300-million proposal
for the intersection of routes 30 and 15, are scheduled to appear in Harrisburg
before the state Gaming Control Board at a much-anticipated public hearing on their plan.
It's a key step in the decision-making process. The seven-member gaming board,
which hopes to award the licenses Dec. 20, gets to question the applicants in
person before reaching a final decision.
Crossroads, led by Gettysburg businessman David LeVan, hopes to win one of two
slots licenses available for standalone slots casinos outside Pittsburgh and P
hiladelphia. Crossroads has four competitors – two in the Poconos and two in the
Lehigh Valley.
Since the Crossroads plan was unveiled in April 2005, debate has raged over whether
it's a good fit for the area. While Crossroads has argued its plan would create jobs and
tax revenue, critics have argued it would hurt the historical tourism industry and
disrespect the soldiers who died there.
A spokesman for Crossroads said they are prepared to field tough questions from board
members and win them over, while a leading critic said the board should raise many
questions but won't be persuaded to give Crossroads a license.
Susan Star Paddock, chairwoman of the anti-casino group No Casino Gettysburg, expects
board members to focus on Crossroads' financial backing after the group enlisted a new
top investor last month. Connecticut investment firm Silver Point Capital LP replaced
Morgan Stanley as the plan's largest investor.
"I expect there will be considerable questions about their finances," said Star Paddock,
who regularly attends board meetings.
Crossroads spokesman David La Torre said Silver Point will draw questions but "no more
than any other applicant."
"I think every applicant has faced questions about ownership (at their hearing)," La Torre said.
Star Paddock also expects board members to raise questions about the impact on
traffic and local businesses.
Responded La Torre, "Let's be clear: Every applicant should expect tough questions.
The Gaming Control Board has a very tough job to do, and they would be remiss if
they didn't ask tough questions. We will certainly put our best foot forward in both areas."
In Crossroads' case, it's also possible the area's history draws even more pointed questions.
Gaming board member Jeffrey Coy of Shippensburg is known to be a Civil War buff,
as is House Democratic Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, who appointed Coy to the board.
In a 2005 interview, DeWeese promised "very aggressive scrutiny" of the Crossroads plan.
While one Poconos competitor changed its plans dramatically when it went before the
gaming board last week, Crossroads will not unveil any major changes to its plan, La Torre said.
The proposed Mount Airy Resort & Casino in Monroe County promised to open with
400 hotel rooms, up from 200, in an apparent attempt to compete with the Poconos
Manor Resort & Casino, also proposed in Monroe. Poconos Manor has proposed a massive
complex with 750 hotel rooms.
By sticking with its original plan, Crossroads can open sooner with a complex that is
"simple yet remarkable in its design and beauty," La Torre said.
Crossroads would open with 3,000 slot machines and 225 rooms in a four-star hotel,
a 30,000-square-foot spa and several restaurants. They plan to expand later with
2,000 more machines and 110 more rooms.
Crossroads will be the second plan to go before the board Wednesday, which means
the board expects to take it up between 1 and 2 p.m. In the morning, the proposed
Lehigh Valley Tropicana in Allentown goes before the board. Both Poconos plans
and the proposed Sands Bethworks in Bethlehem went before the board last week.
IF YOU GO:
When: Wednesday, estimated start time 1 to 2 p.m.
Where: State Museum Auditorium, 3rd and North streets, Harrisburg
State to hear local slots proposal By RICHARD FELLINGER
Evening Sun Harrisburg Bureau
Evening Sun Article Launched:12/12/2006 09:40:44 AM EST
Gaming regulators will turn their attention to a Gettysburg-area slots plan
Wednesday as they scrutinize proposals for the state's valuable slots licenses.
Backers of the Crossroads Gaming Resort and Spa, a $300-million proposal
for the intersection of routes 30 and 15, are scheduled to appear in Harrisburg
before the state Gaming Control Board at a much-anticipated public hearing on their plan.
It's a key step in the decision-making process. The seven-member gaming board,
which hopes to award the licenses Dec. 20, gets to question the applicants in
person before reaching a final decision.
Crossroads, led by Gettysburg businessman David LeVan, hopes to win one of two
slots licenses available for standalone slots casinos outside Pittsburgh and P
hiladelphia. Crossroads has four competitors – two in the Poconos and two in the
Lehigh Valley.
Since the Crossroads plan was unveiled in April 2005, debate has raged over whether
it's a good fit for the area. While Crossroads has argued its plan would create jobs and
tax revenue, critics have argued it would hurt the historical tourism industry and
disrespect the soldiers who died there.
A spokesman for Crossroads said they are prepared to field tough questions from board
members and win them over, while a leading critic said the board should raise many
questions but won't be persuaded to give Crossroads a license.
Susan Star Paddock, chairwoman of the anti-casino group No Casino Gettysburg, expects
board members to focus on Crossroads' financial backing after the group enlisted a new
top investor last month. Connecticut investment firm Silver Point Capital LP replaced
Morgan Stanley as the plan's largest investor.
"I expect there will be considerable questions about their finances," said Star Paddock,
who regularly attends board meetings.
Crossroads spokesman David La Torre said Silver Point will draw questions but "no more
than any other applicant."
"I think every applicant has faced questions about ownership (at their hearing)," La Torre said.
Star Paddock also expects board members to raise questions about the impact on
traffic and local businesses.
Responded La Torre, "Let's be clear: Every applicant should expect tough questions.
The Gaming Control Board has a very tough job to do, and they would be remiss if
they didn't ask tough questions. We will certainly put our best foot forward in both areas."
In Crossroads' case, it's also possible the area's history draws even more pointed questions.
Gaming board member Jeffrey Coy of Shippensburg is known to be a Civil War buff,
as is House Democratic Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, who appointed Coy to the board.
In a 2005 interview, DeWeese promised "very aggressive scrutiny" of the Crossroads plan.
While one Poconos competitor changed its plans dramatically when it went before the
gaming board last week, Crossroads will not unveil any major changes to its plan, La Torre said.
The proposed Mount Airy Resort & Casino in Monroe County promised to open with
400 hotel rooms, up from 200, in an apparent attempt to compete with the Poconos
Manor Resort & Casino, also proposed in Monroe. Poconos Manor has proposed a massive
complex with 750 hotel rooms.
By sticking with its original plan, Crossroads can open sooner with a complex that is
"simple yet remarkable in its design and beauty," La Torre said.
Crossroads would open with 3,000 slot machines and 225 rooms in a four-star hotel,
a 30,000-square-foot spa and several restaurants. They plan to expand later with
2,000 more machines and 110 more rooms.
Crossroads will be the second plan to go before the board Wednesday, which means
the board expects to take it up between 1 and 2 p.m. In the morning, the proposed
Lehigh Valley Tropicana in Allentown goes before the board. Both Poconos plans
and the proposed Sands Bethworks in Bethlehem went before the board last week.
IF YOU GO:
When: Wednesday, estimated start time 1 to 2 p.m.
Where: State Museum Auditorium, 3rd and North streets, Harrisburg
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