Paragon Development is determined to set up business in Vancouver even after its previous plan to expand the Edgewater casino in 2011 was ultimately rejected.
This time around, the Las Vegas-based company has a new proposal, dubbed as an “urban resort” that will carry a cost of $535 million, that company officials said would be markedly different than its 2011 proposal.
“When the city council approved our relocation back in 2011, we listened very carefully to the questions, concerns and suggestions that they laid down,” Paragon president Scott Menke told The Globe and Mail.
“We needed to do that, because we needed to get it right. The urban resort concept is very different than the casino resorts that many people think of, especially the ones in Las Vegas.”
Two years ago, Paragon’s plan to more than double the number of slot machines and gaming tables at the Edgewater casino was shot down by the Vancouver city council. But the company remained undaunted, going back to the drawing board before coming out with a new proposal that took into account feedback from city officials and ensuring that this proposal wouldn’t include the aforementioned Edgewater expansion that failed to get traction in 2011.
As part of the new proposal, a slew of new establishments are expected to complement the relocated Edgewater casino. A pair of hotels will be included, as will a conference center and numerous dining and entertainment options. For now, casino expansion is out of the question, according to Paragon president Scott Menk, although don’t be surprised if the topic is broached in the future when all the establishments are already set up.
Predictably, those who opposed the casino expansion then are back at it voicing their displeasure at this new proposal. “This is a terrible deal for both the city of Vancouver and the province of B.C.,” Sandy Garossino, spokeswoman for Vancouver Not Vegas, said in a statement earlier this week.
“If Edgewater cannot expand its slot machines and gaming tables, it’s a business certainty that revenues to the province and the city will fall, because Edgewater’s expenses are about to rise precipitously.”
Be that as it may, Paragon’s revised proposal is still subject to regulatory approval by the city.
