Dinner, Movie, Drinks, and A Casino?
We have heard about the possibilty of a casino setting up shop in the downtown Muskegon area for many years. It appears now there are quite a few competing interests in the development of a Muskegon casino. Dick Anderson of the Archimides Group was the first to start promoting publicly the concept of a casino in the late 1990s, it now seems Mr. Anderson and his Archimedes partners have lost a bit of momentum with the struggling Balcoms Cove Condominiums and the downturn in the Western Michigan real estate market. The Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, based in the western Upper Peninsula town of Watersmeet is one of two tribes who have recently expressed interest in getting federal approval for the licensing of a Muskegon casino. The abandoned SPX “pyramid” building has been suggested as potential site for a casino and well as recently closed Great Lakes Downs site. What remains to be seen is if any of these groups can clear the hurdles and receive federal approval for a casino license in Muskegon. With the citys residents overwhemingly voting in favor of the casino referendum in 2004 its obvious the residents are in favor. It appears the the Mayor and members of the City of Muskegon Commission are lining up to also be in favor of exploring the idea with the tribes. It is this editors belief that a casino would be a positive development for the waterfront of the downtown area as an ancilliary attraction, furthermore the prospect of the vacant SPX building as a potential site is even more attractive. This location would certainly attract hundreds of boaters from all over the Great Lakes as the only waterfront casino on the east shores of Lake Michigan.
Update: I did take note today that the Lac Tribe is proposing a very watered down casino at the vacant SPX building. If we are going to have a casino why would we not make it the best casino with all the typical games of chance (Craps, Roulette, etc) complete with entertainment, shows, restaurants, etc. While we are at it the Mayor should also start talking with Loeks theaters or the outfit out of Grand Haven and work on a bringing in a movie theater for the downtown area. It woudl be absolutley amazing if there was enough critical mass in the downtown area that I could park my car or boat downtown and enjoy a dinner, movie and nightlife by foot.
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