Upscale Baton Rouge Riverboat Casino Finally Seeks Zoning
It's been over a year since Baton Rouge voters approved a third riverboat casino to be located near their city on the Mississippi River, but only now are developers seeking zoning approval. With the recession hitting while the issue was still awaiting ballot approval, Pinnacle Entertainment postponed pursuing construction of the gambling boat, but will ask the Planning Commission Monday for the ok to proceed.Baton Rouge already hosts two other riverboats, but those were designed when the law still required the casinos to leave the dock and cruise the river. Hence, the two are less spacious, with gaming spread over several floors.
The new casino would appear to the untrained eye to more resemble a building than a sea-faring vessel, projected to be permanently lodged in a moat between the levee and the river. The surrounding area would contain many amenities not available on the older casinos, including restaurants, retail shopping, hotels, and a golf course.
“It will have the look and the feel of a land-based casino,” said Pinnacle spokeswoman Pauline Yoshihasi.
The initial construction phase would include the casino, one of the hotels, and the restaurants and an entertainment venue that will occupy the second floor of the casino, above the gambling area. Projected costs is roughly $250 million.
A local attorney representing Pinnacle said that first phase would provide almost 700 construction jobs during the building, and bring near 1700 permanent jobs on completion.
To reduce any costs to taxpayers, the gaming company is providing several million in road improvements and will provide its own emergency and medical services.
Eight votes out of thirteen are needed at the Planning Commission hearing Monday to give conceptual approval to the project.
