By Nathen Mayberg
KIAMESHA LAKE —April 30, 2004– Caesar’s doled out new casino plans and a timeline in front of the Town of Thompson Board last week.
Officials from the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Kutsher’s Resort and Caesar’s were all on hand to hear the presentation.
“Things are getting close,” said Walter Garigliano, who, along with his wife Barbara, is representing Caesar’s on their Sullivan County adventure.
So close, in fact, that Chuck Miller of Caesar’s said that he hopes to complete the remaining legal obstacles to the casino in 2004. It will take an additional two years for the casino to open, said Bob Kelly, Vice President of Design and Construction for Caesar’s.
New details were released on the $600 million casino which will replace the existing Kutsher’s Sports Academy. According to Kelly, a new line of vision will include a 300,000-square-foot casino and hotel, a 45,000-square-foot entertainment venue, 3,500 video lottery terminals, 100 table games, a 750-room hotel (or nine Hampton Inns, as Kelly called it), a 17,000-square-foot ballroom, a 15,000-square-foot spa facility, several restaurants and a 650-seat buffet “for all the food you can stand.” Plus there will be a 2,000-seat theatre, parking for over 7,000 cars, and a possible child care facility.
Anawana Lake Road will be altered to include an additional lane for turning left. The New York State Department of Transportation will be doing major work to surrounding Route 42, including two right turns from the Anawana Lake Road intersection to Route 17’s Exit 105 southbound.
Another right hand turn will be added from Exit 105B, headed towards Kiamesha Lake. A traffic signal will also be placed there.
The state Department of Transportation will be turning Route 42 from the Anawana Lake Road intersection to Concord Road into five lanes.
Supervisor Anthony Cellini said the town would do “anything we can” to help.
“We want this in our community.”