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Detroit Casinos' Fate up to Next Mayor

"Though Mayor Dennis Archer, who isn't seeking a third term, hasn't yet formally submitted his latest proposal to put one casino on the riverfront, council members say his plan certainly will be rejected.

"The current development agreement relating to Detroit casinos must be amended by Dec. 31 or the three temporary casinos will be forced to close. To forestall that, the only procedural option left to Archer would be to request a fourth extension of the deadline from the council, which would probably grant one.

"This would put the multibillion-dollar issue of riverfront development in the hands of the next mayor, who is to be elected Nov. 6 and who would take office Jan. 1. At stake is what will be done with not only a premier tract of Detroit real estate, but also hundreds of millions of dollars a year in potential city revenues from the casinos.

"…Several City Council members, as well as most of the leading candidates for mayor, suggest that the riverfront area near downtown, where the casinos were to have gone, ought to be used for residential condominiums, retail shopping, a park and entertainment venues. Chicago's downtown lakefront area is often cited as a model.

" For now, the casinos and riverfront development issues are stalled. Archer promised in late March to deliver a revised development proposal to the City Council in May calling for only the MGM Grand casino to move to the riverfront. But in April the mayor decided not to run for re-election, curtailing any ability to push his proposals through the City Council.

" …Under Archer's plan outlined in March, the Greektown and Motor City casinos would expand operations and add hotels in the areas where their temporary operations are located.

" Archer had pushed for the riverfront casino-hotels plan partly to secure a commitment from the three casinos to create at least 2,400 hotel rooms before the 2006 Super Bowl, which is to be in Detroit…"

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