For a few months now, The Koman family's bid to build a casino in north St. Louis has carried with it the endorsement of Great Rivers Greenway, the local park and bikeway planning group.
Tuesday morning, it became clear why.
Great Rivers Greenway and Casino Celebration have reached a deal that would either have the casino fund major improvements to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and trailheads on both sides, or would give Great Rivers 11.8 acres of riverfront land it has long coveted.
The nonprofit's board on Thursday voted to support Casino Celebration's plan for a $115 million casino, and to enter into an agreement to give about 8 acres of land to the project if it's approved by the Missouri Gaming Commission.
In exchange, Casino Celebration agreed to improve and maintain trailheads on both sides of the bridge, creating lighted parking lots with 24-hour security and public restrooms, to upgrade and maintain GRG's North Riverfront trail and the bridge itself, and coordinate public events in the area, among other things.
And if the casino project doesn't win a license, or otherwise fall through, Casino Celebration will sell the 11.8 acres it owns on the site to GRG, so it can then make improvements itself.
Susan Trautman, Great Rivers' executive director, said that either way, the deal guarantees public access to the riverfront and the bike trail forever.
"We have been working hard for this to be a good thing no matter the outcome (of the casino project)," she said.
Trautman stressed that Great Rivers was not a "co-developer of a casino," but said the agency would submit letters of support to the Gaming Commission, if necessary.
"What we're trying to do is ensure public access to the land," she said.
The support of a group like Great Rivers can help a casino's application before the Gaming Commission, but it's not likely to be a deciding factor. But since the agency controls nearly a third of Casino Celebration's proposed site, a deal with them was probably necessary for the project to happen. Casino Celebration also hopes to buy about three acres of city-owned land on the Water Works property.
The cost of new trailheads, facilities and bridge upgrades is not yet clear. A dollar amount will be written into the deal, Trautman said, but it hasn't been finalized yet. Both sides have signed a letter of intent, she said.
Applications are due to the Gaming Commission on Wednesday. Koman's north city project is expected to apply, as is Isle of Capri Corp. for a casino in Cape Girardeau. They could face competing bids in St. Louis County, Cape Girardeau and Sugar Creek, and possibly elsewhere.
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