Developer describes giant hotel-casino project for council

Thursday, March 11, 1999 | 9:45 a.m.

All but one of the nine residents who commented during a City Council session Wednesday expressed reservations about the project.

Dana, of Bal Harbor, Fla., said the project offers the city a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity ... to completely transform both the skyline and the economy of the local area."

As council members listened, Dana's attorneys, including Hugh Keating of Gulfport, spent about 45 minutes outlining the $1 billion project, to be known as The Millennium.

While such a project would create thousands of new jobs, city leaders would have to relocate a favorite recreation area, Jones Park.

Dana has formed a partnership with the Stewart family of New York, who deeded more than 20 acres to Gulfport for Jones Park in 1935. The family's agreement calls for the city to return the land if it's ever developed commercially.

The Millennium would include a casino barge, twin 50-story hotel towers, four condominium towers, an office tower and a retail center.

It includes a new 300-slip marina and calls for building up the beach to create new land for a park south of Moses pier.

"It's been said . . . the Mississippi Gulf Coast has entered into a new league" with the opening of the Beau Rivage casino in Biloxi next week, Keating told the council. "This is an opportunity for Gulfport to compete at the top of the list, at the same level."

Residents expressed concerns about everything from potential traffic from the development to whether the city wants to lose part of its heritage by giving up Jones Park.

Afton Anderson told the council that he doubted such an undertaking was possible.

"I urge you with every bone I have to keep Jones Park as it is," he said.

Some council members, though, say they want more feedback from their constituents.

Councilman Billy Hewes suggested a referendum on the project, but other council members said more information was needed before that decision is made.

Council President Kim Savant expects the board to vote at Tuesday's meeting whether it wants to move forward with plans for the project.

There are those who question whether Dana, who approached city leaders with a vague development concept in August, could really finance such a project. Others said they would strongly oppose such a development on the public park and harbor land.

Dana has not disclose how the project would be financed, other than to say he has a company interested in the condo towers. But he said there was little doubt funding for the hotel and casino could be secured.

Mayor Bob Short has said he is opposed to the development.

Even if the council agrees, Dana would have several more legal hurdles ahead, including licensing by state regulators and agreements with other state agencies in charge of protecting the beach and the environment.