Beauvoir supports casino project

Wednesday, June 28, 2000 | 10:19 a.m.

Beauvoir officials have generally opposed any construction that would have blocked the view of the final home of former Confederate States of America president Jefferson Davis.

"Beauvoir is proud to support this plan as a fascinating addition to the tourism corridor surrounding the coliseum," executive director Robert L. Hawkins wrote Wednesday on the editorial page of The Sun Herald newspaper.

In 1994, Beauvoir filed suit to stop Harrison County from building a wooden boardwalk along the seawall between the Broadwater Marina and the coliseum.

Beauvoir officials said benches and railings on the pathway would obstruct the scenic view; they also pointed out that Beauvoir is French for "beautiful view." Additionally, they said, wood from the boardwalk might have damaged Beauvoir during a hurricane.

Beauvoir officials and the county eventually compromised on a concrete sidewalk between U.S. 90 and the seawall.

In April 1993, Beauvoir officials opposed a second casino barge at the Broadwater Marina, saying that traffic had increased on U.S. 90 but visitors to Beauvoir had dropped in the year since The President had opened.

A President Casino representative says that Beauvoir has not been promised any benefits in return for supporting the expansion, which environmental groups and competing casinos oppose.

"For the support of this project, The President has not given Beauvoir a quarter," said Mike Cavanaugh, a Biloxi attorney and spokesman for the casino.

Cavanaugh said the casino contributed money to help Beauvoir build a new fence several years ago. He added that the casino might give other financial assistance in the future as Beauvoir plans improvements.

"There are no commitments to each other to help fund any of that," Cavanaugh said.