A tragic saga for the Concord Resort Hotel could have a belated, sort-of happy ending. Empire Resorts and EPR Properties want to build a new, casino-based resort — called Adelaar — on the site. Empire is a stalking horse for Genting Group, which explains the megaresort budget of $750 million. Beyond gambling — 2,150 slots and 32 tables — Adelaar (Dutch for “Eagle”) would offer “an entertainment hall, spa and shops, as well as an 18-hole golf course and family resort featuring a conference center, an indoor water park and an outdoor adventure park … Plans call for several hotels, a snow tube run, zip lines and a mountain coaster.” And they say they could get started within a month of approval. That’s because they’ve already been working on pulling permits.
According to the New York Times, Empire and EPR are moving quickly, to try and thwart Cordish Gaming and Penn National Gaming, both of whom covet sites in Orange County, closer to New York City. If Penn and/or Cordish get into contention, that might scare off the bankers that Empire and EPR need on their side. They’ve got an ally in casino-expansion author state Sen. John J. Bonacic (R), who tells the Times, “It was our intent to help upstate counties that had high unemployment and low median income. I don’t think Orange County fits into that category.”
The Times predicts that a nonrefundable, $1 million application will scare off many of the developers who are talking up casino projects right now. Which leaves Genting very well position to pluck one of the four gambling licenses up for bid.
Where and how did “Queen of Comps” Jean Scott get her start? It’s a fascinating and humorous memoir.
